Rooster Learn French
Lessons

50 French Words for Polite Conversation: Please, Thank You, Sorry

A2 · Elementary50 sentences·

Learn 50 high-frequency French polite expressions and courtesy phrases, including greetings, thanks, apologies, and formal requests. Each word is introduced with a natural example sentence for everyday situations such as meeting people, asking politely, and showing good manners.

Hear it spokenslow reading first, then natural speedWatch on YouTube →

The lesson

Tap any word for its meaning
50 sentences · 48 new words
  • 01BONJOUR · hello / good morning
    Bonjour, - ?
    bɔ̃ʒuʁ kɔmɑ̃ tale vu
    Hello, how are you?
  • 02MERCI · thank you
    Merci .
    mɛʁsi boku puʁ vɔtʁ‿ɛd
    Thank you very much for your help.
  • 03PLAIRE · please (s'il vous plaît)
    plaît, .
    sil vu plɛ yn tabl puʁ dø
    A table for two, please.
  • 04EXCUSER · to excuse (excusez-moi)
    Excusez-moi, ?
    ɛkskyzɛ mwa u sɔ̃ le twalɛt
    Excuse me, where are the restrooms?
  • 05DÉSOLÉ · sorry
    désolé, .
    ʒə sɥi dezɔle ʒə nə kɔ̃pʁɑ̃ pa
    I'm sorry, I don't understand.
  • 06DE RIEN · you're welcome
    De rien, .
    də ʁjɛ̃ avɛk plɛziʁ
    You're welcome, it's my pleasure.
  • 07RÉPÉTER · to repeat
    - répéter, ?
    puve vu ʁepete sil vu plɛ
    Could you repeat that, please?
  • 08ENCHANTÉ · pleased to meet you
    Enchanté .
    ɑ̃ʃɑ̃te də vu ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁe
    Nice to meet you.
  • 09JOURNÉE · day
    journée !
    bɔn ʒuʁne a vu
    Have a nice day!
  • 10PARDON · pardon / excuse me
    Pardon, .
    paʁdɔ̃ ʒə pas dəvɑ̃ vu
    Excuse me, I'm going past you.
  • 11PRIER · to pray / je vous en prie (you're welcome)
    , prie.
    avɛk plɛziʁ ʒə vu zɑ̃ pʁi
    With pleasure, you're welcome.
  • 12REVOIR · to see again (au revoir = goodbye)
    revoir !
    o ʁəvwaʁ e bɔn ʃɑ̃s
    Goodbye and good luck!
  • 13BIENVENUE · welcome
    Bienvenue !
    bjɛ̃vəny dɑ̃ nɔtʁə mɛzɔ̃
    Welcome to our home!
  • 14PLAIRE · to please
    plaît, - .
    sil tə plɛ pas mwa lə sɛl
    Please, pass me the salt.
  • 15SOUHAITER · to wish
    souhaite .
    ʒə vu swɛt yn bɔn swaʁe
    I wish you a good evening.
  • 16PERMETTRE · to allow
    Permettez- .
    pɛʁmɛte mwa də vu zɛde
    Allow me to help you.
  • 17GENTIL · kind
    gentil .
    sɛ tʁɛ ʒɑ̃ti də vɔtʁə paʁ
    That is very kind of you.
  • 18REMERCIER · to thank
    remercie .
    ʒə vu ʁəmɛʁsi sɛ̃sɛʁmɑ̃
    I sincerely thank you.
  • 19APRÈS · after
    Après , .
    apʁɛ vu ʒə vu zɑ̃ pʁi
    After you, please.
  • 20FÉLICITATIONS · congratulations
    Félicitations !
    felisitasjɔ̃ puʁ vɔtʁə maʁjaʒ
    Congratulations on your wedding!
  • 21LENTEMENT · slowly
    - lentement ?
    puve vu paʁle ply lɑ̃tmɑ̃
    Can you speak more slowly?
  • 22DÉSOLÉ · sorry
    désolé.
    ʒə sɥi vʁɛmɑ̃ dezɔle
    I am truly sorry.
  • 23HÉSITER · to hesitate
    N'hésitez .
    nezite pa a dəmɑ̃de
    Don't hesitate to ask.
  • 24NUIT · night
    nuit, !
    bɔn nɥi dɔʁme bjɛ̃
    Good night, sleep well!
  • 25ENTRER · to come in / to enter
