First Phrases

Book club · Français

Book club in French: 10 phrases for tonight

One book, one evening, a table of people who like talking about it. You do not need perfect language: an opinion, a question and a polite request for no spoilers will carry you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). With strangers at a book club in France, "vous" is the safe default, especially with older members. Many groups move to "tu" quickly: follow how they address you.

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.

10 phrases, door to goodbye

  1. 01 · Arriving
    Bonsoir, c'est bien ici, le club de lecture ?
    Say it like: bon-SWAHR, say byan ee-SEE, luh klub duh lek-TOOR
    Good evening, is this the book club?
  2. 02 · Saying you're new
    Je suis nouveau/nouvelle dans la ville et je ne connais personne.
    Say it like: zhuh swee noo-VOH/noo-VEL don lah VEEL ay zhuh nuh ko-NAY pair-SON
    I'm new in town and I don't know anyone.
  3. 03 · Asking how it works
    Comment choisissez-vous le livre du mois ?
    Say it like: ko-MON shwah-zee-SAY voo luh LEEVR doo MWAH
    How do you choose the book of the month?
  4. 04 · Small talk
    Qu'avez-vous pensé du livre ?
    Say it like: kah-vay-VOO pon-SAY doo LEEVR
    What did you think of the book?
  5. 05 · Small talk
    Vous avez lu d'autres livres de cet auteur ?
    Say it like: voo-za-VAY loo DOH-truh LEEVR duh set oh-TUHR
    Have you read other books by this author?
  6. 06 · Small talk
    Qu'est-ce que vous lisez en ce moment ?
    Say it like: kes kuh voo lee-ZAY on suh mo-MON
    What are you reading at the moment?
  7. 07 · No spoilers
    Je n'ai pas fini, pas de spoilers, s'il vous plaît !
    Say it like: zhuh nay pah fee-NEE, pah duh spoy-LAIR, seel voo PLAY
    I haven't finished, no spoilers, please!
  8. 08 · The ending
    Que pensez-vous de la fin ?
    Say it like: kuh pon-say-VOO duh lah FAN
    What do you think of the ending?
  9. 09 · Next book
    On lit quoi le mois prochain ?
    Say it like: on LEE kwah luh mwah pro-SHAN
    What are we reading next month?
  10. 10 · Leaving & keeping in touch
    J'ai été ravi(e) de vous rencontrer. Y a-t-il un groupe WhatsApp ?
    Say it like: zhay ay-TAY rah-VEE duh voo ron-kon-TRAY. ee-ah-TEEL un GROOP wat-SAP
    I was delighted to meet you. Is there a WhatsApp group?

3 things you will probably hear

  1. H1 · You may hear
    Aujourd'hui, on discute des premiers chapitres.
    Say it like: oh-zhoor-DWEE, on dees-KOOT day pruh-MYAY shah-PEETR
    Today we're discussing the first chapters.
  2. H2 · You may hear
    Qui veut commencer ?
    Say it like: kee vuh ko-mon-SAY
    Who'd like to start?
  3. H3 · You may hear
    Je vous prête le livre de ce mois-ci.
    Say it like: zhuh voo PRET luh LEEVR duh suh mwah-SEE
    I'll lend you this month's book.

Go and try it

Find book clubs on Come Alone

Quick answers

What do I say when I arrive alone at a book club in French?

Start with: "Bonsoir, c'est bien ici, le club de lecture ?" (Good evening, is this the book club?). Then say you are new: "Je suis nouveau/nouvelle dans la ville et je ne connais personne." (I'm new in town and I don't know anyone.)

Should I use informal or formal French at a book club?

With strangers at a book club in France, "vous" is the safe default, especially with older members. Many groups move to "tu" quickly: follow how they address you.

How do I ask to meet again after a book club in French?

Try: "J'ai été ravi(e) de vous rencontrer. Y a-t-il un groupe WhatsApp ?" (I was delighted to meet you. Is there a WhatsApp group?)

Same evening, another language

Español Français Deutsch Português Italiano Suomi

French, another evening

Pub quiz Padel & pickleball Run club Sauna Book club Dinner with strangers Language café

All 7 × 6 cards · Phrases for a specific event near you

How it works

  1. Pick the evening and the language people will speak.
  2. Read the ten phrases in order: they follow the evening from the door to goodbye. Tap the speaker to hear each one in your device's voice.
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending; a "check" mark flags a phrase we are least sure of.
  4. Find the event on Come Alone, open it in Meet & Mint to see who else is going, and say the first phrase for real.

firstphrases.app/tonight/book/fr/ · Meet & Mint