First Phrases

First 48 hours · Français

First 48 hours in French: 25 phrases for meeting people

Introduce yourself, say you are new here and ask for tips, ask to join a table, ask where people meet, leave politely, and swap contacts. Short, natural phrases for the first two days in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In France use "vous" with people you do not know, and let them suggest "on peut se tutoyer ?" (shall we use tu?). Among young people at bars, sports clubs and hostels, "tu" comes quickly and is fine; the "tu" version is given in each note.

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

25 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Bonjour, je m'appelle …. Enchanté.
    Say it like: bon-ZHOOR, zhuh mah-PEL … ahn-shahn-TAY
    Hello, I'm …. Nice to meet you.
    Register: Women write "enchantée"; it sounds exactly the same. Always say "bonjour" first when you meet someone.
  2. 02Polite
    Comment vous appelez-vous ?
    Say it like: koh-MAHN voo-zah-play VOO
    What's your name?
    Register: Tu: "Comment tu t'appelles ?" Also "Vous vous appelez comment ?"
  3. 03Neutral
    Vous venez d'où ?
    Say it like: voo vuh-NAY DOO
    Where are you from?
    Register: Tu: "Tu viens d'où ?" Very common and friendly.
  4. 04Neutral
    Je viens de …. Et vous ?
    Say it like: zhuh vyan duh … ay VOO
    I'm from …. And you?
    Register: Add your country or city. Tu: "Et toi ?"
  5. 05Neutral
    Je viens d'arriver ici.
    Say it like: zhuh vyan dah-ree-VAY ee-SEE
    I've just arrived here.
    Register: Also "Je viens d'emménager" = I've just moved in.
  6. 06Neutral
    Je viens d'arriver, je ne connais pas encore le coin. Vous avez des conseils ?
    Say it like: zhuh vyan dah-ree-VAY, zhuh nuh koh-NAY pah zahn-KOR luh KWAN. voo-zah-VAY day kohn-SAY
    I've just arrived and I don't know the area yet. Any tips?
    Register: Gender-free way to say "I'm new here". "Le coin" = the area. Tu: "Tu as des conseils ?"
  7. 07Neutral
    Vous habitez dans le coin ?
    Say it like: voo-zah-bee-TAY dahn luh KWAN
    Do you live around here?
    Register: Tu: "Tu habites dans le coin ?"
  8. 08Neutral
    Est-ce que cette place est libre ?
    Say it like: es-kuh set PLAHS ay LEE-bruh
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Answers: "Oui, bien sûr" (yes, of course) or "Elle est prise" (taken).
  9. 09Neutral
    Je peux me joindre à vous ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh muh ZHWAN-druh ah VOO
    Can I join you?
    Register: Polite and natural. "Ça ne vous dérange pas si je m'assois ?" is softer.
  10. 10Neutral
    Vous voulez vous joindre à nous ?
    Say it like: voo voo-LAY voo ZHWAN-druh ah NOO
    Would you like to join us?
    Register: Tu: "Tu veux venir avec nous ?" Warm and common.
  11. 11Neutral
    Où est-ce que les gens se retrouvent, par ici ?
    Say it like: oo es-kuh lay ZHAHN suh ruh-TROOV par ee-SEE
    Where do people usually meet up around here?
    Register: "Se retrouver" = to meet up. Also "On sort où, dans le coin ?" (where do people go out here?).
  12. 12Neutral
    Il y a un groupe ou une soirée pour les nouveaux arrivants ?
    Say it like: eel-ee-AH uhn GROOP oo oon swah-RAY poor lay noo-VOH-zah-ree-VAHN
    Is there a group or an evening for newcomers?
    Register: Also search "soirée d'échange linguistique" for language exchange nights.
  13. 13Polite
    Vous pourriez me conseiller un endroit près d'ici ?
    Say it like: voo poo-ree-AY muh kohn-say-YAY uhn ahn-DRWAH preh dee-SEE
    Could you recommend a place nearby?
    Register: Add what you want: "pour boire un verre" or "pour déjeuner". Tu: "Tu pourrais me conseiller...?"
  14. 14Polite
    Excusez-moi, mon français est encore limité.
