French Phrases for Daily Life — Simple Everyday Expressions

Simple French Phrases for Daily Life

When learning French, it helps to start with the phrases used in everyday communication. These are short, practical expressions you can use at school, while travelling, shopping, and in ordinary conversation.

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Greetings and Basic Conversation

French	Meaning
Bonjour	Hello / Good morning
Bonsoir	Good evening
Salut	Hi
Comment ça va ?	How are you?
Ça va bien	I am fine
Merci	Thank you
Merci beaucoup	Thank you very much
De rien	You're welcome
Au revoir	Goodbye

Example sentences

• Bonjour, comment ça va ? Hello, how are you?

• Ça va bien, merci. I am fine, thank you.

• Au revoir ! Goodbye!

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At School

French	Meaning
Je suis étudiant(e)	I am a student
J'ai un cours de français	I have a French class
Je ne comprends pas	I do not understand
Pouvez-vous répéter ?	Can you repeat?
Je voudrais poser une question	I would like to ask a question
Quel est le devoir ?	What is the homework?
Je peux parler ?	Can I speak?

Example sentences

• Je ne comprends pas la leçon. I do not understand the lesson.

• Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? Can you repeat, please?

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In a Shop or Market

French	Meaning
Combien ça coûte ?	How much does it cost?
Je voudrais acheter cela	I would like to buy this
C'est trop cher	It is too expensive
Avez-vous une taille plus petite ?	Do you have a smaller size?
Je cherche un cadeau	I am looking for a gift
Oui, bien sûr	Yes, of course

Example sentences

• Combien ça coûte ? How much does it cost?

• Je voudrais acheter ce livre. I would like to buy this book.

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Travel and Directions

French	Meaning
Où est la gare ?	Where is the station?
Où est le restaurant ?	Where is the restaurant?
Je suis perdu(e)	I am lost
Est-ce loin ?	Is it far?
À gauche	On the left
À droite	On the right
Tout droit	Straight ahead

Example sentences

• Où est la gare, s'il vous plaît ? Where is the station, please?

• Allez tout droit puis à gauche. Go straight ahead and then left.

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Daily Expressions

French	Meaning
J'ai faim	I am hungry
J'ai soif	I am thirsty
Je suis fatigué(e)	I am tired
Je veux dormir	I want to sleep
Je vais au travail	I am going to work
Je vais à l'école	I am going to school
C'est correct	It is correct
C'est important	It is important

Example sentences

• J'ai faim, je veux manger. I am hungry, I want to eat.

• Je suis fatigué, mais je peux étudier. I am tired, but I can study.

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Why Learn These Phrases First?

Basic phrases let you speak with confidence in simple conversations straight away. They're short, clear, and used constantly in real life — learning them first builds stronger speaking habits before you move on to more advanced grammar.

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Study Tip

Try to learn five to ten phrases each week. Say them aloud, write them in a notebook, and use them in short sentences of your own. Repetition is the easiest way to make useful French expressions stick.

Final Note

Every conversation starts with simple words and short phrases. Learn a handful of everyday expressions well, and speaking French starts to feel comfortable, one step at a time.

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Ms. Shenya Wanninayake — MA Linguistics (UOK) · DELF B1 · French Avenue Masterclass