BASIC FRENCH
French Alphabet and Pronunciation

French Tickets, Signs and Notices
Tips for communicating

BBC French Language Page
Bonsoir / Bonne nuit
(bohn-swahr/bun nwee)
Good evening! / Good night!

S'il vous pla�t
(seel voo pleh)
Please

Je vous en prie / De rien
(zhuh voo zawn pree/duh ree-ahn/bee-awn-vuh-new)
You're welcome.

Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle
(muh-syuh, mah-dahm, mahd-mwah-zell)
Mister, Misses, Miss

�a va?
(sah vah)
How are you? (informal)

�a va bien / mal / pas mal
(sah vah bee-ahn/mahl/pah mahl)
I'm good / bad / not bad

Je suis malade
(zhuh swee mah-lahd)
I'm sick

Comment t'appelles-tu?
(koh-mawn tah-pell tew)

What's your name? (informal)

J'ai ____ ans.
(zhay ____ awn)
I am ____ years old.

Je ne parle pas fran�ais
(zhuh nuh parl pah fhran-say))
I don't speak French.

Je (ne) sais (pas)
(zhuhn say pah)
I (don't) know

Je regrette / Je suis d�sol�(e)
(zhuh re-gret/zhuh swee day-zoh-lay)
I'm sorry

Salut
(sah-lew)
Hi / Bye
Bonjour
(bohn-zhoor)
Hello! / Good day!

Au revoir!
(ohr-vwah)
Goodbye!

Merci beaucoup
(mair-see boh-koo)
Thank you very much!

Oui / Non
(wee/nohn)
Yes / No

Comment allez-vous?
(koh-mawn tahl-ay voo)
How are you? (formal)

Je vais bien
(zhuh vay bee-ahn)
I'm fine

Je suis fatigu�(e)
(zhuh swee fah-tee-gay)
I'm tired

Comment vous appelez-vous?
(koh-mawn voo zah-play voo)
What's your name? (formal)

Je m'appelle.../ Mon nom est...
(zhuh mah-pell / mohn nohm ay)
My name is...

Parlez-vous anglais?
(par-lay voo on-glay)
Do you speak English?

Je (ne) comprends (pas)
(zhuh nuh com-prawn pah)
I (don't) understand

Excusez-moi / Pardonnez-moi
(
eg-scew-zay mwah/ par-dohn-ay mwah)
Excuse me / Pardon me

A tout � l'heure / A bient�t
(ah too tah luhr/ ah bee-ahn-toh)
See you later / See you soon
                       SEASONS

in the summer             
en �t�                  awn ay-tay
in the fall                
en automne            aw noh-tohn
in the winter              
en hiver                aw nee-vair
in the spring          
au printemps         oh prahn-tawn
             THE DAYS OF THE WEEK

Monday                
   Lundi                 lahn-dee
Tuesday                    Mardi                 mahr-dee
Wednesday            
Mercredi           mare-kruh-dee  
Thursday              
    Jeudi                zhuh-dee
Friday                   
Vendredi           vahn-druh-dee
Saturday                  
Samedi               sahm-dee
Sunday                  
Dimanche         dee-mahnsh

day                         
le jour                 luh zhoor
week                    
la semaine           lah suh-men
today                     
aujourd'hui         oh-zhoor-dwee
yesterday                   
hier                     ee-air
tomorrow               
demain                duh-mahn
                      NUMBERS

  Zero                     
Z�ro                     zay-roh
   One                      
Un                        ahn
   Two                  
Deux                       duh
  Three                
  Trois                     twah
   Four                 
Quatre                    kat
   Five                    
Cinq                      sahn
    Six                      
Six                        seess
  Seven                   
Sept                        set
   Eight                   
Huit                        weet
    Nine                
  Neuf                      nuhf
    Ten                     
Dix                        deess
  Eleven                
Onze                     ohnz
  Twelve                
Douze                    dooz
  Thirteen               
Treize                     trehz
  Fourteen            
Quatorze               kah-tohrz    
   Fifteen             
Quinze                   kanz
   Sixteen                
Seize                      sez
Seventeen            
Dix-sept                 dee-set
  Eighteen              
Dix-huit               deez-weet
  Nineteen             
Dix-neuf               deez-nuhf
   Twenty               
Vingt                     vahn
Twenty-one        
Vingt et un          vahn tay ahn
Twenty-two        
Vingt-deux             vahn duh
Twenty-three       
Vingt-trois            vahn twah
    Thirty                 
Trente                  trawnt
  Thirty-one        
Trente et un        trawnt ay uhn
  Thirty-two        
Trente-deux           trawnt duh
     Forty              
Quarante             kuh-rawnt
      Fifty              
Cinquante             sank-awnt
    