    Say it like: ek-skew-zay-MWAH mon frahn-SAY et ahn-KOR lee-mee-TAY
    Excuse me, my French is still limited.
    Register: Tu: "Désolé" (women: "désolée", same sound). People appreciate the effort.
  15. 15Polite
    Pardon, vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: par-DOHN voo poo-VAY ray-pay-TAY seel voo PLAY
    Sorry, could you repeat that, please?
    Register: Tu: "Tu peux répéter ?"
  16. 16Polite
    Vous pouvez parler un peu plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: voo poo-VAY par-LAY uhn puh plew lahn-tuh-MAHN seel voo PLAY
    Could you speak a little more slowly, please?
    Register: Tu: "Tu peux parler plus lentement ?"
  17. 17Neutral
    Ça vous dirait de prendre un café un de ces jours ?
    Say it like: sah voo dee-RAY duh PRAHN-druh uhn kah-FAY uhn duh say ZHOOR
    Would you like to grab a coffee one of these days?
    Register: Very natural invitation. Tu: "Ça te dirait de...?"
  18. 18Polite
    Merci pour vos conseils, c'est très utile.
    Say it like: mer-SEE poor voh kohn-SAY, say treh zew-TEEL
    Thank you for your tips, that's very useful.
    Register: Tu: "Merci pour tes conseils."
  19. 19Neutral
    Ça m'a fait plaisir de discuter avec vous.
    Say it like: sah mah fay pleh-ZEER duh dees-kew-TAY ah-VEK VOO
    It was nice chatting with you.
    Register: Tu: "...avec toi." Also "Ravi de vous avoir rencontré" (women: "ravie", same sound).
  20. 20Neutral
    Bon, je vais vous laisser. À bientôt !
    Say it like: bohn zhuh vay voo leh-SAY. ah byan-TOH
    Right, I'll let you go. See you soon!
    Register: The standard polite way out of a conversation. "À tout à l'heure" = see you later today.
  21. 21Neutral
    Excusez-moi, quelqu'un m'attend. C'était un plaisir !
    Say it like: ek-skew-zay-MWAH kel-KUHN mah-TAHN. say-TEH uhn pleh-ZEER
    Excuse me, someone is waiting for me. It was a pleasure!
    Register: A polite, honest reason to leave.
  22. 22Neutral
    On échange nos numéros ?
    Say it like: ohn ay-SHAHNZH noh new-may-ROH
    Shall we swap numbers?
    Register: Casual and mutual. Formal: "Puis-je avoir votre numéro ?"
  23. 23Neutral
    Vous avez WhatsApp ?
    Say it like: voo-zah-VAY wat-SAP
    Do you have WhatsApp?
    Register: Tu: "Tu as WhatsApp ?" Instagram is also common among younger people.
  24. 24Neutral
    On reste en contact !
    Say it like: ohn rest ahn kohn-TAKT
    Let's stay in touch!
    Register: Also "On se tient au courant !"
  25. 25Neutral
    Bonne journée !
    Say it like: bun zhoor-NAY
    Have a good day!
    Register: After about 5 pm say "Bonne soirée !" The reply is "Vous de même !" (you too).

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Quick answers

How do you introduce yourself in French?

Say: "Bonjour, je m'appelle …. Enchanté." (Hello, I'm …. Nice to meet you.)

Should I use informal or formal French with people I have just met?

In France use "vous" with people you do not know, and let them suggest "on peut se tutoyer ?" (shall we use tu?). Among young people at bars, sports clubs and hostels, "tu" comes quickly and is fine; the "tu" version is given in each note.

How do I ask to join a table in French?

Try: "Je peux me joindre à vous ?" (Can I join you?)

How do I say I am new here in French?

Try: "Je viens d'arriver, je ne connais pas encore le coin. Vous avez des conseils ?" (I've just arrived and I don't know the area yet. Any tips?)

First 48 hours in another language

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How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you have just moved to.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/first48/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint