Essential French - L'Essentiel

Even if you're just going to France for a week, you should know some survival French - a few essential words and phrases that you'll use over and over. This is a somewhat miscellaneous list of the basics, so be sure to follow the links at the end for even more essential French like "hello" and "please."

Je parle (un peu de) français
   I speak (a little) French.

Parlez-vous anglais ?
   Do you speak English?

Comment ?
   What?

Je ne comprends pas.
   I don't understand.

Que veut dire ___ ?
   What does ___ mean?

Répétez, s'il vous plaît.
   Repeat, please.

Plus lentement
   More slowly

Encore une fois
   One more time

Comment dit-on ___ en français ?
   How do you say ___ in French?

 
Je ne sais pas
   I don't know

J'ai une question
   I have a question

J'ai un problème
   I have a problem

 
oui    yes
non    no
si    yes (in reponse to a negative question)
d'accord    OK


et    and
ou    or

 
qui    who
quoi    what*
quand    when
où    where
pourquoi    why
comment    how

*Be careful, there are several ways to say "what" in French


Practice essential French vocabulary

• Essential French quiz
• Crossword puzzle
• Word seek

More essential French

• 100 essential French words
• Essential French gestures
• Essential French grammar
• Essential French phrases
• Essential French verbs
• Essential French for travelers
• How to say ___ in French

For more in-depth study, check out French for Beginners