Most Commonly Used French Greetings and Phrases: French is one of the most popular foreign languages, being taught in Indian Schools. If you are preparing for the exams or planning to travel or exploring a new culture, then introducing yourself in French can be a great place to start.
Common French Greetings (Les salutations)
Learning greetings is the very first step in any language. Check below some of the most commonly used French greetings.
| French Phrase | Meaning in English | When to Use |
| Bonjour | Hello / Good morning | Formal/informal (daytime) |
| Salut | Hi / Hello | Informal with friends/peers |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | After 6 PM |
| Bonne nuit | Good night | Before going to bed |
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Formal/informal |
| À bientôt | See you soon | Informal |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Informal |
| Ça va? | How are you? | Informal (trending & casual) |
| Comment ça va? | How’s it going? | Informal |
| Comment allez-vous? | How are you? | Formal |
Important Note: In French, the tone and context matter. Use "salut" with friends and "Bonjour" with teachers or elders.
Some More Common French Phrases
| French Phrase | Approximate Pronunciation (English sounds) | English Meaning | When to Use |
| Oui | wee | Yes | Common, informal, and formal. |
| Non | noh(n) | No | Common, informal, and formal. |
| Merci beaucoup | mehr-see boh-koo | Thank you very much | To express stronger gratitude. |
| De rien | duh ree-uhn | You're welcome / No problem | Informal response to "thank you." |
| Pardon | par-doh(n) | Excuse me / Sorry | To apologize or get attention. |
| Excusez-moi | ex-koo-say mwa | Excuse me | Formal way to get someone's attention or pass. |
| Je ne comprends pas | zhuh nuh kohm-prah(n) pah | I don't understand | When you need clarification. |
| Parlez-vous anglais? | par-lay voo ah(n)-glay? | Do you speak English? | When you need to switch to English. |
| Pouvez-vous m'aider? | poo-vay voo meh-day? | Can you help me? | When you need assistance. |
| S'il vous plaît | seel voo play | Please (formal/plural) | When addressing someone formally or multiple people. |
| S'il te plaît | seel tuh play | Please (informal/singular) | When addressing a friend or someone you use "tu" with. |
| Où est...? | oo eh...? | Where is...? | To ask for directions to a place. |
| Combien ça coûte? | kohm-bya(n) sah koot? | How much does it cost? | When asking for prices. |
| Je voudrais... | zhuh voo-dray... | I would like... | To order something or express a desire. |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | lah-dee-syon, seel voo play | The check, please | At a restaurant to ask for the bill. |
| Bonne journée! | bon zhoor-nay | Have a good day! | To wish someone a good day (at any time). |
| Bonne soirée! | bon swah-ray | Have a good evening! | To wish someone a good evening. |
| À tout à l'heure! | ah too tah luhr | See you later (today)! | For seeing someone again very soon (same day). |
| Je suis désolé(e) | zhuh swee day-zoh-lay | I am sorry (m/f) | To apologize. |
| Ça va bien | sah vah bya(n) | I'm fine | A common response to "Ça va?". |
| Pas mal | pah mahl | Not bad | Another common response to "Ça va?". |
Basic Self-Introduction in French (Se présenter)
Introducing yourself is important, and students can check here the introduction part in both formal and casual ways.
| French Phrase | English Meaning |
| Je m'appelle Akshita. | My name is Akshita. |
| J’ai 14 ans. | I am 14 years old. |
| Je suis étudiant(e). | I am a student. |
| J’habite en Inde. | I live in India. |
| Je parle un peu français. | I speak a little French. |
| Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance. | Nice to meet you. |
An example of a French Introduction
Students can check below an example of french introduction:
Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Riya. J’ai 13 ans. Je suis étudiante. J’habite à Delhi, en Inde. Je parle anglais, hindi et un peu français. Enchantée de faire votre connaissance!
Translation: Hello! My name is Riya. I am 13 years old. I am a student. I live in Delhi, India. I speak English, Hindi, and a little French. Nice to meet you!
Trending Phrases Among Students
Want to sound like those cool French native speakers? Don’t worry, as we have got you covered. Check the table below for trending phrases among the students.
| Phrase | Meaning |
| Coucou! | Hey! (Very informal) |
| Ça roule? | All good? |
| Trop bien! | That’s awesome! |
| Pas mal! | Not bad! |
| Grave! | Totally / For sure! |
Easy French Phrases With Meanings
| French Phrase | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Salut ! | Hi! / Hello! |
| Ça va ? | How are you? |
| Ça va bien. | I’m fine. |
| Pas mal. | Not bad. |
| Comme ci, comme ça. | So-so. |
| Très bien, merci. | Very well, thank you. |
| Et toi ? | And you? |
| À plus tard ! | See you later! |
| À bientôt ! | See you soon! |
| À demain ! | See you tomorrow! |
| Je m'appelle... | My name is... |
| Enchanté(e) | Nice to meet you. |
| Je suis étudiant(e). | I am a student. |
| Je suis professeur. | I am a teacher. |
| Je viens de l’Inde. | I come from India. |
| J’habite à Delhi. | I live in Delhi. |
| Quel âge as-tu ? | How old are you? |
| J’ai 20 ans. | I am 20 years old. |
| Tu parles français ? | Do you speak French? |
| Un peu. | A little. |
Quick Revision: French Greet Sheet 2025
- Bonjour = Hello
- Salut = Hi
- Je m’appelle……… = My name is……….
- J’ai ___ ans = I am ___ years old
- Enchanté(e) = Nice to meet you
Whether you are learning French as a subject in school or just for fun, it is important to know about the basic phrases and greetings, as this can be a fun way to start. Practice daily and make speaking French into your daily habit to converse confidently. Bon courage! (Good luck!)
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