40 natural French expressions fluent speakers actually use
Grammar makes you correct; expressions make you sound natural. These are the high-frequency French phrases for real conversations (“Dis donc…”, “Excusez-moi de vous déranger…”, “Au fait…”…), grouped by what you want to do, each with when to use it and the learner mistake it fixes.
Opening a conversation
Dis donc…
Meaning: Hey, listen… / Say…
When to use it: To grab a friend’s attention before making a remark or asking something.
Coach’s tip: English speakers reach for “hey” and translate it as “hé”, which sounds like calling a dog. “Dis donc” (or “dites donc” to be polite) is the natural French opener that flags “I’m about to say something”.
Excusez-moi de vous déranger…
Meaning: Sorry to bother you…
When to use it: To approach a stranger or a busy person politely before asking for help.
Coach’s tip: Learners open with a bare “bonjour” then dive in. Prefacing with “excusez-moi de vous déranger” is the socially expected softener; skipping it can read as abrupt in French.
Au fait…
Meaning: By the way…
When to use it: To slip in a new topic that just came to mind.
Coach’s tip: Don’t confuse “au fait” (by the way) with “en fait” (actually / in fact). English speakers mix them up constantly — “au fait” introduces a new point, “en fait” corrects or clarifies.
Bon, alors…
Meaning: Right, so…
When to use it: To signal you’re getting started or moving the conversation along.
Coach’s tip: “Bon” here is a discourse marker, not the adjective “good”. French speakers use it to launch into things; a well-placed “bon, alors” instantly makes your speech sound less scripted.
Asking for something
Ça vous dérange si… ?
Meaning: Would you mind if… ?
When to use it: To ask permission to do something that might affect the other person.
Coach’s tip: English “do you mind if” is answered “no” to grant it, which trips learners up. In French just follow with the subjunctive-free present: “Ça vous dérange si j’ouvre la fenêtre ?” — clean and native.
Tu peux me passer… ?
Meaning: Can you pass me… ?
When to use it: To ask a friend to hand you something at the table or nearby.
Coach’s tip: Learners overuse “donner” (to give). For handing something over, French prefers “passer”: “Tu peux me passer le sel ?” “Donne-moi le sel” sounds like an order.
Je voudrais…
Meaning: I would like…
When to use it: To order or request something politely in a shop, café or office.
Coach’s tip: Never say “je veux” to order — it sounds demanding, like a toddler. The conditional “je voudrais” is the baseline polite form; “je veux” is reserved for firm insistence.
Auriez-vous l’amabilité de… ?
Meaning: Would you be so kind as to… ?
When to use it: In very polite writing or formal speech, to make a deferential request.
Coach’s tip: This is deliberately elevated — perfect for an email to an official or a landlord, but overkill among friends. Match register to context; using it casually sounds theatrical.
Giving your opinion
Franchement…
Meaning: Honestly… / Frankly…
When to use it: To preface a candid, personal opinion.
Coach’s tip: Learners translate “honestly” as “honnêtement”, which is stiff. “Franchement” is the everyday word French people actually use to flag a frank take.
Je trouve que…
Meaning: I find that… / I think that…
When to use it: To give a subjective judgement or impression.
Coach’s tip: English speakers default to “je pense que” for everything. “Je trouve que” conveys a felt, personal impression and sounds more natural for opinions about taste, films, food, people.
Ça dépend…
Meaning: It depends…
When to use it: To give a nuanced answer instead of a flat yes or no.
Coach’s tip: Note the preposition: it’s “ça dépend de” (with “de”), never “ça dépend sur”. English speakers import “depend on” and get it wrong.
À mon sens…
Meaning: To my mind… / In my view…
When to use it: To introduce an opinion in a discussion, essay or formal setting.
Coach’s tip: A polished alternative to the overused “à mon avis”. Note it’s “à mon sens”, not “dans mon sens” — the fixed preposition is “à”.
Agreeing and disagreeing
Ça me va.
Meaning: That works for me. / Fine by me.
When to use it: To accept a plan, time or suggestion.
Coach’s tip: Don’t translate “that works for me” as “ça marche pour moi”. The idiom is “ça me va” — literally “that goes for me”. (“Ça marche” alone also means “sounds good”.)
Tout à fait.
Meaning: Absolutely. / Exactly.
When to use it: To agree emphatically with what someone just said.
