Language/French/Vocabulary/Be-Polite
Hi French learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to be polite in French, with useful vocabulary and cultural information. Being polite is essential when interacting with French people, especially in formal situations. Are you ready to improve your French language skills? Let's start!
Polite expressions
Let's start with the most common polite expressions in French:
| Bonjour | (bohn-zhoor) | Good morning/afternoon |
| Bonsoir | (bohn-swahr) | Good evening |
| Salut | (sa-lu) | Hi/Bye (informal) |
| Au revoir | (oh ruh-vwah) | Goodbye |
| Merci | (mehr-see) | Thank you |
| S'il vous plaît | (seel voo pleh) | Please |
Introduce yourself
When you meet someone for the first time, it's important to introduce yourself in a polite way.
- Person 1: Bonjour, je m'appelle Pierre. Enchanté(e). (Hello, my name is Pierre. Nice to meet you.)
- Person 2: Bonjour, je m'appelle Sophie. Enchanté(e) également. (Hello, my name is Sophie. Nice to meet you too.)
Enchanté(e) is the common way to say "nice to meet you" in French.
Formal vs Informal
French language has both formal and informal ways to address someone, and it's important to use the right form in the right situation. Here are the most common examples:
- Formal:
* Monsieur (M.) (Sir/Mr.) * Madame (Mme.) (Madam/Mrs.) * Mademoiselle (Mlle.) (Miss)
- Informal:
* Tu (you- singular- informal) * Salut (Hi/Bye) * Ça va? (How are you?)
In a formal situation, it's better to use Monsieur or Madame and the last name of the person. For example:
- Person 1: Bonjour, Monsieur Dupont. Comment allez-vous? (Hello, Mr. Dupont. How are you?)
- Person 2: Bonjour, Madame Lambert. Très bien, merci. Et vous? (Hello, Mrs. Lambert. Very well, thank you. And you?)
In an informal situation, it's more common to use Salut or Ça va?
Apologize and Excuse Me
Knowing how to apologize and say "excuse me" in French is also an important part of being polite.
- Pardon (Par-dohn) or Excusez-moi (ek-skoo-zay mwah): Excuse me, to ask for attention or to say sorry
- Désolé(e)(deh-soh-ley): Sorry (formal/informal)
For example:
- Person 1: Pardon, je n'ai pas compris. (Excuse me, I did not understand.)
- Person 2: Ce n'est pas grave. (It's not important.)
Cultural information
In France, it's polite to "faire la bise" when you meet someone. This means giving two light kisses on the cheeks (one on each side). The number of kisses varies depending on the region, so it can be two, three, or four kisses.
When you enter a store or a small business, it's polite to greet the staff with a "Bonjour!". It's also polite to say "Au revoir" when leaving.
Practice
To improve your French [1], you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Now, let's practice what we've learned:
- Person 1: Bonjour, comment ça va? (Hello, how are you?)
- Person 2: Très bien, merci. Et vous? (Very well, thank you. And you?)
- Person 1: Ça va bien, merci. Je m'appelle Anne. Enchantée. (I'm fine, thank you. My name is Anne. Nice to meet you.)
- Person 2: Je suis Éric. Enchanté également. (I'm Eric. Nice to meet you too.)
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