Sixty                 Soixante             swah-ssawnt
   
Seventy          Soixante-dix       swah-ssawnt deez
    
Eighty            Quatre-vingts        ka-truh vahn
    
Ninety          Quatre-vingt-dix   ka-truh vahn deez
One Hundred           Cent                     sawnt
  
Thousand              Mille                     meel
     
Million             Un million         ahn meel-ee-ohn
          THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR

January                     
janvier                   zhan-vee-ay
February                 
f�vrier                    fay-vree-ay
March                       
mars                        marz
April                         
avril                       ah-vril
May                            
mai                       may-ee
June                          
juin                       zhwahn
July                           
juillet                    zhwee-ay
August                       
ao�t                         oot
September               
septembre              sep-tawm-bruh
October                     
octobre               ahk-toh-bruh
November              
novembre             noh-vawm-bruh
December               
d�cembre            day-sawm-bruh
Month                       
le mois                 luh mwah
Year                      
l'an / l'ann�e             lawn/law-nay
                               WEATHER

What's the weather like?  
Quel temps fait-il ?      kell tawn fay-teel
          It's nice.                   
Il fait beau.                eel fay boh
           It's bad.                 
Il fait mauvais.        eel fay moh-vay
          It's cool.                    
Il fait frais.             eel fay fray
          It's cold.                   
Il fait froid.               eel fay fwah
      
It's warm.                  Il fait chaud.             eel fay shoh
         It's raining.                 
Il pleut.                     eel pluh
              DIRECTIONS

North                 
le nord                uh nor
South                 
le sud                  luh sewd
East                   
l'est                     lest
West                  
l 'ouest                lwest
Note:  French switches the use of commas and periods.  1,00 would be 1.00 in English.
                               TIME

What time is it?          
Quelle heure est-il ?             kell urr ay-teel
It is one o'clock           
Il est une heure.                eel ay oon urr
It is two o'clock,         
Il est deux heures.               eel ay duh zurr
It is noon.                        
Il est midi.                      eel ay mee-dee
It is midnight.                
Il est  minuit.                eel ay meen-wee
It is six thirty.        
Il est six heures et demie.    see zurr ay duh-mee
in the morning/AM             
du matin                        doo mah-tahn
in the afternoon/PM        
de l'apr�s-midi             duh lah-pray mih-dee
in the evening/PM                
du soir                            doo swahr
                              CLASSES

J'aime...                               
I like...                             zhem
Je n'aime pas...                 
I don't like...                   zhuh nem pas
Math                                  
les maths                           maht
Algebra                               
l'alg�bre                          lal-zhebr
Calculus                            
le calcul                          kahl-kewl
Geometry                        
la g�om�trie                  zhay-oh-may-tree
Economics         
les sciences �conomiques     see-awns ay-koh-noh-meek
Foreign Languages   
les langues �trang�res         awn zay-trawn-zhair
Literature                          
la litt�rature                  lee-tay-rah-tur
Philosophy                        
la philosophie                 fee-loh-soh-fee
Psychology                       
la psychologie                p-see-kol-oh-zhee
Political Science         
les sciences politiques     see-awns poh-lee-teek
History                                
l'histoire                        lees-twahr
Geography                        
la g�ographie                 zhay-oh-grahf-ee
Physics                             
la physique                         fees-eek
Biology                              
la biologie                       bee-ol-oh-zhee
Chemistry                         
la chimie                           shee-mee
Art                                      
les arts                            leh-zahr
Music                              
la musique                          mew-zeek
Dance                                
la danse                              dahns
Painting                            
la peinture                           pahn-tur
Computer Science            
l'informatique                ahn-for-mah-teek
Technology                     
la technologie                 teck-no-loh-zhee
Note:  Official French time is expressed as military time (24 hour clock.)
                 FAMILY AND ANIMALS