Coach’s tip: Learners overuse “oui” or the anglicism “absolument”. “Tout à fait” is the crisp, native way to say “absolutely / spot on” in French.
Je suis pas contre.
Meaning: I’m not against it. / I’m up for it.
When to use it: To express mild, easy-going agreement.
Coach’s tip: This litotes (“not against”) is warmer than it looks — it signals genuine willingness. In casual speech the “ne” drops: “je suis pas contre”. Keep the “ne” in writing.
Je partage votre avis.
Meaning: I share your view. / I agree with you.
When to use it: To signal considered agreement in a meeting or formal discussion.
Coach’s tip: Avoid the word-for-word “je suis d’accord avec votre opinion”. “Je partage votre avis” is the elegant, professional formulation French speakers reach for.
Checking and clarifying
Comment ça ?
Meaning: What do you mean? / How so?
When to use it: To ask someone to explain a remark you didn’t quite follow.
Coach’s tip: Learners say “que veux-tu dire ?” which is fine but bookish. “Comment ça ?” is the two-word reflex French speakers actually use to say “meaning…?”.
Pardon ?
Meaning: Sorry? / Come again?
When to use it: To ask someone to repeat something you didn’t hear.
Coach’s tip: Do NOT say “quoi ?” to a stranger or superior — it’s rude, like “what?!”. “Pardon ?” (or “comment ?”) is the polite way to ask for a repeat.
C’est-à-dire ?
Meaning: Meaning? / That is to say?
When to use it: To prompt someone to spell out what they mean.
Coach’s tip: Written with two hyphens: “c’est-à-dire”. As a lone question it invites elaboration; as a connector (“c’est-à-dire que…”) it introduces your own clarification.
Si je comprends bien…
Meaning: If I understand correctly…
When to use it: To reformulate and check your understanding in a serious conversation.
Coach’s tip: A great fluency move that buys thinking time and confirms comprehension. Note “si je comprends bien”, not “si je comprends correctement” — “bien” is the idiomatic adverb here.
Apologising
Pardon.
Meaning: Sorry. / Excuse me.
When to use it: To excuse a small bump, interruption or to squeeze past someone.
Coach’s tip: The big English→French trap: learners say “je suis désolé” for everything. For minor things and to get attention, French uses “pardon” or “excusez-moi”; save “désolé” for genuine regret.
Je suis vraiment désolé.
Meaning: I’m really sorry.
When to use it: To apologise sincerely for something that genuinely inconvenienced someone.
Coach’s tip: Remember “désolé” agrees: a woman writes “désolée”. And it carries real weight — using it for a tiny bump sounds oddly dramatic to French ears.
C’est (de) ma faute.
Meaning: It’s my fault. / My bad.
When to use it: To own up to a mistake informally.
Coach’s tip: It’s “c’est ma faute” — never “c’est mon erreur” as a phrase to admit blame. English “my mistake” maps to “ma faute” here, not to “erreur”.
Je vous prie de m’excuser.
Meaning: Please accept my apologies.
When to use it: In formal speech or writing, to apologise deferentially.
Coach’s tip: Note the reflexive: you say “je vous prie de m’excuser” (ask them to excuse *me*). Learners mangle it into “je m’excuse”, which some purists consider self-serving — let the other person do the excusing.
Thanking
Merci beaucoup.
Meaning: Thank you very much.
When to use it: The all-purpose warm thank-you.
Coach’s tip: Careful: “merci” alone can mean “no thank you” when declining an offer. If you want the thing, add “oui, merci” or “volontiers”; a bare “merci” to “Encore du vin ?” means you’re refusing.
C’est gentil.
Meaning: That’s kind (of you).
When to use it: To thank someone warmly for a small kindness or thoughtful gesture.
Coach’s tip: A softer, more personal thanks than plain “merci”. Often stretched to “c’est gentil de ta part” — literally “kind of you” — which learners rarely produce but natives love.
Je vous remercie.
Meaning: I thank you. / Thank you.
When to use it: A polished thank-you in professional or written contexts.
Coach’s tip: “Je vous remercie” is more formal and complete than “merci”. Follow it with “de” + noun/infinitive or “pour” + noun: “je vous remercie de votre aide” / “pour votre message”.
Merci mille fois.
Meaning: Thanks a million.
When to use it: To thank effusively when someone has really helped you out.
Coach’s tip: It’s “mille fois” (a thousand times), not a literal “million”. Don’t say “merci un million” — that’s an English calque that sounds off.
Small talk
Ça roule ?
Meaning: How’s it going? / All good?
When to use it: A breezy greeting among friends.
Coach’s tip: Very colloquial. Answer with “ça roule” or “tranquille”, not a formal “je vais bien, merci” — matching the casual register is what makes you sound in the loop.
Quoi de neuf ?
Meaning: What’s new? / What’s up?
When to use it: To ask a friend what’s been happening lately.
Coach’s tip: Literally “what’s new?”. Don’t translate English “what’s up?” as “qu’est-ce qui est en haut ?” — that’s nonsense in French. “Quoi de neuf ?” is the real equivalent.
Il fait un temps magnifique, non ?
Meaning: Lovely weather, isn’t it?
When to use it: To open light small talk with an acquaintance or stranger.
Coach’s tip: Weather uses “faire”, not “être”: “il fait beau / chaud / froid”, never “il est chaud” (which can imply someone is drunk/hot!). The tag “non ?” invites easy agreement.
Comment allez-vous ?
Meaning: How are you?
When to use it: A courteous greeting to someone you address as “vous”.
Coach’s tip: Note the inversion “allez-vous”, and that health/wellbeing uses “aller”, not “être”: “je vais bien”, never “je suis bien” (which means “I’m comfortable/well-placed”).
Talking about feelings
Bof…
Meaning: Meh… / Not really feeling it.
When to use it: To express indifference or lukewarm feelings about something.
Coach’s tip: Untranslatable and essential — a single syllable that conveys “eh, whatever”. Learners over-explain their indifference; a well-timed “bof” does it all.
J’en ai marre.
Meaning: I’m fed up. / I’ve had enough.
When to use it: To vent frustration or weariness with a situation.
Coach’s tip: Note the “en”: “j’en ai marre (de…)”. It’s the everyday way to say you’re sick of something — far more natural than the textbook “je suis fatigué de”.
Ça me fait plaisir.
Meaning: It makes me happy. / I’m glad.
When to use it: To express warm pleasure at something — an invitation, a gift, seeing someone.
Coach’s tip: French externalises joy: not “je suis content” but “ça me fait plaisir” (it gives me pleasure). This construction — thing-does-something-to-me — is a core French pattern English speakers underuse.
Je suis un peu déçu.
Meaning: I’m a little disappointed.
When to use it: To voice mild disappointment tactfully.
Coach’s tip: Beware the false friend: “déçu” means disappointed, NOT deceived. And it agrees — “déçue” for a woman. English speakers who reach for “déçu” meaning “deceived” confuse everyone.
Ending a conversation
Allez, à plus !
Meaning: Right, see you later!
When to use it: A relaxed sign-off with friends.
Coach’s tip: “Allez” here isn’t “go” — it’s a warm discourse marker meaning “right then / take care”. And it’s “à plus” (see you), distinct from “en plus” (moreover); the final “s” is often pronounced in this phrase.
On se rappelle.
Meaning: We’ll be in touch. / Let’s talk soon.
When to use it: To wrap up while leaving the door open to continue later.
Coach’s tip: Reflexive “se” = each other: “on se rappelle” (we’ll call each other back). Don’t say “je te rappelle” unless *you* specifically will be the one to call.
Bonne continuation.
Meaning: All the best (going forward).
When to use it: A warm parting wish to someone moving on to their next thing.
Coach’s tip: Has no clean English equivalent — you’re wishing them well in whatever they’re doing next. Perfect for ending a chat with a colleague, shopkeeper or new acquaintance.
Je vous souhaite une excellente journée.
Meaning: I wish you an excellent day.
When to use it: A courteous close to a formal exchange or email.
Coach’s tip: Use “bonne journée” (the day ahead), and don’t confuse it with “bonjour”. And say it when parting, not arriving — wishing someone a good day is a farewell in French.
Practise them out loud
Knowing an expression is not the same as producing it under pressure. WordSlick brings one natural expression into each daily session, and AskSlick, the AI tutor, lets you use it in a role-play.
Questions
How do I sound more natural in French?
Learn whole expressions for the things you do every day, such as opening a conversation, asking for something, disagreeing politely and ending a chat, instead of translating word by word. Each expression on this page says when to use it and the mistake it fixes.
What is the difference between casual, neutral and formal French?
Casual expressions are for friends and people you know well; neutral ones work almost anywhere; formal ones suit emails, customers and people senior to you. Each card above is labelled.