French · A1 (Beginner)
Greetings in French: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful French words for greetings are Bonjour (Hello / Good morning), Au revoir (Goodbye) and Bonsoir (Good evening). The full French greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential French vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A1 (Beginner) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning French to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's French curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / Good morning |
| Au revoir | Goodbye |
| Bonsoir | Good evening |
| Merci | Thank you |
| S'il vous plaît | Please (formal) |
| Je m'appelle | My name is |
| Enchanté(e) | Nice to meet you |
| Pardon | Excuse me / Sorry |
| À bientôt | See you soon |
| Bonne journée | Have a good day |
Example sentences
Bonjour, comment allez-vous?
Hello, how are you? (formal)
Au revoir, à demain!
Goodbye, see you tomorrow!
Merci beaucoup, c'est très gentil.
Thank you very much, that is very kind.
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
Je m'appelle Marie. Et vous?
My name is Marie. And you?
Enchanté de faire votre connaissance.
Nice to meet you.
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice French that actually sticks.
Language Lab teaches the French you need to live abroad — with a live AI tutor. Coming soon.
Join the beta →