Boost Your French Skills: The Ultimate English-French Glossary

Oct 29, 2025 by Admin 63 views

Hey there, language learners! 👋 If you're diving into the beautiful world of French, or maybe you're just brushing up on your skills, then you're in the right place. This English-French glossary is your ultimate companion. We're going to break down essential words and phrases. Think of this as your secret weapon. Whether you're planning a trip to Paris, prepping for a French exam, or just want to impress your friends, this glossary will help you. We will go through everything, from basic greetings to complex vocabulary, with practical examples to boost your learning. So, grab your café (coffee) and let's get started!

Greetings and Basic Phrases: Your French Starter Pack

Okay, guys, let's start with the basics! First impressions matter, right? In French, greetings are super important. They set the tone for any conversation. You will see how these simple phrases can make a big difference in your interactions. Forget awkward silences or blank stares. With these essential phrases, you will be able to confidently navigate any situation. We will dive into the most common greetings and basic phrases. We'll also cover pronunciation tips and real-life examples.

Hello/Hi:
- English: Hello/Hi
- French: Bonjour (formal/general), Salut (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - Bonjour: bõʒuʁ (rhymes with “song-sure”)
  - Salut: saly (rhymes with “rally”)
- Usage: Bonjour is used throughout the day. Salut is for friends and family.
Good morning:
- English: Good morning
- French: Bonjour
- Pronunciation: bõʒuʁ
- Usage: Use Bonjour in the morning.
Good evening/Good night:
- English: Good evening/Good night
- French: Bonsoir (good evening), Bonne nuit (good night)
- Pronunciation:
  - Bonsoir: bɔ̃swaʁ (rhymes with “song-swar”)
  - Bonne nuit: bɔn nɥi (rhymes with “bonn wee”)
- Usage: Bonsoir is for greetings in the evening. Bonne nuit is for saying good night.
How are you?:
- English: How are you?
- French: Comment allez-vous? (formal), Ça va ?/Comment ça va? (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - Comment allez-vous?: kɔmɑ̃ tale vu?
  - Ça va?: sa va?
  - Comment ça va?: kɔmɑ̃ sa va?
- Usage: Use the formal version with strangers. Ça va? is perfect for friends.
I'm fine, thank you:
- English: I'm fine, thank you
- French: Je vais bien, merci (formal), Ça va bien, merci (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - Je vais bien, merci: ʒə vɛ bjɛ̃ mɛʁsi
  - Ça va bien, merci: sa va bjɛ̃ mɛʁsi
- Usage: The formal version is polite. Ça va bien, merci is casual.
What is your name?:
- English: What is your name?
- French: Comment vous appelez-vous? (formal), Comment tu t'appelles? (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - Comment vous appelez-vous?: kɔmɑ̃ vu zaple vu?
  - Comment tu t'appelles?: kɔmɑ̃ ty tapɛl?
- Usage: Use the formal version with respect. Comment tu t'appelles? is for people you know.
My name is…:
- English: My name is…
- French: Je m'appelle…
- Pronunciation: ʒə mapɛl
- Usage: Introduce yourself with your name.
Nice to meet you:
- English: Nice to meet you
- French: Enchanté(e)
- Pronunciation: ɑ̃ʃɑ̃te (masculine), ɑ̃ʃɑ̃te (feminine)
- Usage: Say this after an introduction.
Please:
- English: Please
- French: S'il vous plaît (formal), S'il te plaît (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - S'il vous plaît: sil vu plɛ
  - S'il te plaît: sil tə plɛ
- Usage: Use these to be polite.
Thank you:
- English: Thank you
- French: Merci
- Pronunciation: mɛʁsi
- Usage: Always say this!
You're welcome:
- English: You're welcome
- French: De rien (informal), Je vous en prie (formal)
- Pronunciation:
  - De rien: də ʁjɛ̃
  - Je vous en prie: ʒə vu ɑ̃ pʁi
- Usage: Respond to “thank you.”
Yes:
- English: Yes
- French: Oui
- Pronunciation: wi (rhymes with “we”)
- Usage: Simple and direct.
No:
- English: No
- French: Non
- Pronunciation: nɔ̃ (rhymes with “song”)
- Usage: Just say no.
Excuse me/Sorry:
- English: Excuse me/Sorry
- French: Excusez-moi (formal), Pardon (informal)
- Pronunciation:
  - Excusez-moi: ekskyze mwa
  - Pardon: paʁdɔ̃
- Usage: Get someone's attention or apologize.
Goodbye:
- English: Goodbye
- French: Au revoir
- Pronunciation: o ʁəvwaʁ
- Usage: Use when leaving.

