French words: basic French words for beginners, with audio

French words are easiest to learn in small groups you will say aloud on the first day: greetings, polite words and a few questions. This page lists those basic French words with a recording of each, the English meaning and the dictionary entry behind it. To practise sounds as well, see French pronunciation practice. To learn the letters, see the French alphabet. To count, see numbers in French.

What are the first French words to learn?

Start with greetings and politeness. They are short, you can use them in any conversation, and the Larousse conversation guide for travellers groups them under its first heading, “les indispensables” (the essentials) [1]. Press the button beside a word to hear it.

Bonjour is not only a morning word. The Larousse French-English entry translates it as “hello” in general, “good morning” in the morning and “good afternoon” in the afternoon [2]. For the evening, use bonsoir [1].

What is basic French vocabulary, and what level is it?

Basic French is the vocabulary of the first levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the Council of Europe’s scale. It describes level A1 as understanding and using “familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type” [3]. A user at A1 can introduce themselves and others and ask and answer questions about personal details, if the other person talks slowly and clearly [3].

Level A2 moves to “sentences and frequently used expressions” about areas such as shopping, local geography and employment [3]. The scale describes what a user can do. It does not list words, and it gives no number of words for any level [3]. For the whole scale, see French levels explained.

Which words in French help you understand and ask?

These are the phrases that keep a conversation going when you do not follow. All are from the Larousse conversation guide [1].

The “(e)” in “ravi(e)” means a woman adds an extra e in writing. The guide marks it that way [1]. Say Je ne comprends pas first, then ask for it slowly. A reply you can understand is worth more than a polite nod.

How do you say numbers like seventy?

The French for seventy is soixante-dix [4]. Larousse gives it as a number word that does not change, and the pronunciation [swasɑ̃tdis] [4]. Numbers from 70 to 99 are built differently from English ones, so give them their own session. The full list, with the rule for the s in quatre-vingts, is in numbers in French.

How can you make French vocabulary stick?

A few general habits, not sourced findings. Say each word aloud when you read it. Group words by situation, such as greetings, a café, a station, rather than from a long alphabetical list. Come back to the same words on different days. To space your review, French flashcards shows how to make your own deck.

How many French words do you already know?

Many English words are close to French ones, so you may know more than you think. Lingwell has a short word check at How many French words do you already know? if you want to see where you stand before choosing your next list.

Common mistakes

• Learning a long list of rare words first. Greetings, polite phrases and “Je ne comprends pas” are what you will use on day one [1].
• Using bonjour all day. Larousse gives “good morning” and “good afternoon” for it, and the guide gives bonsoir for the evening [1][2].
• Reading salut as always polite. It is the guide’s “Hi!” and “Bye!”, so it suits friends better than a formal first meeting [1]. That register note is a general observation.
• Mixing up tu and vous forms. The guide shows “s’il te / vous plaît” and “Comment allez-vous / vas-tu ?” side by side [1].
• Treating a vocabulary list as a level. The CEFR describes what a user can do and sets no word count [3].
• Relying on a vocabulary page from a blog, including this one. Dictionary entries change. Compare each entry’s date with the date at the top of this page.

See also: hello in French and French adjectives and food in French.

See also: colours in French and French articles and gender.

See also: family in French.

See also: French lessons for beginners and the house in French.

See also: clothes in French and French words used in English.

See also: animals in French and school in French.

Sources