Bonjour opens every door
In France it's rude to ask a shopkeeper anything before saying bonjour. Make it a reflex: bonjour first, then your question.
A1Unit 1 of the A1 course · « Bonjour ! »
French greetings and introductions
In France, every conversation starts with « Bonjour ». This page covers the greetings and polite words you'll use every day, how to say your name and ask someone else's, and when to use tu or vous.
By the end of this unit you can: greet people, introduce yourself and order a coffee.
What this unit covers
- 1Saluer: Say hello, goodbye, please and thank you.
- 2Se présenter: Give your name and ask someone theirs.
- 3Ça va ?: Ask how someone is and answer.
- 4Un ou une ?: Know that every noun is masculine or feminine, and pick un or une.
- 5Au café: Put it all together in a short conversation at a café.
Grammar and usage, explained
Être, the verb to be
Être is irregular, so learn it as a little song. Je suis, tu es, il est, elle est.
- Je suis Paul.I am Paul.
- Tu es sympa.You are nice.
- Elle est française.She is French.
One phrase, two jobs
Ça va ? with a rising voice is the question. Ça va. with a falling voice is the answer. Friends often just say ça va ? — ça va !
- Salut ! Ça va ?Hi! How's it going?
- Ça va, et toi ?Fine, and you?
Every noun has a gender
In French a book is masculine and a table is feminine. There's often no logic, so learn the article with the word. In this app masculine words are blue and feminine words are red.
- un livrea book
- une tablea table
Scene: Café de la Gare
You walk into a café in Lyon. Greet the server, order, and introduce yourself to a friend who joins you.
Vocabulary: 26 words and phrases
Tap 🔊 to hear each one, recorded by a native-sounding French voice.
Saluer
| Listen | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | hello / good morningThe all-day greeting. Say it when you walk into a shop. | |
| salut | hi / bye (informal)Only with friends, family and people your age. | |
| bonsoir | good eveningFrom about 6 pm onwards. | |
| au revoir | goodbye | |
| merciMerci beaucoup ! (Thank you very much!) | thank you | |
| s'il vous plaît | please (formal)Use s'il te plaît with a friend. | |
| oui | yes | |
| non | no |
Se présenter
| Listen | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| je m'appelle…Je m'appelle Awa. (My name is Awa.) | my name is… | |
| comment tu t'appelles ? | what's your name? (informal) | |
| enchanté / enchantée | nice to meet youAdd an e if you are a woman: enchantée. It sounds the same. | |
| je suisJe suis étudiante. (I am a student.) | I am | |
| tu es | you are (informal) | |
| il est / elle est | he is / she is |
Ça va ?
| Listen | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| comment ça va ? | how are you? | |
| ça va bien | I'm fine | |
| très bien | very well | |
| pas mal | not bad | |
| et toi ? | and you? (informal)Formal: et vous ? | |
| comme ci, comme ça | so-so |
Un ou une ?
| Listen | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| livre(masculine) | book | |
| table(feminine) | table | |
| café(masculine) | coffee / café | |
| pomme(feminine) | apple | |
| ami(masculine) | friend (male) | |
| amie(feminine) | friend (female) |
Example sentences
- Bonjour !Hello!
- Je m'appelle Paul.My name is Paul.
- Ça va bien, et toi ?I'm fine, and you?
- Un café, s'il vous plaît.A coffee, please.
- Merci, au revoir !Thank you, goodbye!
Practise it, don't just read it
This unit is part of French Ultimate's A1 course: 5 short lessons with an animated video each, speaking and listening practice, a reading and an end-of-unit test.
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