Essential Verbs: Actions in French

Alright, let’s move on to the heart of the matter: verbs! Verbs are the driving force behind any sentence, describing actions, states, or occurrences. If you want to really speak French, you've got to master them. Don't worry, we're not going to jump into complex conjugations right away. We'll start with some essential verbs that you’ll use every single day. We'll cover their basic forms and provide handy examples to make sure you get the hang of it.

To be:
- English: To be
- French: Être
- Conjugation:
  - Je suis (I am)
  - Tu es (You are - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On est (He/She/One is)
  - Nous sommes (We are)
  - Vous êtes (You are - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles sont (They are)
- Example: Je suis heureux. (I am happy.)
To have:
- English: To have
- French: Avoir
- Conjugation:
  - J'ai (I have)
  - Tu as (You have - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On a (He/She/One has)
  - Nous avons (We have)
  - Vous avez (You have - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles ont (They have)
- Example: J'ai un chat. (I have a cat.)
To do/to make:
- English: To do/to make
- French: Faire
- Conjugation:
  - Je fais (I do/make)
  - Tu fais (You do/make - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On fait (He/She/One does/makes)
  - Nous faisons (We do/make)
  - Vous faites (You do/make - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles font (They do/make)
- Example: Je fais mes devoirs. (I do my homework.)
To go:
- English: To go
- French: Aller
- Conjugation:
  - Je vais (I go)
  - Tu vas (You go - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On va (He/She/One goes)
  - Nous allons (We go)
  - Vous allez (You go - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles vont (They go)
- Example: Je vais au cinéma. (I go to the cinema.)
To speak:
- English: To speak
- French: Parler
- Conjugation:
  - Je parle (I speak)
  - Tu parles (You speak - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On parle (He/She/One speaks)
  - Nous parlons (We speak)
  - Vous parlez (You speak - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles parlent (They speak)
- Example: Je parle français. (I speak French.)
To want:
- English: To want
- French: Vouloir
- Conjugation:
  - Je veux (I want)
  - Tu veux (You want - informal)
  - Il/Elle/On veut (He/She/One wants)
  - Nous voulons (We want)
  - Vous voulez (You want - formal/plural)
  - Ils/Elles veulent (They want)
- Example: Je veux un café. (I want a coffee.)

Key Vocabulary: Words to Build Your Sentences

Now, let's stock up your word bank! Vocabulary is the foundation of any language. The more words you know, the better you will be able to express yourself. Here's a curated list of essential words. These keywords will help you when you start crafting your sentences.

People:
- English: People
- French: Les gens
Man/Woman:
- English: Man/Woman
- French: Homme/Femme
Boy/Girl:
- English: Boy/Girl
- French: Garçon/Fille
Friend:
- English: Friend
- French: Ami(e) (masculine/feminine)
Family:
- English: Family
- French: Famille
House/Home:
- English: House/Home
- French: Maison/Chez moi
Car:
- English: Car
- French: Voiture
Food:
- English: Food
- French: Nourriture
Water:
- English: Water
- French: Eau
Bread:
- English: Bread
- French: Pain
Wine:
- English: Wine
- French: Vin
Thank you:
- English: Thank you
- French: Merci
Yes:
- English: Yes
- French: Oui
No:
- English: No
- French: Non
Good:
- English: Good
- French: Bon/Bonne (masculine/feminine)
Bad:
- English: Bad
- French: Mauvais/Mauvaise (masculine/feminine)
Big/Small:
- English: Big/Small
- French: Grand/Petit (masculine/feminine)
Hot/Cold:
- English: Hot/Cold
- French: Chaud/Froid (masculine/feminine)
Happy/Sad:
- English: Happy/Sad
- French: Heureux/Triste (masculine/feminine)

Useful Phrases for Everyday Conversations

Let’s move on to those everyday conversations. We will look at some phrases to help you deal with the real-life situations. Here are some super useful phrases. From ordering food to asking for directions, these phrases will help you navigate your everyday interactions.