This is my family       
C'est ma famille          say mah fah-mee
My parents                   
Mes parents              may pahr-awn
My mother                      
Ma m�re                    mah mehr
My father                       
Mon p�re                    mohn pehr
My grand-parents    
Mes grands-parents    may grawn-pahr-awn
My grand-mother        
Ma grand-m�re          mah grawn-mehr
My grand-father          
Mon grand-p�re         mohn grawn-pehr
My stepmother             
Ma belle-m�re             mah bell-mehr
My stepfather              
Mon beau-p�re             mohn boh-pehr
My sister                         
Ma s�ur                      mah sir
My brother                    
Mon fr�re                   mohn frehr
My stepsister                
Ma demi-s�ur           mah duh-mee-sir 
My stepbrother            
Mon demi-fr�re       mohn duh-mee-frehr
My uncle                         
Mon oncle              mohn ohnk-luh
My aunt                           
Ma tante                   mah tawnt
My cousin                      
Mon cousin               mohn  koo-zahn
His wife                           Sa femme                  sah fahm
Her husband                    
Son mari                   sohn mah-reeI
I have a dog                 
J'ai un chien            zhay uhn shee-ahn
I have a cat                    
J'ai un chat                zhay uhn shah
I have a horse               
J'ai un cheval            zhay uhn chuh-val
I have a mouse               J'ai une souris.         zhay ewn soo-ree
His / Its name is...           
Il s'appelle....             eel sah-pell
Her name is...                 
Elle s'appelle...              ell sah-pell
He's single                    Il est c�libataire       eel ay say-lee-bah-tair
He's married                    Il est  mari�            eel ay mah-ree-ay
He's divorced                    Il est divorc�            eel ay dee-vor-say
                                     TO BE

I am         Je suis     zhuh swee      We are     Nous sommes       noo sohm
You are     
Tu es        tew ay          You are       Vous �tes            voo zett
He/It is      
Il est        eel ay       They are (m)     Ils sont             eel sohn 
She is      
Elle est       ell ay       They are (f)    Elles sont           ell sohn

                                   TO HAVE


I have       
J'ai           zhay      We have         Nous avons     noo ah-vohn You have    Tu as       tew ah     You have         Vous avez       voo zah-vay
He//It has  
Il  a         eel ah      They have (m)     Ils ont           eel-zohn
She has   
Elle a        ell ah     They have (f)    Elles ont            ell-zonh
                                                                                     WORK AND SCHOOL

                                                              
Masculine                                                                         Feminine

architect                         
   l'architecte                      lar-shee-tekt                         l'architecte                            lar-shee-tekt
accountant                      
  le comptable                       kohn-tahbl                         la comptable                           kohn-tahbl
judge                                    
le juge                              zhoozh                                la juge                                 zhoozh
business person              
l'homme d'affaires               lohn dah-fehr                   la femme d'affaires                  fahm dah-fehr
baker                                
le boulanger                     boo-lawn-zhay                     la boulang�re                        boo-lawn-zhehr
hair dresser                       
  le coiffeur                        kwah-fur                          la coiffeuse                             kwah-fuz
computer programmer      
le programmeur                proh-grah-mur                  la programmeuse                     proh-grah-muz
secretary                          
le secr�taire                      suk-ray-tehr                       la secr�taire                          suk-ray-tehr
electrician                          
l'�lectricien                 ay-lehk-tree-see-ahn                  l'�lectricien                       ay-lehk-tree-see-ahn
mechanic                         
le m�canicien                 may-kah-nee-syahn                la m�canicienne                 may-kah-nee-syenn 
salesperson                          
le vendeur                       vawn-dur                           la vendeuse                              vawn-duz
fire fighter                           
le pompier                        pohn-pyay                          le pompier                              pohn-pyay
plumber                            
le plombier                        plohn-byay                         le plombier                             plohn-byay
librarian                           
le biblioth�caire              bee-blee-oh-teh-kehr              la biblioth�caire                   bee-blee-oh-teh-kehr
police officer                  
l'agent de police              lah-zhawnd poh-leess              l'agent de police                  lah-zhawnd poh-leess
reporter                            
le journaliste                   zhoor-nah-leest                     la journaliste                        zhoor-nah-leest
factory worker                     
l'ouvrier                          loov-ree -eh                          l'ouvri�re                             loov-ree-ehr
banker                                
le banquier                       bahn-kee-ay                        la banqui�re                         bahn-kee-ehr
lawyer                                 
l'avocat                            lah-voh-kah                         l'avocate                             lah-voh-kaht
postal worker                      
le facteur                             fahk-tur                           la factrice                              fahk-trees
carpenter                     
    le charpentier                    shar-pawn-tyay                     le charpentier                       shar-pawn-tyay
engineer                             
l'ing�nieur                     lahn-zhay-nyur                       l'ing�nieure                        lahn-zhay-nyur
doctor                                
le m�decin                         mayd-sawn                          le m�decin                            mayd-sawn
nurse                                  
l'infirmier                      lahn-feer-myay                       l'infirmi�re                        lahn-feer-myehr
pharmacist                       
le pharmacien                  fahr-mah-see-ahn                la pharmacienne                    fahr-mah-see-enn
psychologist                     
le psychologue                   psee-koh-lohg                      la psychologue                      psee-koh-lohg
dentist                                
le dentiste                          dawn-teest                           la dentiste                            dawn-teest
veterinarian                       
le v�t�rinaire                     vay-tay-ree-nehr                    la v�t�rinaire                        vay-tay-ree-nehr
taxi driver                     
le chauffeur de taxi             shoh-furd tahk-see             le chauffeur de taxi                  shoh-furd tahk-see
writer                               
  l'�crivain                        lay-kree-vahn                          l'�crivain                              lay-kree-vahn
teacher                              
l'instituteur                      lahn-stee-tew-tur                    l'institutrice                        lahn-stee-tew-trees
professor                           
le professeur                       proh-fuh-sur                     le professeur                           proh-fuh-sur
student                              
l'�tudiant                        lay-tew-dee-awn                       l'�tudiante                          lay-tew-dee-awnt
Note: Some profession nouns are always masculine, even if the person is a woman.
                             MEALS

