Essential survival French phrases for international students

If you're going to study in France, it's important to learn some basic French phrases and words. Going to France and only speaking English can be challenging. French people will expect foreign travellers and students to know at least a few words.  

This blog is for international students like you who want to learn the basics of French. We'll provide you with some useful basic French words. We won't focus on grammar, just on giving you useful basic French words and phrases. 

Let’s go! – Allons-y! 

Basic French phrases for greeting

Listed below are the basic French words and phrases you need to know before you come to France as an international student. Learning these words and phrases is a simple way to show that you care about France and its culture.

• Say “hello” in French 
• Bonjour 

Bonjour means hello in French. It also means good morning. You can say bonjour in both formal and informal situations. But, in formal situations, you must use bonjour. You can say bonjour any time until about 5:00 PM. 

If it's getting late, switch to bonsoir (good evening). 

• Say “hi” in French 
• Salut! 

The most common way to greet someone in French is by saying salut. Salut means both hi and bye. 

But remember, this is an informal word and you should only use it with people you know. You can say salut at any time of the day or evening. 

• Say “nice to meet you” in French 
• Enchanté(e) 

This simple word is similar to saying nice to meet you and can make a big difference if you say it sincerely. 

For men, it's "Enchanté," and for women, it's "Enchantée" which is spelt with an extra -e. (But don't worry, the pronunciation is the same.) 

• Ask “how are you?” in French 
• Ça va? 

This word means “how are you” in an informal manner. 

Remember, these forms are informal. Always pay attention to whether you're using the formal or informal versions! 

• Say “goodbye” in French 
• Au revoir 

To say goodbye in French, use au revoir. You can use this phrase in both formal and informal situations.  

When spoken naturally, the French often don't pronounce the 're', so it sounds more like "auvoir." 

If you're unsure whether to use au revoir or salut, go with the former, as it's more polite.  

However, salut (which means both hi and bye depending on the context) is a better choice when talking to friends, family and people you know well. 

• Say “thank you very much” in French 
• Merci beaucoup 

The word merci means thank you and you can use it in any situation. But you might want to use different words or phrases to express more feelings. 

If you want to say, thank you very much, say merci beaucoup. 

• Say “you’re welcome” in French 
• De rien 

After someone thanks you, say de rien to say you're welcome. 

Just like merci beaucoup, you can use de rien in all kinds of situations. 

• Say “sorry” in French 

There are different ways to apologise in French and it can be tricky to know which one to use. But here's a simple guide: 

• Say "excusez-moi" (excuse me) to get someone's attention. 
• Say "désolé(e)" to say sorry.  
• Say "Pardon" to apologise if you bump into someone or if you didn't understand what someone said and need them to repeat. 
• Say “yes” or “no” in French 
• Oui / non 

You might already know "oui" and "non," but they're important to mention here. Basically, oui means yes and non means no in French. Remember to pronounce the "on" in "non" with a nasal sound. 

• Say “please” in French 
• S’il vous plait 

Looking to study in France as an international student?

École de Management Appliqué (EMA) is a well-known institution that provides various academic degrees, such as bachelor's, master's, MBA, DBA and PhD programmes in applied management. They specialise in finance, law, economics and creative industries. Situated in the heart of Paris, EMA offers these programmes in both French and English languages. 

For further details, click here.