Where is…?:
- English: Where is…?
- French: Où est…?
I don't understand:
- English: I don't understand
- French: Je ne comprends pas.
Do you speak English?:
- English: Do you speak English?
- French: Parlez-vous anglais?
I speak a little French:
- English: I speak a little French.
- French: Je parle un peu français.
How much is this?:
- English: How much is this?
- French: C'est combien?
I would like…:
- English: I would like…
- French: Je voudrais…
Can you help me?:
- English: Can you help me?
- French: Pouvez-vous m'aider?
I am lost:
- English: I am lost
- French: Je suis perdu(e)
Excuse me:
- English: Excuse me
- French: Excusez-moi

Numbers and Time: Counting and Keeping Track

Numbers and time. Both are super important for everyday life. Now, let’s get into numbers and time! These are essential for everything, from telling the time to making purchases. We will get you familiar with counting. We'll also cover days of the week, months, and some common time-related phrases. This is one of the most practical sections.

Numbers (1-10):
- English: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
- French: Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix
- Pronunciation:
  - Un: œ̃
  - Deux: dø
  - Trois: tʁwa
  - Quatre: katʁ
  - Cinq: sɛ̃k
  - Six: sis
  - Sept: sɛt
  - Huit: ɥit
  - Neuf: nœf
  - Dix: dis
Days of the week:
- English: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
- French: Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi, Samedi, Dimanche
- Pronunciation:
  - Lundi: lɛ̃di
  - Mardi: maʁdi
  - Mercredi: mɛʁkʁədi
  - Jeudi: ʒødi
  - Vendredi: vɑ̃dʁədi
  - Samedi: samdi
  - Dimanche: dimɑ̃ʃ
Months of the year:
- English: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- French: Janvier, Février, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Décembre
- Pronunciation:
  - Janvier: ʒɑ̃vje
  - Février: fevʁije
  - Mars: maʁs
  - Avril: avʁil
  - Mai: mɛ
  - Juin: ʒuɛ̃
  - Juillet: ʒɥijɛ
  - Août: u
  - Septembre: sɛptɑ̃bʁ
  - Octobre: ɔktɔbʁ
  - Novembre: nɔvɑ̃bʁ
  - Décembre: desɑ̃bʁ
Time:
- English: What time is it?
- French: Quelle heure est-il?
- English: It is… o'clock
- French: Il est… heure(s)

Practical Tips for Learning French

Okay, now that we've covered a bunch of useful words and phrases, let's talk about the best way to learn French. Learning a new language can be fun, but you’ll want to be efficient with your time. Here are some tips that will help you.

Immerse yourself: Surround yourself with French. Listen to French music, watch French movies and TV shows (with subtitles!), and try to read French books or articles.
Practice regularly: Even a little practice every day is better than a long study session once a week. Consistency is key!
Find a language partner: Speaking with a native French speaker is one of the best ways to improve your fluency and pronunciation. You can find language partners online or in your community.
Use language learning apps: Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise can be great for learning vocabulary and grammar. They make learning fun and accessible.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning a new language. Don't let the fear of making a mistake stop you from speaking. The more you speak, the better you'll become!

Conclusion: Your French Journey Begins Now!

Alright, folks, that's a wrap! You now have a solid foundation. Remember, learning a language is a journey, not a destination. Keep practicing, stay curious, and most importantly, have fun! Bonne chance (Good luck!) on your French adventure. À bientôt (See you soon)! 🎉