Leçon 1: Enchanté!
Greetings, introductions, identifying and locating people and things, taking leave.
Leçon 1 Vocabulary: Click the play button next to the French word to hear it or downlaod the complete vocabulary list MP3 files (in ZIP format).
Lesson 1 Notes with Vocab (in PDF format)
| Titles of Address: | NB: In most cases, the French do not use last names when addressing each other. They are only used when identifying people to others. | |
| Monsieur (M.) | Mister (Mr.), Sir | |
| Madame (Mme.) | Madame, Ma'am, Missus (Ms.) | |
| Mademoiselle (Mlle.) | Miss (For unmarried women or girls under 18) | |
| Docteur (Monsieur/Madame le Docteur + Last Name) |
Doctor (Dr. Last Name) | |
| Greetings: | NB:Always use a title or name with a greeting. |
|
| Bonjour + title | Hello, Good Morning, Good Day | |
| Bonsoir + title | Good Evening | |
| Salut + name | Hi (informal) | |
| Taking Leave: | ||
| Au revoir | Good-bye |
|
| Salut | Bye (informal) |
|
| Tchao | Ciao | |
| À plus tard (à plus) | See you later! | |
| À toute à l'heure | See you in a bit | |
| À + time | See you + time | |
| À ce soir, à lundi, à 5h, à demain | See you tonight, Monday, at 5, tomorrow | |
| Bonne journée/soirée | Have a good day/evening. | |
| Presentng Oneself and Others: | ||
| Je m'appelle... | My name is.... | |
| Il s'appelle... | His name is..... | |
| Elle s'appelle... | Her name is... | |
| Enchanté(e) / Très heureux(-euse) | Nice to meet you. | |
| Asking for someone's name: | ||
| Comment vous appelez-vous? | What is your name? (Formal) | |
| Comment tu t'appelles? | What's your name? (Informal) | |
| Comment s'appelle-t-il? | What's his name? | |
| Comment s'appelle-t-elle? | What's her name? | |
| Locating and Identifying: | ||
| Qu'est-ce que c'est/ce sont? | What is it/are those? (Lit. What is it that it is?) | |
| Qui est-ce? C'est qui? Qui c'est? | Who's that? (Various forms for various purposes) | |
| C'est/Ce sont.... | It's/Those are... | |
| Où est...? | Where is....? | |
| Voilà... | There's.... | |
| Voici.... | Here's.... | |
| Asking how soemone is doing: | ||
| Comment allez-vous? | How are you? | |
| Ça va? | How's it going? (Informal) | |
| Très bien | Very good/well | |
| Bien | Good/well | |
| Pas mal | Not bad(ly) | |
| Ça va | It's fine/OK | |
| Pas terrible | Not so good/great/well | |
| Mal | Bad(ly) | |
| Très mal | Very bad(ly) | |
| Ça ne va pas | It's not working out/ It won't do | |
| Other Useful Expressions: | ||
| Merci! (+ Title/Name) | Thank you! (thanks!) | |
| S'il vous plaît | Please (Lit. If it pleases you) (Formal) | |
| S'il te plaît | Please (Informal) | |
| Je vous en prie. | You're welcome! | |
| De rien! | It's nothing! |
|
| Il n'y a pas de quoi! | Don't mention it! (Informal) | |
| Comment dit on....en français/anglais? | How do you say....in French/English? |
|
| Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire? | What does that mean? | |
| Comment? (Quoi?/hein? Informal) | What? | |
| Pardon/ pardonnez-moi | Excuse me. | |
| Oui (Ouais) | Yes (Yeah) | |
| Non | No |
|
| Santé (à la vôtre/à la tienne) | Cheers! (Lit. Heath/to yours (health)) | |
| Montrez-moi... | Show me (point out to me).... | |
| Common Personal Items: | Click for Vocab Slide-Show | |
| un portable | a cell phone | |
| une portefeuille/portemonnaie | a wallet/a coin purse | |
| des clés | keys | |
| des lunettes (de solieil) | (sun)glasses | |
| un sac (à main/à dos) | bag/sack purse/backpack) | |
| un parapluie | an umbrella | |
| un baladeur/iPod | an mp3/CD player/iPod | |
| des casques/écouteurs | headphones | |
| un montre | a watch | |
| un stylo/crayon | a pen/pencil | |
| une carte d'indentité | ID card | |
| un passeport | a passport | |
| une carte bancaire/de crédit | bank (credit) Card | |
| l'argent | money (lit. silver) | |
| une carte professionelle | business card | |
| un laptop/ordinateur | laptop/computer | |