Survival Phrases
The exact phrases you need for real life abroad — with practice dialogues and audio, for every level.
Greetings & Socializing
Meeting people, small talk, and everyday politeness.
Greetings & Introductions
Dans cette scène, deux professionnels se rencontrent pour la première fois lors d'une conférence internationale. Ils échangent leurs salutations, présentent leurs parcours professionnels, découvrent leurs rôles respectifs et envisagent une future collaboration. Le dialogue montre comment utiliser des formules de politesse, poser des questions sur le travail et proposer de rester en contact, tout en restant dans un registre semi‑formel adapté à un contexte professionnel.
Making Small Talk
Use these phrases to engage in polite casual conversation with your colleagues at the office.
Saying Goodbye
These phrases are useful when you need to end a conversation or leave a place politely, whether you are finishing a meeting, saying goodbye to a host, or departing from a social gathering. They help you express gratitude, explain your reason for leaving, and suggest future contact while maintaining a friendly tone. Using them will make your departures sound natural and respectful in everyday French interactions.
Thanking & Apologizing
Dans un environnement francophone, il faut savoir remercier les gens et s'excuser pour de petits accidents. Par exemple, vous pouvez bousculer quelqu'un dans le métro ou être en retard à un rendez-vous. Dans ces situations, une phrase simple et polie évitera des malentendus. Il est donc nécessaire de maîtriser ces expressions quotidiennes qui vous aideront à créer de bonnes relations et à vivre avec confiance.
Invitations & Making Plans
Use these phrases to invite friends, accept or decline invitations, and coordinate meeting times and places in French.
Making Friends
Use these phrases when you want to connect with new people in France and share your interests.
Congratulations & Celebrations
Use these intermediate phrases to warmly congratulate friends and colleagues on their personal milestones, achievements, and special celebrations.
Talking About Family
Use these intermediate phrases to talk about your family members, relationships, and living situations in casual conversations.
Saying No Politely
Use these practical phrases to decline invitations or offers politely and suggest alternatives in daily French conversations.
Eating & Drinking Out
Restaurants, cafés, bars, and ordering food.
Making a Restaurant Reservation
Use these phrases when you need to call a French restaurant to reserve a table, change details, or mention dietary needs.
Ordering at a Restaurant
Use these intermediate phrases when ordering a meal, asking for recommendations, and interacting with staff at a French restaurant.
Allergies & Dietary Needs
Use these phrases when dining out in France to communicate your dietary requirements and food allergies clearly.
Sending Food Back & Complaints
Use these phrases when you need to politely address errors, cold food, or missing items in a French restaurant.
Paying & Splitting the Bill
Use these phrases when you are ready to pay your bill at a French restaurant or café.
Ordering Drinks at a Bar
Use these phrases when you visit a French bar to order drinks, handle tabs, and buy rounds.
Takeaway & Delivery
Use these intermediate phrases when ordering food to go or resolving delivery issues in French.
Travel & Transport
Airports, trains, taxis, and getting around.
Checking in at the Airport
Use these phrases when checking in for your flight and dropping off your bags at the airport.
Going Through Security
Use these intermediate phrases to navigate airport security checkpoints smoothly by communicating effectively with officers.
Customs & Immigration
Use these phrases when passing through airport customs and immigration to explain your travel plans clearly.
Reporting Lost Luggage
Use these practical French phrases at the airport baggage service counter if your checked luggage did not arrive.
Buying Train Tickets
Use these phrases when purchasing train tickets and navigating the station during your travels in France.
Using Buses & the Metro
Use these phrases when navigating the metro network and taking city buses in France.
Taking a Taxi or Rideshare
Use these phrases when you need to navigate a taxi or rideshare trip in a French-speaking city.
Asking for Directions
Use these phrases when you need to ask locals for directions or clarify how to reach your destination.
Renting a Car
Use these essential phrases when picking up, inspecting, or returning a rental car in a French-speaking country.
On the Plane
Use these phrases to communicate with the crew and other passengers during your flight.
Missed or Delayed Connection
Use these phrases when you miss your train or flight and need to arrange rebooking or compensation.
At the Tourist Office
Use these practical phrases when visiting a tourist information office to ask for directions, recommendations, and local attraction tickets.
Renting a Bike or Scooter
Use these phrases when you want to rent a bicycle or a scooter in a French-speaking city.
Hotels & Accommodation
Checking in, problems, and amenities.
Checking into a Hotel
Use these practical phrases when arriving at a hotel to check in and request details about your stay.
Hotel Room Problems
Use these phrases when you need to report issues with your hotel room and request solutions from the staff.
Asking About Hotel Amenities
Use these intermediate phrases to smoothly inquire about and request various amenities during your hotel stay.
Checking Out
Use these phrases when you are ready to check out of a French-speaking hotel and need to review your bill or store your bags.
Booking a Room
Use these phrases when you need to book a hotel room, confirm details, or change your reservation dates in French.
Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals
These phrases will help you communicate easily with your host while staying in a French short-term rental.
Staying at a Hostel
These survival phrases will help you manage your hostel stay, locate shared facilities, and meet other travelers.