    , entrez !
    bjɛ̃vəny ɑ̃tʁe sil vu plɛ
    Welcome, please come in!
  • 26S'ASSEOIR · to sit down
    Asseyez-vous, .
    aseje vu ʒə vu zɑ̃ pʁi
    Please have a seat.
  • 27VOLONTIERS · gladly / with pleasure
    Volontiers, .
    vɔlɔ̃tje mɛʁsi puʁ lɛ̃vitasjɔ̃
    Gladly, thank you for the invitation.
  • 28PRÉSENTER · to introduce
    présente .
    ʒə vu pʁezɑ̃t mɔ̃n ami pol
    Let me introduce my friend Paul.
  • 29BIEN SÛR · of course / certainly
    sûr, .
    bjɛ̃ syʁ avɛk ɡʁɑ̃ plɛziʁ
    Of course, with great pleasure.
  • 30OFFRIR · to offer
    - offrir ?
    pɥiʒ vu zɔfʁiʁ kɛlkə ʃoz
    May I offer you something?
  • 31DÉRANGER · to bother / to disturb
    déranger.
    dezɔle də vu deʁɑ̃ʒe
    Sorry to bother you.
  • 32AIMABLE · kind / friendly
    aimable .
    sɛ tʁɛ zɛmabl də vɔtʁə paʁ
    That's very kind of you.
  • 33REMERCIER · to thank
    remercier.
    pɛʁmɛte mwa də vu ʁəmɛʁsje
    Allow me to thank you.
  • 34CHANCE · luck
    chance.
    ʒə vu swɛt bɔn ʃɑ̃s
    I wish you good luck.
  • 35MOI · me / I (emphatic)
    moi !
    sɛ mwa ki vu ʁəmɛʁsi
    No, thank you — it is I who should thank you!
  • 36BIENTÔT · soon
    bientôt, !
    a bjɛ̃to pase yn bɔn ʒuʁne
    See you soon, have a great day!
  • 37RÉUSSIR · to succeed
    , réussi !
    felisitasjɔ̃ vu zave ʁeysi
    Congratulations, you succeeded!
  • 38EXAMEN · exam
    examen !
    bɔn ʃɑ̃s puʁ tɔ̃ ɛɡzamɛ̃
    Good luck with your exam!
  • 39RÉTABLISSEMENT · recovery
    rétablissement.
    ʒə vu swɛt œ̃ bɔ̃ ʁetablismɑ̃
    I wish you a speedy recovery.
  • 40COMPRÉHENSION · understanding
    compréhension.
    mɛʁsi də vɔtʁə kɔ̃pʁeɑ̃sjɔ̃
    Thank you for your understanding.
  • 41BIENVENU · welcome
    bienvenu !
    swaje lə bjɛ̃vəny isi
    Be welcome here!
  • 42EXCUSE · apology
    excuses.
    ʒə vu pʁezɑ̃t me zɛkskyz
    I offer you my apologies.
  • 43HONNEUR · honour
    honneur .
    sɛ t‿œ̃ nɔnœʁ də vu ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁe
    It is an honor to meet you.
  • 44BIENVENUE · welcome
    bienvenue.
    ʒə vu swɛt la bjɛ̃vəny
    I welcome you.
  • 45SERVICE · favour / service
    - service ?
    pɥiʒ vu ʁɑ̃dʁ œ̃ sɛʁvis
    May I do you a favour?
  • 46DISPOSITION · disposal
    disposition.
    ʒə sɥi za vɔtʁə dispozisj ɔ̃
    I am at your disposal.
  • 47PROFITER · to enjoy / to make the most of
    Profitez !
    pʁɔfite bjɛ̃ də vo vakɑ̃s
    Enjoy your holidays!
  • 48SOIN · care
    soin !
    pʁəne swɛ̃ də vu
    Take care of yourself!
  • 49APPÉTIT · appetite
    appétit.
    ʒə vu swɛt œ̃ bɔn apeti
    I wish you a good appetite.
  • 50EXCELLENT · excellent
    excellente !
    pɑse yn ɛksɛlɑ̃t ʒuʁne
    Have an excellent day!
PDF
Printable PDF of this lesson
Sentences, pronunciation, meanings and the full word list
Download free

Vocabulary — 48

1 / 48 · tap the card to flip

Keep going

50 French Words for Hotel Requests and Room ServiceA2 · Elementary50 French Words for University Life and Studying in FranceA2 · Elementary50 French Words for the Bakery: Breads, Pastries, and OrderingA1 · Beginner