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🇫🇷Essential French phrases for beginners

If you're starting French from zero, these are the phrases to learn first. They cover the moments you'll hit on day one — saying hello, being polite, asking for help, ordering food and finding your way. Each one is native-checked, with romanization to help you say it, and a tap through to usage and related phrases.

How to use this list: don't try to memorize all of them at once. Learn the greetings and the courtesy phrases first — they're the ones you'll use every single day — then add a few situational ones (directions, food, emergencies) before a trip. Say each out loud; reading silently won't build the muscle. When you're ready, practice them with a real French speaker.
  1. 1
    Où sont les toilettes les plus proches ?

    Where's the nearest restroom?
  2. 2
    Quel est ton groupe sanguin ?

    What's your blood group?
  3. 3
    Me désobéissez-vous ?

    Do you disobey me?
  4. 4
    Prenez-vous cette carte ?

    Do you accept this card?
  5. 5
    Voyagez-vous beaucoup ?

    Do you travel a lot?
  6. 6
    À quel journal es-tu abonné ?

    What newspaper do you subscribe to?
  7. 7
    Qu'est-il arrivé à l'Allemande ?

    What happened to the German girl?
  8. 8
    Où avez-vous entendu cette histoire ?

    Where did you hear that story?
  9. 9
    Quelle heure te convient ?

    What time is good for you?
  10. 10
    Où est-ce que tu les as enfermés ?

    Where did you shut them away?
  11. 11
    Penses-tu qu'il ait des ennuis ?

    Do you think he's in trouble?
  12. 12
    Voulez-vous que je gère ça ?

    Do you want me to handle this?
  13. 13
    Veux-tu le faire encore ?

    Do you want to do it again?
  14. 14
    Veux-tu que je sois heureuse ?

    Do you want me to be happy?
  15. 15
    J'ai besoin de faire le ménage.

    I need to clean up.
  16. 16
    Pourquoi étudies-tu une langue étrangère ?

    What do you study a foreign language for?
  17. 17
    Que diable en sait-il ?

    What the hell does he know about that?
  18. 18
    Je vais préparer mon dîner.

    I'm going to prepare my dinner.
  19. 19
    Je vais faire le linge.

    I'm going to do the laundry.
  20. 20
    Je vais faire mon shopping ce soir.

    I'm going to do my shopping tonight.
  21. 21
    Je vais prendre un café chez moi.

    I'm going to have a coffee at home.
  22. 22
    Qui vous a recrutées ?

    Who hired you?
  23. 23
    Puis-je fumer ici ?

    May I smoke here?
  24. 24
    De qui es-tu le fils ?

    Whose son are you?

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These essentials get you started. To actually speak French, practice them out loud — free with native-speaker peers, or 1-1 with a vetted tutor.

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