Polite phrases in French are essential for showing respect and kindness in everyday interactions. These expressions cover greetings, thanking, apologizing, and making requests courteously.
Greetings
French greetings vary depending on the time of day and the level of formality. Using polite greetings helps start conversations on a respectful note.
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / Good morning | Bonjour, comment ça va ? | Hello, how are you? |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | Bonsoir, monsieur Dupont. | Good evening, Mr. Dupont. |
| Salut | Hi / Bye (informal) | Salut, tu viens ce soir ? | Hi, are you coming tonight? |
| Enchanté(e) | Nice to meet you | Enchantée de faire votre connaissance. | Nice to meet you. |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day | Merci, bonne journée ! | Thanks, have a good day! |
Thanking
Expressing gratitude politely is important in French culture. These phrases range from simple thanks to more formal acknowledgments.
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merci | Thank you | Merci pour votre aide. | Thank you for your help. |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much | Merci beaucoup pour le cadeau. | Thank you very much for the gift. |
| Je vous remercie | I thank you (formal) | Je vous remercie pour votre patience. | I thank you for your patience. |
| C’est très gentil | That’s very kind | C’est très gentil de votre part. | That’s very kind of you. |
| Merci infiniment | Thank you infinitely | Merci infiniment pour votre soutien. | Thank you infinitely for your support. |
Apologizing
Polite apologies are useful for acknowledging mistakes or inconveniences. French has different levels of formality for saying sorry.
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pardon | Sorry / Excuse me | Pardon, je ne vous avais pas vu. | Sorry, I didn’t see you. |
| Excusez-moi | Excuse me (formal) | Excusez-moi de vous déranger. | Excuse me for bothering you. |
| Désolé(e) | Sorry | Je suis désolée d’être en retard. | I’m sorry for being late. |
| Je vous prie de m’excuser | Please forgive me (formal) | Je vous prie de m'excuser pour le retard. | Please forgive me for the delay. |
| Ce n’est pas grave | It’s not serious / No problem | Ce n’est pas grave, ne vous inquiétez pas. | It’s not serious, don’t worry. |
Asking for Help
When you need assistance, using polite phrases makes your request more courteous and respectful. Here are some common polite ways to ask for help in French.
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pouvez-vous m’aider ? | Can you help me? | Pouvez-vous m’aider avec ce document ? | Can you help me with this document? |
| Pourriez-vous… ? | Could you…? | Pourriez-vous fermer la fenêtre ? | Could you close the window? |
| Je voudrais… | I would like… | Je voudrais parler au responsable, s’il vous plaît. | I would like to speak to the manager, please. |
| Auriez-vous… ? | Would you have…? | Auriez-vous un stylo à me prêter ? | Would you have a pen to lend me? |
| Serait-il possible de… ? | Would it be possible to…? | Serait-il possible de reporter la réunion ? | Would it be possible to postpone the meeting? |
Parting
Polite phrases for saying goodbye or ending a conversation help leave a positive impression.
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Au revoir, à demain ! | Goodbye, see you tomorrow! |
| Bonne soirée | Have a good evening | Bonne soirée et bon repos ! | Have a good evening and rest well! |
| À bientôt | See you soon | À bientôt, prenez soin de vous. | See you soon, take care. |
| Merci, au revoir | Thanks, goodbye | Merci, au revoir et bonne journée ! | Thanks, goodbye, and have a good day! |
| Passez une bonne journée | Have a good day (formal) | Passez une bonne journée, monsieur. | Have a good day, sir. |
These polite phrases will help you navigate everyday situations in French with confidence and courtesy.
Which French phrase means "See you soon, take care"?
À bientôt, prenez soin de vous.
"À bientôt" means "See you soon," and "prenez soin de vous" is a polite way to say "take care."
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English: Hello / Good morning
- English Example: Hello, how are you?
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