Breakfast        
Le petit d�jeuner       luh puh-tee day-zhew-nay
  Lunch             
Le d�jeuner                luh day-zhew-nay
  Dinner                
Le d�ner                      luh dee-nay
Egg                            l'�uf                            luff                             Cake                          le g�teau                       gah-toh
Pie                           
la tarte                         tart                                Cup                            la tasse                          tahss
Milk                            
le lait                          leh                            Coffee                           le caf�                          kah-fay
Bowl                          
le bol                           bohl                            Butter                         le beurre                          burr
Glass                         
le verre                       verr                             Water                            l'eau                            loh
Salt and Pepper     
le sel et le poivre       sell ay pwahv-ruh                     Ham                         le jambon                    zham-bohn
Fork                    
  la fourchette                foor-shett                          Fish                          le poisson                     pwah-sohn
Spoon                    
  la cuill�re                 kwee-yehr                        Tea                             le th�                             tay
Knife                       
le couteau                   koo-toh                           Salad                          la salade                       sah-lahd
Plate                       
  l'assiette                    ah-syett                            Jam                       la confiture                    kon-fee-chur
Napkin                   
la serviette                 ser-vyett                           Meat                         la viande                       vee-awnd
Ice cream                  
la glace                      glahss                        French fries                    les frites                         freet
Juice                           
le jus                       zhew                              Beer                          la bi�re                          bee-ehr
Fruit                         
  le fruit                       frwee                              Wine                          le vin                              vahn
Cheese                   
le fromage                froh-mawzh                       Sugar                        le sucre                         soo-kruh
Chicken                   
le poulet                      poo-lay                           Soup                       le potage                       poh-tawzh
Corn                           le ma�s                      mah-eez                         Apple                       une pomme                       pohm
Cucumber             
un concombre          cohn-cohn-bruh                      Apricot                      un abricot                      ah-bree-koh
Eggplant                 
une aubergine           oh-behr-zheen                       Banana                     une banane                      bah-nahn
Blueberry                 
une myrtille                meer-tee                         Mushroom                un champignon             shahm-pee-nyohn
Cherry                     
une cerise                   suh-reez                           Onion                        un oignon                      wawn-yohn
Coconut                
une noix de coco      nwah duh koh-koh                     Peas                          les pois                            pwah
Date                            
une date                      daht                              Pepper                     un piment                         pee-mawn
Fig                              
une figue                     feeg                               Potato              une pomme de terre             pohm duh tehr
Grape                          
un raisin                   reh-zahn                         Pumpkin                 une citrouille                      see-troo-ee
Grapefruit              un pamplemousse      pahm-pluh-moos                      Rice                         le riz                                reez
Lemon                         
un citron                   see-trohn                         Spinach                  des �pinards                      ay-pee-nar
Melon                          
un melon                   mel-ohn                          Tomato                   une tomate                        to-maht
Olive                            
une olive                    oh-leev                            Turnip                    un navet                          nah-vay
Orange                       
une orange                  oh-ranzh                        Zucchini                des courgettes                     koor-zhett
Peach                         
une p�che                     pesh                              Meat                      une viande                       vee-awnd
Pear                             
une poire                     pwahr                             Bacon               du lard, du bacon               lar, bah-kohn
Pineapple                     
un ananas               ah-nah-nah                          Beef                       le bifteck                        beef-teck
Plum                           
une prune                     prewn                           Chicken                    un poulet                         poo-lay
Duck                           
un canard                   kah-nar                            Goat                      une ch�vre                       shev-ruh
Raspberry                 
une framboise           frwahm-bwahz                      Raisin                   un raisin sec                 rahn-sahn sek
Strawberry                   
une fraise                      frez                               Lamb                       l'agneau                        awn-yoh
Watermelon               
une past�que                pah-stek                             Liver                         le foie                            fwah
Vegetable                      un l�gume                  leh-goom                        Meatballs           boulettes de viande       boo-lett duh vee-awnd
Artichoke                   
un artichaut                 ar-tee-sho                       Pork chop          une c�telette de porc         kote-lett duh pork
Asparagus                  
des asperges                ahs-pehrzh                         Rabbit                      un lapin                        lah-pahn
Beet                          
une betterave                 bett-rahv                      T-bone steak           une c�te de b�uf             kote duh buf
Broccoli                        
le brocoli                 broh-coh-lee                        Veal                        le veau                             voh
                                                     COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES

                                 
                   Nation                                                                         Nationality 
France                      
la France                         frahns                                     fran�ais/e                       frawn-say/sez
Switzerland               
la Suisse                          sweess                                     suisse                            sweess
Italy                           
l'Italie                             lee-tah-lee                              italien/ne                       ee-tahl-ee-awn/enn
Germany                   
l'Allemagne                     lahl-mawn-yuh                       allemand/e                     ahl-mawn/d
Spain                         
l'Espagne                         leh-spawn-yuh                         espagnol/e                     es-pan-yohl
Belgium                      
la Belgique                      bell-zheek                                belge                             belzh
Netherlands                
les Pays-Bas                    pay-ee-bah                               hollandais/e                   oh-lawn-day/dehz
China                         
la Chine                          sheen                                       chinois/e                       sheen-wah/wez
Great Britain               
la Grande-Bretagne         grahnd bruh-tawn-yuh             britannique                    bree-tahn-eek
England                      
l'Angleterre                     lawn-gluh-tair                         anglais/e                        an-glay/ez
Russia                        
la Russie                         roo-see                                     russe                             rewss
Poland                       
la Pologne                        poh-lohn-yuh                           polonais/e                      poh-lon-ay/ez
Canada                       
le Canada                       kah-nah-dah                            canadien/ne                   kah-nah-dee-awn/enn
Mexico
                       le Mexique                      meks-eek                                  mexicain/e                    mek-see-kahn/enn
Japan                          
le Japon                         zhap-ohn                                  japonais/e                     zhah-poh-nay/nez
Portugal                     
le Portugal                       pore-tew-gahl                           portugais/e                    por-tew-gay/gez
Brazil                         
le Br�sil                           bray-zeel                                   br�silien/ne                   bray-zeel-ee-awn/enn
United States              
les �tats-Unis                   ay-tah-zew-nee                          am�ricain/e                   ah-may-ree-kahn/kenn
Sweden                     
la Su�de                            soo-ed                                     su�dois/e                        soo-ed-wah/wez
Norway                     
la Norv�ge                         nor-vehzh                                norv�gien/ne                 nor-vehzh-ee-awn/enn
Finland                       
la Finlande                      feen-lahnd                                finlandais/e                   feen-lan-day/dez
Denmark                    
le Danemark                    dahn-mark                               danois/e                        dahn-wah/wez
Greece
                        la Gr�ce                           grehs                                        grec/grecque                 grek
Austria                        
l'Autriche                       loh-treesh                                 autrichien/ne                 oh-trees-ee-awn/enn
Australia                      
l'Australie                      loh-strah-lee                              australien/ne                oh-strahl-ee-awn/enn
Africa                          
l'Afrique                        lah-freek                                   africain/e                      ah-free-kahn/kenn
India                            
l'Inde                             lahnd                                       indien/ne                      ahn-dee-ahn/enn
Ireland                         
l'Irlande                         leer-lawnd                                 irlandais/e                    eer-lahn-day/dez
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