The French words are the basics of learning French, which aid new learners in comprehending conversations, creating sentences, and speaking with confidence. Irrespective of the reasons why you would like to learn French for travelling, academic purposes, business, or even personal ones, learning the right vocabulary makes the process much easier. 

French is among the widely learned languages in the world. You do not have to know thousands of words at once. Start with the basics like greetings, people, numbers, food, places, time, questions, and general conversation vocabulary. After understanding the basic words in the French language, you will be able to increase your vocabulary and grammar slowly.

This article highlights 90+ French basic words with their meanings, pronunciation tips, and example sentences that will enable you to start speaking French.

What Are the Most Common French Words?

The most frequent words in French are: le/la (the), de (of), et (and), être (to be), avoir (to have), je (I), vous (you), oui (yes), non (no), merci (thanks), and bonjour (hello). Memorizing these words will give you the best results in your studies.

Why Should Beginners Learn Basic Words in French?

French language basic words are great starting point before getting into advanced French grammar and vocabulary. When you are aware of commonly used words, you will be able to catch familiar phrases when you listen and read.

For instance, having a basic knowledge of words like bonjour (hello), merci (thank you), oui (yes), and non (no) will help you deal with simple communications from the first days of your French lessons.

Vocabulary is needed for constructing sentences as well. When you get to know words for “I”, “want”, “water” and “please”, you will be able to construct some useful phrases even without mastering the grammar.

An effective way to study vocabulary is learning them in sets and using in sentences. A Post Graduate Diploma in French Languageis the best option to start learning French Langauge from scratch. 

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90+ Basic French Words for Beginners

These are some of the most helpful words in French for beginners to learn.

1. Common French Greetings

Greetings are among the first words you should learn when studying French.

French Word	English Meaning	Example
Bonjour	Hello / Good morning	Bonjour, Madame.
Salut	Hi / Bye	Salut, comment ça va ?
Bonsoir	Good evening	Bonsoir, Monsieur.
Au revoir	Goodbye	Au revoir !
Merci	Thank you	Merci beaucoup.
Pardon	Sorry / Excuse me	Pardon, Madame.
S’il vous plaît	Please	Un café, s’il vous plaît.
Bienvenue	Welcome	Bienvenue en France.
À bientôt	See you soon	À bientôt !
Bonne nuit	Good night	Bonne nuit, mon ami.

These words in French are commonly used in restaurants, stores, classrooms, hotels, and in daily conversations.

2. Basic French Pronouns

Certainly, with the help of pronouns, you can talk about yourself and other people.

French Word	English Meaning
Je	I
Tu	You
Il	He
Elle	She
Nous	We
Vous	You / You formal
Ils	They, masculine/mixed
Elles	They, feminine
On	One / We / People

For example:

• Je suis étudiant. – I am a student.
• Tu es mon ami. – You are my friend.
• Elle est française. – She is French.
• Nous sommes prêts. – We are ready.

Moreover, early learning of pronouns facilitates comprehension of French verb conjugations.

3. Useful French Question Words

Questions are important for communication. Here are some of the most valuable question words for novices.

French Word	English Meaning
Qui	Who
Que	What
Quoi	What
Où	Where
Quand	When
Pourquoi	Why
Comment	How
Combien	How much / How many
Quel	Which / What, masculine
Quelle	Which / What, feminine

Examples:

Où est la gare ? – Where is the station?

Comment allez-vous ? – How are you?

Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?

Pourquoi ? – Why?

This is because these words are common in spoken French, thus constituting basic French language vocabulary.

4. Essential French Yes and No Words

The easiest words in French are sometimes the most practical.

French Word	English Meaning
Oui	Yes
Non	No
Peut-être	Maybe
Bien sûr	Of course
D’accord	Okay / Agreed
Vraiment	Really
Aussi	Also
Encore	Again / Still
Très	Very
Beaucoup	A lot / Much

For example:

Oui, bien sûr. – Yes, of course.

Non, merci. – No, thank you.

D’accord ! – Okay!

5. Common French Words for People

Understanding words about individuals gives you the ability to talk about your relatives and social connections.

