French words you need to know to build your French vocabulary

Common French words

According to the French dictionary Larousse, there are more than 63,500 words, 125,000 meanings and 20,000 phrases and 28,000 proper names.

There are some words you've already know as they are used in English:

1. Nouns: Accident, Compliment, Passion, Religion, Suggestion, Nature, Prison
2. Adjectives: Intelligent, Invisible, Visible, Impossible, Admirable, Capable

Basic French verbs

• être: 'to be' Example: Il est en retard. (I'm tired.)
• avoir: 'to have' Example: J'ai une voiture. (I have a car.)
• aller: 'to go' Example: Je vais au travail. (I go to work.)
• faire: 'to make' Example: Nous faisons du café ensemble. (We make coffee together.)
• savoir: 'to know (something)' Example: Je sais que. (I know that.)
• vouloir: 'to want' Example: Nous voulons des vacances. (We want a holiday.)
• parler: 'to speak' Example: Parlez lentement. (Speak slowly.)
• voir: 'to see' Example: Je vois le coucher du soleil. (I see the sunset.)
• venir: 'to come' Example: Je viens à la maison. (I come home.)

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Top 10 most common French words pronounced by fluent French speakers

1. Salut = Hello
Let's naturally start with "Salut" which means "Hello" in French. This is one of the most known words in French and a great way to start a conversation with someone from France. Click play below to listen to the actual pronunciation:
Salut
2. Amour = Love
Love is a universal feeling and we definitely had to talk about it here. French people have a lovely way of saying they love someone or something through the word "amour". Hear it in action here:
Amour
3. Bonheur = Happiness
When there's love, there's definitely happiness. We are all chasing "bonheur" as French-speaking people would say. Listen closely and you might just get some “bonheur” in your life today:
Bonheur
4. Chat = Cat
Let's talk pets. There are two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. We are going to talk about cats first or how people in France would say: "chat". Listen to how it sounds like:
Chat
5. Chien = Dog
But let's not forget our lovely and loyal companions, dogs. A dog in French is "chien", a really useful word for dog lovers worldwide. Here is how you would pronounce it:
Chien
6. Sourire = Smile
Now it is time to smile. Or how someone from France would say: "sourir". Smiling makes us happy and helps us stay healthy, so that's why we all need to smile every day. Here's the French pronunciation:
Sourire
7. Français = French
Next, let’s see how people in a French-speaking country would pronounce the name of the language they are speaking:
Français
8. Oui = Yes
Yes, we have arrived at number 8 where “yes” is the subject to be discussed. French speakers say “yes” by simply saying "oui". Enhance your understanding by listening to how a person from France would pronounce it:
Oui
9. Merci = Thank you
Thank you for reading this far or should I say "Merci" as they say in French. Here's a native speaker thanking you in French:
Merci
10. Au revoir = Goodbye
No polite conversation can end without a good old goodbye or "Au revoir" how French people usually say. Now it's time for a delightful French voice to say "Au revoir" to you:
Au revoir

Basic French words for learners

Speaking French

French nouns for people

La Fille: Girl
Le Garçon: Boy
La Femme: Woman
Le Homme: Man
Le Monsieur: Mister
La Mademoiselle: Miss
La Madame: a married or older woman

French nouns for places

Le marché: Market
La plage: Beach
Les Magasins: Shops
L'auberge: Hostel
Centre commercial: Shopping mall
L'église: Church
L'ambassade: Embassy
Boulangerie (feminine noun): Bakery

French nouns for transportation

Métro: Subway

Aéroport: Airport

Gare: Train station

Avion: Plane

Voiture: Car

Billet: Ticket

Bus: Bus

Taxi: Taxi

Food and drink nouns

Pain: Bread

Fromage: Cheese

Viande: Meat

Vin: Wine

Thé: Tea

Eau: Water

Café: Coffee

French question words

People speaking French

Qui?: Who? Example: Qui est-ce? (Who is that?)
Que?/Qu'est-ce que?: What? Example: Qu'est-ce que c'est? (What is it?)
Quand?: When? Example: Quand retournons-nous à la maison? (When do we return home?)
Où?: Where? Example: Où sont les voitures de location? (Where are the rental cars?)
Pourquoi?: Why? Example: Pourquoi ne restes-tu pas? (Why don't you stay?)
Comment?: How? Example: Comment ça va? (How are you?)
Combien?: How much/how many? Example: Combien ça coûte? (How much is it?)
À quelle heure?: (At) what time? Example: A quelle heure partez-vous? (What time are you leaving?)
Combien de temps?: How long? Example: Combien de temps dure la visite? (How long is the tour?)

The most beautiful 10 French words

Top French words

● Onirique: something that comes from a dream.
● Saperlipopette: an old-fashioned saying of “Oh my goodness!” or “Oh my stars!"".
● Coquillage: seashell
● Flâner: wander with no destination in mind
● Rêvasser: daydreaming
● Retrouvailles: a moment of incredible happiness to see that person again
● Parapluie: umbrella
● Émerveiller: the concept of “wonder” or perhaps to be amazed
● Éblouissant: dazzling
● Chéri: endearment, “mon chéri,” meaning my dear

Why learn the most common French words first?

Make French learning fun and easier

Starting with the French basics means you will begin by learning the easiest words first and gradually increase difficulty. This way you will feel great while learning and see how your language knowledge broadens.

Have basic French conversations in no time

You'll be able to speak to someone from Paris or Brussels about regular topics like weather, politics or family. This will make you confident in your French skills and eager to learn more.

Become fluent in French faster

By learning the most simple words first you are learning the smart way. Why learn the most unusual words in French when you might never use them in real life?