French · A2 (Elementary)
Greetings in French: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful French words for greetings are Bonjour Monsieur / Madame (Hello Sir / Madam), Je vous en prie (You're welcome / Please do) and Comment allez-vous? (How are you? (formal)). 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 A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning French to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key greetings vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjour Monsieur / Madame | Hello Sir / Madam |
| Je vous en prie | You're welcome / Please do |
| Comment allez-vous? | How are you? (formal) |
| Très bien, merci | Very well, thank you |
| Je vous présente | May I introduce you to |
| Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer | Delighted to meet you |
| Permettez-moi de | Allow me to |
| Voici ma carte | Here is my card |
| Prenez soin de vous | Take care of yourself |
| Mes salutations | My regards (formal sign-off) |
Example sentences
Merci beaucoup. — Je vous en prie.
Thank you very much. — You're welcome.
Comment allez-vous? Très bien, merci.
How are you? Very well, thank you.
Je vous présente ma collègue, Sophie.
May I introduce my colleague, Sophie.
Ravi de vous rencontrer, Monsieur Dupont.
Delighted to meet you, Mr Dupont.
Voici ma carte de visite.
Here is my business card.
Au revoir, prenez soin de vous!
Goodbye, take care of yourself!
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.
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