Extending Your Stay
Use these phrases when you need to extend your hotel stay and discuss options with the front desk.
Shopping & Money
Stores, markets, prices, and paying.
Buying Clothes
Use these practical phrases when shopping for clothing in France to navigate sizes, colors, and fitting rooms.
Prices & Bargaining
Use these phrases when asking about prices and negotiating a discount while shopping.
Returns & Exchanges
Use these phrases when you need to return or exchange a faulty or incorrect purchase in a French‑speaking store.
At the Electronics Store
Use these phrases when shopping for electronic devices, comparing specifications, and asking for assistance in a store.
Souvenirs & Gifts
Use these phrases when shopping for unique gifts and local souvenirs in French-speaking stores.
Health & Pharmacy
Doctors, pharmacies, and describing symptoms.
At the Pharmacy
Use these phrases when you need to purchase medication, describe symptoms, or ask for dosage advice at a French pharmacy.
Making a Doctor Appointment
Use these phrases when you need to contact a medical clinic to book an appointment with a doctor.
Describing Symptoms
Use these phrases when you need to explain your symptoms and medical history to a doctor or pharmacist.
At the Dentist
Use these phrases when you need to explain dental issues, discuss treatments, and ask about costs at a French dental clinic.
At the Hospital / ER
Use these phrases when you need to register, explain an emergency, or ask for assistance at a French hospital.
At the Optician
Use these phrases when visiting an optician to get an eye test, buy glasses, or order contact lenses.
Getting a Test or Vaccine
Use these phrases when you need to book a vaccination or get tested at a French pharmacy.
Banking & Daily Admin
Banks, post office, phone, and internet.
Opening a Bank Account
Use these phrases when you visit a bank in France to open an account and select a card.
Exchanging Money
Use these phrases when you need to exchange foreign currency at a bank or a dedicated exchange office.
At the Post Office
Use these phrases when you need to send letters or parcels and manage mailing services at a French post office.
Getting a Phone / SIM Card
Use these phrases when you need to purchase a local SIM card or set up a mobile data plan in a French-speaking country.
Filing a Complaint
Use these phrases when you need to file a formal complaint at a French bank or administrative office.
Getting a Library Card
Use these phrases when you need to sign up for a library card and understand the rules for borrowing books and using internet services.
Renting & Housing
Finding a place, utilities, and repairs.
Viewing an Apartment
Use these phrases when you are visiting a rental property in France and want to ask questions about the lease, rooms, and costs.
Setting Up Utilities
Use these phrases when contacting utility providers to set up services in your new French home.
Repairs & Maintenance
Use these phrases to contact your landlord or property manager when you need to report maintenance issues in your home.
Talking to Neighbors
Use these practical phrases to introduce yourself, make small requests, and build friendly connections with your neighbors.
Trash & Recycling Rules
Use these phrases when you need to understand the waste management and recycling rules in your French apartment building.
Furnishing Your Place
Use these phrases when you are visiting a furniture store to buy new items and arrange for their delivery and assembly.
Everyday Services
Hairdresser, laundry, gym, and appointments.
At the Hairdresser
Use these intermediate phrases to communicate your preferences clearly during a visit to a French hair salon.
Laundry & Dry Cleaning
Use these practical phrases when visiting a French laundromat or dry cleaner to wash and care for your clothes.
Joining a Gym
Use these phrases when you want to join a local gym and need to ask about their membership plans, trials, and rules.
Booking an Appointment
Use these phrases when you need to book, change, or confirm appointments for everyday services.
At the Mechanic
Use these phrases when you need to explain car issues and discuss repairs at a garage in France.
Phone & Device Repair
Use these phrases when you need to get your phone or tablet repaired at a French service shop.
Spa, Nails & Massage
Use these phrases when you visit a spa or salon to request services, discuss preferences, and mention allergies.
Tailor & Alterations
Use these phrases when you visit a tailor or alterations shop to get your clothes adjusted.
Emergencies & Safety
Getting help fast when something goes wrong.
Calling Emergency Services
Use these phrases when you need to contact emergency services in France to report an accident, fire, or crime.
A Medical Emergency
Use these phrases to describe injuries, allergic reactions, and request immediate medical help in emergencies.
Lost or Stolen Items
Use these essential B1-level phrases when you need to report lost or stolen items to the local police or your embassy.
Car Accident or Breakdown
Use these phrases when you experience a car accident or breakdown and need to explain the situation.
Reporting a Crime
Use these phrases to report a theft or emergency to the police in a French-speaking area.
Fire & Evacuation
Use these phrases to safely raise the alarm, find exits, help colleagues, and communicate with rescue workers during a fire emergency.
Work & Study
Interviews, the workplace, and enrolling in courses.
Your First Day at Work
Use these survival phrases to confidently navigate your first day at a new French-speaking workplace.
Enrolling in a Course
Use these phrases when you want to enroll in a new language course or professional training program.
Asking for Time Off
Use these phrases when you need to request time off, explain absences, or call in sick at work.
University Admin
Use these phrases when navigating university administrative tasks, managing registration, or requesting transcripts.