French Word	English Meaning
Homme	Man
Femme	Woman
Enfant	Child
Garçon	Boy
Fille	Girl
Ami	Friend, masculine
Amie	Friend, feminine
Famille	Family
Père	Father
Mère	Mother
Frère	Brother
Sœur	Sister
Monsieur	Mr. / Sir
Madame	Mrs. / Madam
Enfant	Child

Example:

Ma famille est grande. – My family is large.

C’est mon frère. – This is my brother.

6. Important words in French for Everyday Objects

Knowledge of common nouns assists you in comprehending conversations and signs.

French Word	English Meaning
Maison	House
École	School
Livre	Book
Table	Table
Chaise	Chair
Porte	Door
Fenêtre	Window
Voiture	Car
Téléphone	Phone
Sac	Bag
Eau	Water
Pain	Bread
Café	Coffee
Argent	Money
Travail	Work

These words are often used in basic French conversations.

7. Basic French Words for Food and Drinks

Knowing terms related to food is especially helpful if one travels to a country where French is spoken.

French Word	English Meaning
Eau	Water
Pain	Bread
Fromage	Cheese
Lait	Milk
Café	Coffee
Thé	Tea
Vin	Wine
Pomme	Apple
Banane	Banana
Viande	Meat
Poisson	Fish
Riz	Rice
Poulet	Chicken
Sucre	Sugar
Sel	Salt

Useful expressions include:

Je voudrais un café. – I would like a coffee.

De l’eau, s’il vous plaît. – Water, please.

J’aime le fromage. – I like cheese.

8. French Numbers Every Beginner Should Know

Certainly, French Numbers are needed to shop, tell time, state your age, talk about costs, and make arrangements.

Number	French
1	Un
2	Deux
3	Trois
4	Quatre
5	Cinq
6	Six
7	Sept
8	Huit
9	Neuf
10	Dix
11	Onze
12	Douze
13	Treize
14	Quatorze
15	Quinze
16	Seize
20	Vingt

After learning the numbers between one and twenty, you can start learning larger numbers and also get an idea about prices, dates, and addresses.

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9. Useful French Words for Time

Time-related vocabulary appears constantly in everyday conversations.

French Word	English Meaning
Aujourd’hui	Today
Demain	Tomorrow
Hier	Yesterday
Maintenant	Now
Matin	Morning
Après-midi	Afternoon
Soir	Evening
Nuit	Night
Jour	Day
Semaine	Week
Mois	Month
Année	Year
Heure	Hour / Time
Minute	Minute

Examples:

À demain ! – See you tomorrow!

À quelle heure ? – At what time?

Aujourd’hui, je travaille. – Today, I work.

10. Basic French Adjectives

Adjectives help you describe people, objects, places, and experiences.

French Word	English Meaning
Bon	Good
Mauvais	Bad
Grand	Big / Tall
Petit	Small / Short
Beau	Beautiful / Handsome
Joli	Pretty
Nouveau	New
Vieux	Old
Jeune	Young
Facile	Easy
Difficile	Difficult
Heureux	Happy
Triste	Sad
Chaud	Hot / Warm
Froid	Cold

Examples:

C’est facile. – It is easy.

La maison est grande. – The house is big.

Il est heureux. – He is happy.

11. Essential French Verbs

Verbs allow you to express actions, needs, preferences, and experiences.

French Verb	English Meaning
Être	To be
Avoir	To have
Aller	To go
Faire	To do / Make
Parler	To speak
Aimer	To like / Love
Vouloir	To want
Pouvoir	To be able to / Can
Savoir	To know
Comprendre	To understand
Manger	To eat
Boire	To drink
Dormir	To sleep
Travailler	To work
Étudier	To study

For example:

Je parle français. – I speak French.

J’aime le français. – I like French.

Je veux apprendre. – I want to learn.

Je comprends. – I understand.

12. Words in French for Places

Place-related vocabulary can help you navigate cities and travel situations.

French Word	English Meaning
Gare	Train station
Aéroport	Airport
Hôtel	Hotel
Restaurant	Restaurant
École	School
Hôpital	Hospital
Banque	Bank
Magasin	Shop / Store
Rue	Street
Ville	City
Pays	Country
Parc	Park
Plage	Beach

A useful sentence is:

Où est l’hôtel ? – Where is the hotel?

Famous French Words Beginners Often Recognise

Several well-known words in French have gained universal recognition despite the fact that many non-French speakers use them.

For instance,

• Bonjour – Hello
• Merci – Thank you
• Croissant – Croissant
• Baguette – Baguette
• Café – Coffee
• Amour – Love
• Chic – Stylish
• Merci beaucoup – Thank you very much
• Déjà vu – Already seen
• Voilà – There you go / There it is

There are many other French terms that are used in the English language due to the influence of French on the English vocabulary.

Famous French Words Used in English

There are many words in French that have become popular English words, giving you an advantage right from the start. You may be familiar with some of the following:

• Café, restaurant, menu, and cuisine
• Déjà vu (already seen)
• Rendezvous (a meeting)
• Entrepreneur, souvenir, and boutique
• Bon voyage (enjoy your journey)
• C’est la vie (that’s life)
• Joie de vivre (joy of living)
• Voilà (there it is)

These cognates demonstrate that you know more French than you realize already. In fact, about one-third of English vocabulary consists of French and Latin origins due to the Norman influence on English.

How to Learn Basic French Words Faster?

Even if you have learned many words in a French vocabulary list, that does not mean you can now speak French. This will require active work with new words.

1. Group Vocabulary by Themes

It is not necessary to remember random French vocabulary. Try to group them into themes: food, family, numbers, travel, and greetings.

2. Apply Words to Sentences

Do not learn maison = house and end here. Make a sentence:

Ma maison est grande. – My house is big.

The context will facilitate the learning process.

3. Practise the Pronunciation

The pronunciation of French is quite different from the pronunciation of English. Listen to native speakers and pronounce the words yourself.

4. Use Flashcards

Make digital or paper flashcards with French on one side and English on another. Check your knowledge regularly.

5. Speak French Everyday

Even five to ten minutes a day will be useful. Describe your environment, introduce yourself or just say something about your day using French vocabulary.

6. Master High-Frequency Vocabulary

Begin with words that you are most likely to meet. It will be easier to learn 100 useful words rather than 100 rare words.

How Many French Words Are There?

One question that newbies ask is how many French words there are.

There cannot be an exact number since all dictionaries have their own criteria for word-counting, and languages are not static, they evolve continuously with new words coming up while old ones disappearing.

What matters for beginners is not an exact number of words in French.

One can communicate effectively in most situations using a limited vocabulary base and building upon it.

It is better to concentrate on common words in french rather than learn all the words in the language.

How Many words in French Do You Need to Speak French?

One does not have to learn all words in French in order to speak the language effectively.

A beginner can begin talking by learning several hundreds of frequently used words and sentences. With an increasing vocabulary, you will be able to talk about more subjects.

The trick here lies in combining vocabulary with other aspects of learning such as French Grammar, pronunciation, etc.

Basic French Words and Phrases for Daily Conversation

Here are some practical basic French words and phrases you can start using immediately:

Bonjour ! – Hello!

Comment ça va ? – How are you?

Ça va bien. – I am doing well.

Merci beaucoup. – Thank you very much.

S’il vous plaît. – Please.

Excusez-moi. – Excuse me.

Je m’appelle Anna. – My name is Anna.

Je ne comprends pas. – I do not understand.

Pouvez-vous répéter ? – Can you repeat?

Parlez-vous anglais ? – Do you speak English?

Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?

Où est la gare ? – Where is the station?

Je voudrais un café. – I would like a coffee.

À bientôt ! – See you soon!

Learning these phrases gives beginners a practical starting point for real-life communication.

Pronunciation Tips for Beginners

French pronunciation might sound difficult, but there are just a few guidelines that can help a lot:

1. Silent final consonant. In general, the last consonant is not pronounced in most cases. Petit would be pronounced as “puh-tee.”
2. Liaison. A usually silent consonant becomes voiced before a vowel. Vous avez would be pronounced as “voo-za-vay.”
3. Nasal vowels. The sounds such as on, an, and in reverberate through the nose, like in bon, enfant, and vin.
4. French r. It is rolled at the back of the throat, much like a gargle.
5. Accents are important. é, è, ê, à, ç, and ù influence pronunciation and even have different meanings (ou is “or” whereas où is “where”).

Podcasts, songs, and videos featuring native speakers can train your ear the best.

A Simple 7-Day Plan to Learn French Vocabulary

Your vocabulary practice can be scheduled according to the following weekly plan.

Day	Vocabulary Focus
Day 1	Greetings and polite expressions
Day 2	Pronouns and people
Day 3	Numbers and time
Day 4	Food and drinks
Day 5	Places and travel
Day 6	Common verbs and adjectives
Day 7	Revision and conversation practice

Give 15 to 20 minutes each day to vocabulary review. After that, try to use 5 to 10 new words in sentences yourself.

Eduwatts French Language Course – Why Is It One of the Best Ways to Learn French? 

French language learning becomes simple with a well-designed course which includes practice sessions, teaching from experts, and speaking sessions. The Eduwatts French Language Course allows learners to go through an organized program to develop their French language vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. 

If you are a beginner in the French language or wish to upgrade your current level of French, then a guided French Language course will assist you in developing French vocabulary and phrases systematically rather than randomly.

Reasons for Choosing the Eduwatts French Language Course

1. Systematic French Language Learning

The course offers a systematic way to learn French, from the basics of French language vocabulary and grammar through to higher-level conversation skills. It is easy for newcomers to comprehend French language skills step by step.

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2. Practical French Learning

French learning is not only about memorization of vocabulary. Learners should know how to apply words and phrases in conversation practice. Eduwatts pays special attention to practical language skills so that students could get more confident in applying French in day-to-day life.

3. Expand French Vocabulary

It is possible to expand one’s vocabulary by learning popular French language words, phrases, and expressions. This knowledge will help you to understand what is being said and make sentences.

4. Polish French Pronunciation

French language pronunciation may seem complicated for beginners since there are some sounds that are not the same as those in English. It is important to learn proper French language pronunciation.

5. Work on the Four Language Skills

A well-structured French learning program goes beyond just teaching vocabulary. The learner should be able to work on: 

• Listening skills
• Speaking skills
• Reading skills
• Writing skills

Working on the four skills will ensure a balanced basis for learning French language.

6. Designed for Beginners

If you are a complete beginner in French language studies, then a well-structured course designed for beginners can help give a clear start. You may start from simple greetings, introductions, numbers, words in French, sentence formation, and everyday phrases. 

7. Learn French to Meet Your Educational/Career Goals

French is a language that can be learned by students and professionals, or travelers and those who want to work in French speaking countries. Learning French can also enhance your academic/career profile.

French Language Course: What Do You Learn?

Here is what you will be able to learn by taking a French language course:

• French alphabet and pronunciation
• French basic words and phrases
• Greetings and introductions in French
• Numbers and dates
• French grammar
• Common French verbs
• Sentence structure
• Conversation
• French reading and comprehension
• Writing in French
• French listening and speaking skills

Gradually, you will be able to go from easy phrases like Bonjour! and Comment ça va? to having full-fledged conversations in French.

French Language Courses at Eduwatts

1. French Language Course – A1 Level
2. French Language Course- A2 Level
3. French Language Course- B1 Level
4. French Language Course- B2 Level
5. French Language Course- C1 Level
6. French Language Course- C2 Level
7. Master’s (MS) in French Language

Conclusion

Learning words in French is probably one of the most effective ways to get started learning the language. You don’t have to cram a huge dictionary full of words in French before even opening your mouth to speak French. Start off with the most commonly used words in French regarding greetings, people, numbers, food, places, time, questions, and activities.

Most Common words in French will be very easy to learn once you start using them in sentences and conversations. Practice Basic words in French every day, listen to how they are pronounced, and review them again and again.

If you wish to move ahead of just vocabulary, add French grammar, pronunciation, listening, reading, and speaking to the words above. With regular practice, these French words basics can become the foundation for your future communications.

Begin with 10 words today, practice them in sentences, and slowly increase your French vocabulary. Petit à petit, on devient meilleur.

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