Language/French/Vocabulary/Be-Polite
Hi French learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to be polite in French. As you interact with French-speaking people, it is essential to know these basic phrases to show respect and courtesy. Let's get started!
Greetings
Salutations or Greetings are the first words that you say when you meet someone. Here are some common greetings you can use in French:
| French | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Bonjour | bohn-zhoor | Good morning/afternoon |
| Bonsoir | bohn-swahr | Good evening |
| Salut | sa-lu | Hi/Hello |
| Au revoir | oh ruh-vwah | Goodbye |
| Bonne nuit | bun nwee |
__Dialogue:__
- Person 1: Bonjour, comment ça va? (Hello, how are you?)
- Person 2: Bonjour, ça va bien merci, et toi? (Hello, I'm fine thank you, and you?)
Saying Please and Thank you
It's always polite to add "s'il vous plaît" or "s'il te plaît" (Please) when making requests. And don't forget to show gratitude by saying "merci" (Thank you) when someone does something for you. Here are some phrases that include these words:
| French | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| S'il vous plaît | seel voo pleh | Please (formal) |
| S'il te plaît | seel teh pleh | Please (informal) |
| Merci | mehr-see | Thank you |
| De rien | duh ree-ehn |
__Dialogue:__
- Person 1: S'il te plaît, peux-tu me passer le sel? (Please, can you pass me the salt?)
- Person 2: Bien sûr! (Of course!)
- Person 1: Merci beaucoup! (Thank you very much!)
Apologizing
If you make a mistake or cause inconvenience to others, it's important to apologize. Here are some ways to say sorry in French:
| French | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Pardon | pahr-dohn | Pardon/Excuse me |
| Je suis désolé(e) | juh swee deh-zoh-leh | I'm sorry |
| Excusez-moi | ehks-kyoo-seh mwah | Excuse me (formal) |
| Désolé(e), je ne peux pas venir | deh-zoh-leh, juh nuh puh pah vuh-neer |
__Dialogue:__
- Person 1: Pardon, je suis en retard. (Excuse me, I'm late.)
- Person 2: Ce n'est pas grave. (It's not a big deal.)
- Person 1: Merci beaucoup de votre compréhension. (Thank you very much for your understanding.)
Polite Expressions
There are many ways to be polite in French, especially when you communicate with someone you don't know well. Here are some examples:
| French | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| Je vous en prie | juh vooz ahn pree | You're welcome/Be my guest |
| Enchanté(e) | ahn-shahn-teh | Nice to meet you (formal) |
| Comment allez-vous? | koh-mahn tah-lay voo | How are you? (formal) |
| Je vous remercie | juh voo ruh-mehr-see |
__Dialogue:__
- Person 1: Bonjour, je m'appelle Anne. Enchantée! (Hello, my name is Anne. Nice to meet you!)
- Person 2: Bonjour, moi c'est Marc. Enchanté aussi! (Hello, my name is Marc. Nice to meet you too!)
- Person 1: Comment allez-vous aujourd'hui? (How are you today?)
- Person 2: Je vais bien, merci. Et vous? (I'm fine, thank you. And you?)
- Person 1: Très bien, merci. (Very well, thank you.)
Conclusion
Learning how to be polite in French is essential, and it shows your respect for the language and the culture. Continue to practice using these phrases and expressions, and don't be afraid to make mistakes as you learn. Also, remember to check out the Find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have.
If you want to improve your French vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website.
➡ 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. 😎