Making Friends
Use these phrases to move past basic small talk, find common ground, and make real connections with people you meet.
Key Phrases
Ça fait longtemps que tu habites dans la région ou tu viens d'arriver ?
casualHave you lived in the region for a long time or did you just arrive?
A very natural way to break the ice and start a longer conversation.
Vous êtes d'ici à l'origine, ou vous avez déménagé pour le travail ?
politeAre you from here originally, or did you move for work?
Use with older adults or in slightly more formal networking settings.
Qu'est-ce que tu fais de ton temps libre quand tu ne travailles pas ?
casualWhat do you do with your free time when you're not working?
A great follow-up question to learn about someone's personal interests.
Quels sont les passe-temps qui vous passionnent le plus en ce moment ?
neutralWhat hobbies are you most passionate about right now?
Slightly more formal, using 'vous', but suitable for colleagues.
Ah, moi aussi ! Je ne savais pas que tu étais aussi fan de ça.
casualOh, me too! I didn't know you were such a fan of that.
Uses the imparfait naturally to express a past state of knowledge.
C'est amusant, nous avons vraiment les mêmes goûts pour les films d'action.
neutralIt's funny, we really have the same taste in action movies.
Can easily be adapted for music, books, or food.
Est-ce que tu as vu des bons films ou lu des livres intéressants récemment ?
casualHave you seen any good movies or read any interesting books recently?
A classic way to shift the topic to pop culture and find common ground.
Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait de beau le week-end dernier ?
neutralWhat nice things did you do last weekend?
The phrase 'fait de beau' is a very common idiom meaning 'do anything nice or interesting'.
C'était vraiment super sympa de discuter avec toi de tout ça aujourd'hui.
casualIt was really super nice chatting with you about all this today.
Use this to naturally transition toward ending the conversation on a positive note.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié notre conversation, c'est rare de pouvoir parler aussi facilement.
neutralI really enjoyed our conversation, it's rare to be able to talk so easily.
A warmer compliment when you feel a real connection with someone.
Tu veux qu'on aille boire un café la semaine prochaine, si tu es libre ?
casualDo you want to go get a coffee next week, if you're free?
Uses the subjunctive 'qu'on aille' after 'tu veux que'—a natural way to suggest plans.
Il faudra qu'on se revoie un de ces jours pour continuer cette discussion.
neutralWe will have to see each other again one of these days to continue this discussion.
A friendly way to show interest in future contact using the future tense and subjunctive.
Tu as Instagram ? On peut s'ajouter pour rester en contact plus facilement.
casualDo you have Instagram? We can add each other to stay in touch more easily.
Younger adults often prefer swapping social media before exchanging phone numbers.
Est-ce que je peux te demander ton numéro pour qu'on puisse s'organiser ?
neutralCan I ask for your number so that we can make plans?
Uses the subjunctive 'qu'on puisse' naturally to explain the reason for asking.
Il faut que je file, mais j'espère vraiment qu'on se reverra bientôt !
casualI have to run, but I really hope we'll see each other again soon!
'Filer' is a colloquial verb for leaving quickly; 'il faut que' triggers the subjunctive.
Je dois y aller, mais c'était un vrai plaisir de faire votre connaissance.
politeI have to go, but it was a true pleasure meeting you.
'Faire votre connaissance' is the standard polite expression when meeting someone for the first time.