First Phrases

New Year phrases · Français

New Year phrases in French: 20 phrases

Wish people a happy new year, raise a glass, ask to join a table, find out who is watching the fireworks and where, ask for the last metro, and say thank you, you too. Short, common phrases for New Year's Eve and the winter holidays; secular greetings only.

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). In France New Year's Eve is "le réveillon du Nouvel An" or "la Saint-Sylvestre". "Tu" is normal with people your age at a party; use "vous" with older people and staff you do not know.

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.

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20 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Bonne année !
    Say it like: bunn ah-NAY
    Happy New Year!
    Register: Said from midnight on and in the first weeks of January.
  2. 02Neutral
    Meilleurs vœux pour 2027 !
    Say it like: may-YUR vuh poor duh meel van-SET
    All the best for 2027!
    Register: The usual written and spoken new-year wish. Say the year as: deux mille vingt-sept.
  3. 03Neutral
    Santé !
    Say it like: sahn-TAY
    Cheers!
    Register: "À la vôtre !" is a bit more formal.
  4. 04Neutral
    Joyeux Noël !
    Say it like: zhwah-yuh noh-EL
    Merry Christmas!
    Register: The standard greeting.
  5. 05Neutral
    Bonnes fêtes !
    Say it like: bunn FET
    Happy holidays!
    Register: Covers the days around Christmas and New Year.
  6. 06Polite
    Merci, à vous aussi !
    Say it like: mer-SEE ah voo oh-SEE
    Thank you, you too!
    Register: With a friend: "Merci, à toi aussi !"
  7. 07Neutral
    Je peux me joindre à vous ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh muh ZHWAN-druh ah voo
    Can I join you?
    Register: Friendly and polite.
  8. 08Informal
    Tu fais quoi pour le Nouvel An ?
    Say it like: tew fay kwah poor luh noo-VEL AHN
    What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
    Register: Polite: "Que faites-vous pour le Nouvel An ?"
  9. 09Informal
    Où est-ce que tu vas voir le feu d'artifice ?
    Say it like: oo es-kuh tew vah vwahr luh fuh dar-tee-FEESS
    Where are you watching the fireworks?
    Register: Casual, "tu".
  10. 10Neutral
    C'est bien la queue pour … ?
    Say it like: say byan lah kuh poor
    Is this the queue for …?
    Register: Add what you queue for, for example "pour le vin chaud".
  11. 11Informal
    Il fait un froid de canard !
    Say it like: eel fay uhn frwah duh kah-NAR
    It's freezing!
    Register: Literally "a duck's cold"; a very common saying. Neutral: "Il fait très froid !"
  12. 12Informal
    Tu connais un endroit ouvert ce soir ?
    Say it like: tew kuh-NAY uhn ahn-DRWAH oo-VAIR suh SWAHR
    Do you know a place that's open tonight?
    Register: Polite: "Vous connaissez un endroit ...?"
  13. 13Neutral
    À quelle heure est le dernier métro ?
    Say it like: ah kel UR ay luh dair-nyay may-TROH
    What time is the last metro?
    Register: For a bus say "le dernier bus" ("luh dair-nyay booss").
  14. 14Polite
    Vous pouvez nous prendre en photo, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: voo poo-VAY noo PRAHN-druh ahn foh-TOH seel voo PLAY
    Can you take a photo of us, please?
    Register: Polite; with friends: "Tu peux nous prendre en photo ?"
  15. 15Informal
    Rendez-vous l'année prochaine !
    Say it like: rahn-day-VOO lah-NAY pro-SHEN
    Same time next year!
    Register: Literally "see you next year".
  16. 16Neutral
    Cette place est libre ?
    Say it like: set plass ay LEE-bruh
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Said at a table or on a bench.
  17. 17Informal
    Je t'offre un verre ?
    Say it like: zhuh TOFF-ruh uhn VAIR
    Can I buy you a drink?
    Register: Friendly and casual.
  18. 18Informal
    Il est presque minuit !
    Say it like: eel ay presk mee-NWEE
    It's almost midnight!
    Register: Casual.
  19. 19Neutral
    Bonne soirée !
    Say it like: bunn swah-RAY
    Have a good evening!
    Register: A friendly way to leave.
  20. 20Informal
    Tu as passé de bonnes fêtes ?
    Say it like: tew ah pah-SAY duh bunn FET
    Did you have a nice holiday?
    Register: Use it after the holidays; polite: "Vous avez passé de bonnes fêtes ?"

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Quick answers

How do you say Happy New Year in French?

Say: "Bonne année !" (Happy New Year!)

Should I use informal or formal French at a New Year's Eve party?

In France New Year's Eve is "le réveillon du Nouvel An" or "la Saint-Sylvestre". "Tu" is normal with people your age at a party; use "vous" with older people and staff you do not know.

How do I ask to join a table in French?

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

New Year phrases in another language

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French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you are celebrating 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 events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

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