30 Essential French Words for Beginners

If you just decided to start learning French, you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Good news though - you can improve your comprehension in a new language quickly by learning all of the most commonly used words and phrases.

These are the 30 words that you'll encounter most frequently in French - they're a great place to start if you're a beginner!

Le

the; him, her, it, them

Example: Oui, je le sais. / Yes, I know.

De

of, from, some, any

Example: de rien / you're welcome

Un / une

a, an, one

Example: un petit peu / a little bit

Et

and

Example: et toi? / What about you?

Être

to be; being

Example: je suis désolé / I'm sorry

à

to, at, in

Example: à plus tard / see you later

il / elle

he, it

Example: il est vrai / it's true

Avoir

to have

Example: as-tu whatsapp / do you have whatsapp?

Ne

Not

Example: je ne sais pas / I don't know

Je

I

Example: je vais bien / I'm fine

Que

that, then, which, who, whom

Example: que fais tu / what do you do

Qui

who, whom

Example: qui est-ce / who is it

En

in, by

Example: en octobre / in October

Dans

in, into, from

Example: dans la rue / in the street

Ce

this, that

Example: ce soir  / tonight

Pour

for, in order to

Example: pour moi non / not for me

Pas

not, n't

Example: pas mal / not bad

Par

By

Example: par exemple / for example

Sur

on, upon

Example: sur la plage / on the beach

Faire

to do, make

Example: il fait froid / it's cold

Plus

more, no more

Example: plus tard / later on

Dire

to say

Example: dire moi / tell me

Comme

like, as

Example: comme ça / like that

Mais

But

Example: mais pourquoi / but why

Pouvoir

can, to be able

Example: peux tu m'aider / can you help me

Avec

With

Example: avec moi / with me

Tout

all, very

Example: tout va bien / everything is going well

Y

There

Example: il y a / there is, there are

Ou

Or

Example: ce soir ou demain / tonight or tomorrow

Si

if, whether

Example: si tu veux / if you want

Ready for your next lesson? Check out these video activities on articles, nouns, and gender, the numbers 0-20, and how to tell time.