First Phrases

Making plans with new friends · Français

Making plans with new friends in French: 15 phrases

Invite someone for a coffee or an event, suggest a time and a place, swap numbers, say you are new in town, decline politely, follow up after meeting at an event, and say nice to meet you and see you next time. Short, natural phrases for making friends in a new town. Pair them with Meet & Mint: find an event to go to together.

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: Informal (friendly). Among people of a similar age, "tu" is normal in France, especially at events and among younger people. With an older person, use "vous" until they suggest "on se tutoie ?". "On se retrouve" and "on se voit" are the everyday ways to fix a meeting. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

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.

15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Informal
    Ça te dit d'aller prendre un café cette semaine ?
    Say it like: sah tuh dee dal-LAY PRON-druh un kah-FAY set suh-MEN
    Do you fancy a coffee this week?
    Register: "Ça te dit ?" = does that appeal to you? Very common.
  2. 02Informal
    Tu viens à l'événement de samedi ? On peut y aller ensemble.
    Say it like: tew vyan ah lay-vehn-MON duh sam-DEE. on puh ee al-LAY on-SON-bluh
    Are you coming to the event on Saturday? We can go together.
    Register: "On" is used for "we" in everyday speech.
  3. 03Informal
    On se retrouve samedi à dix-sept heures ?
    Say it like: on suh ruh-TROOV sam-DEE ah dee-seh-TUR
    Shall we meet on Saturday at 5 pm?
    Register: In speech people also say "cinq heures"; the 24-hour clock is common in writing and timetables.
  4. 04Informal
    Ça te va, un café près de la gare ? Je connais un endroit sympa.
    Say it like: sah tuh vah, un kah-FAY pray duh lah gar? zhuh koh-NAY un on-DRWAH san-PAH
    Does a café near the station suit you? I know a nice place.
    Register: "Sympa" = nice, pleasant.
  5. 05Informal
    Quel jour ça t'arrange ?
    Say it like: kel zhoor sah tar-RONZH
    Which day suits you?
    Register: "Ça t'arrange ?" = is that convenient for you?
  6. 06Informal
    Tu me donnes ton numéro ? Comme ça, on reste en contact.
    Say it like: tew muh dun ton new-may-ROH? kum sah, on rest on kon-TAKT
    Can you give me your number? That way we stay in touch.
    Register: People often swap WhatsApp or Instagram too.
  7. 07Neutral
    Je viens d'arriver en ville et je cherche à rencontrer du monde.
    Say it like: zhuh vyan da-ree-VAY on veel ay zhuh shersh ah ron-kon-TRAY dew mond
    I've just arrived in town and I'm looking to meet people.
    Register: "Rencontrer du monde" = to meet people (colloquial).
  8. 08Neutral
    Merci pour l'invitation, mais je ne peux pas cette fois.
    Say it like: mer-SEE poor lan-vee-ta-SYON, may zhuh nuh puh pah set fwah
    Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.
    Register: Polite and clear; no reason needed.
  9. 09Informal
    Aujourd'hui, ça ne va pas, mais on peut se voir une autre fois ?
    Say it like: oh-zhoor-DWEE, sah nuh vah pah, may on puh suh vwar ewn OH-truh fwah
    Today doesn't work, but can we meet another time?
    Register: Offers another date in a friendly way.
  10. 10Informal
    Avec plaisir ! J'y serai.
    Say it like: a-vek pleh-ZEER. zhee suh-RAY
    Gladly! I'll be there.
    Register: "Avec plaisir" is a warm yes.
  11. 11Neutral
    C'était un plaisir de te rencontrer hier à l'événement.
    Say it like: say-TEH un pleh-ZEER duh tuh ron-kon-TRAY yair ah lay-vehn-MON
    It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday at the event.
    Register: With an older person: "de vous rencontrer".
  12. 12Informal
    Je t'envoie les détails par message.
    Say it like: zhuh ton-VWAH lay day-TAI par meh-SAHZH
    I'll send you the details by message.
    Register: "Un SMS" or "un message" both work.
  13. 13Informal
    On se refait ça bientôt ? Ça m'a vraiment plu.
    Say it like: on suh ruh-FAY sah byan-TOH? sah mah vray-MON plew
    Shall we do this again soon? I really liked it.
    Register: "On se refait ça ?" = shall we do it again?
  14. 14Neutral
    Enchanté de faire ta connaissance.
    Say it like: on-shon-TAY duh fair tah koh-neh-SONS
    Nice to meet you.
    Register: Women say "enchantée". Use "votre" instead of "ta" with vous.
  15. 15Informal
    À la prochaine ! Au plaisir de se revoir.
    Say it like: ah lah pro-SHEN. oh pleh-ZEER duh suh ruh-VWAR
    Until next time! Hope to see you again.
    Register: "À la prochaine" = see you next time.

New in town?

More tools for people who just moved: converters, checklists and country guides.

Open Newcomer Kit

Quick answers

How do you invite someone for a coffee in French?

Say: "Ça te dit d'aller prendre un café cette semaine ?" (Do you fancy a coffee this week?)

Should I use informal or formal French with new friends?

Among people of a similar age, "tu" is normal in France, especially at events and among younger people. With an older person, use "vous" until they suggest "on se tutoie ?". "On se retrouve" and "on se voit" are the everyday ways to fix a meeting. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I say I'm new in town in French?

Say: "Je viens d'arriver en ville et je cherche à rencontrer du monde." (I've just arrived in town and I'm looking to meet people.)

How do I decline an invitation politely in French?

Say: "Merci pour l'invitation, mais je ne peux pas cette fois." (Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.)

Making plans phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  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 an event to go to together: see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group before you meet. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/making-plans-with-new-friends/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint