how to write nice in french

French translation of 'nice'

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Nice to Meet You in French: 11 options, explained

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Meeting new people can be an exciting chance to make friends and practice your French, but you’ll want to master the social basics if you want to leave a good impression when you meet someone for the first time. Knowing a few different ways to say nice to meet you  in French will surely come in handy alongside the other basics like the casual ça va ?  or some of the other French greetings .

You’ll need to know how to say nice to meet you in French anytime you meet someone new, whether it’s a new colleague or making a friend in a social situation – and just like in English, there are many different ways to say it.

In this post, we’ll explore all the different ways to say nice to meet you in French with differing degrees of formality. The first is the most informal, while the next ones each have two versions depending on who you’re addressing. Now let’s get started!

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Enchanté(e)

Nice to meet you

Simply saying enchanté  is probably the most straightforward way to say nice to meet you  in French, and rightly so: it’s by far the most commonly used. It can be used in both formal and informal situations, making it the perfect word to keep in your back pocket for new encounters.

Native English speakers sometimes worry that enchanté  may sound a bit stilted or unusual because of its close similarity to the English word enchanted , which is used in a very different context. However, far from conjuring up associations of fairytales and spells, enchanté  in French translates much more closely to delighted , so it sounds just as natural as saying I’m pleased to meet you  in French.

Because enchanté  is an adjective, it needs to agree with the person describing themselves, and takes an additional “e” in the feminine form. Therefore, while a man would say enchanté when meeting someone new, a woman would use enchantée . Luckily, these sound exactly the same in spoken French, so you’d only be able to spot the difference if you saw the phrase written down – just like here!

This is one of the most popular ways to say nice to meet you  in French, so don’t be afraid to turn to this one over and over again!

• Bonjour Marie, enchanté . / Enchantée . – Hello Marie, nice to meet you . / Nice to meet you .

Ravi(e) de vous rencontrer, Ravi(e) de te rencontrer

Pleased to meet you

Simple and direct, ravi de vous rencontrer may not be the most casual way to say nice to meet you in French, but it’s one of the safest. It’s fairly formal (although not as formal as some of the expressions we’ll take a look at later in our list), making it a perfect option for when you’re not entirely sure how formal the social situation is. If you want to err on the side of caution, such as when you’re meeting a new colleague, you can’t go wrong with using ravi de vous rencontrer .

On the other hand, ravi de te rencontrer is more casual simply by virtue of its informal you  form. By swapping the direct object pronoun “vous” for “te,” we instantly make the expression much more relaxed. You can use ravi de te rencontrer when you’re meeting people your own age or in relaxed social settings such as parties.

For a refresher on when to use the different forms of you in French , check out our dedicated blog post on tu vs vous . You can generally use both of them in many of our expressions for nice to meet you in French, so it’s worth taking the time now to help you choose which expression to use!

Just like with enchanté(e) , there’s an optional ‘e’ at the end of ravi(e)  whose use will depend on whether the speaker is a man or a woman. Again, although a man is ravi  and a woman is ravie , they sound exactly the same so it’s easy to remember!

• Ravi de vous rencontrer ! / Et vous! – Pleased to meet you ! / And you!
• Salut, ravie de te rencontrer . / Salut, et toi! – Hi, pleased to meet you . / Hey, you too!

C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, C’est un plaisir de te rencontrer

It’s a pleasure to meet you

This way of saying nice to meet you in French is slightly different from the others. It translates best to it’s a pleasure to meet you , and implies that you’ve been looking forward to meeting them. Because of that, it’s best used in situations where it would make sense that you’ve heard a little bit about the person before you’ve met them. For example, it would be appropriate to use c’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer when meeting someone that you’ve been told will be joining your team at work.

As we saw above, the “vous” in this expression makes it fit for formal encounters. To make it more informal, you could instead say c’est un plaisir de te rencontrer . This would work better for situations where the other person is of similar age and seniority to you where it’s expected that there’ll be a degree of familiarity soon, such as meeting your friend’s partner that you’ve heard a lot about.

• C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer . / Le plaisir est pour moi! – It’s a pleasure to meet you . / The pleasure is all mine!
• Bonjour, je m’appelle Jean. C’est un plaisir de te rencontrer . / Salut Jean, c’est aussi un plaisir de te rencontrer . – Hello, I’m Jean. It’s a pleasure to meet you . / Hi Jean, it’s a pleasure to meet you  too.

Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance, Ravi(e) de faire ta connaissance

Pleased to make your acquaintance

This is a much more formal way to say nice to meet you  in French than the examples we’ve explored above. Although the phrase pleased to make your acquaintance is rarely said in English, its French counterpart, ravi de faire votre connaissance , is much more common. That said, it’s still reserved for formal occasions and to connote respect, such as meeting somebody you admire or who’s in a position of seniority.

It’s certainly possible to use ravi(e) de faire ta connaissance as the more informal version of this phrase. However, even when using the “tu” form of the informal possessive adjective, “ta,” this is still considered quite a polite way to say nice to meet you in French. On the whole, it’s probably best to reserve this phrase for formal situations where you want to show off your manners, and not, say, meeting someone at a bar!

The big exception to that rule of thumb is when you’re speaking to multiple people at the same time. If you’re introducing yourself to a group, whether it’s a new social circle at an informal hangout or greeting an audience at a seminar you’re delivering, ravi de faire votre connaissance is usually the expression you’ll use the most. We use the plural “vous” regardless of formality, as it translates more closely as pleased to meet you all . If you’re saying nice to meet you in French to more than one person, this is your best option!

Just as we saw above, don’t forget to add the “e” when the speaker is a woman, so the phrase becomes ravie de faire votre connaissance  or ravie de faire ta connaissance .

• Bonjour, bienvenue dans mon cours. Ravi de faire votre connaissance . – Hello, welcome to my class. Pleased to meet you all .
• Bonjour, ravie de faire votre connaissance . – Good morning, pleased to make your acquaintance.

C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance, C’est un plaisir de faire ta connaissance

It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance

Just like ravi de faire votre connaissance , this is one of the most formal ways you can say nice to meet you in French. Save it for those situations that really call for it, like meeting dignitaries or other people in positions that command respect.

Again, you can say  c’est un plaisir de faire ta connaissance  to dress this greeting down, but it still remains somewhat formal. It’s a good expression to bear in mind for those informal social situations where you still want to be sure that you come across as polite and respectful.

• Bonsoir, c’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance . – Good evening, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance .

C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer, C’était un plaisir de te rencontrer

It was nice meeting you

We’ll wrap up our list of ways to say nice to meet you in French with c’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer . This expression is the perfect way to end a conversation with someone you just met.

Meaning it was nice meeting you , this phrase is used in the past tense to politely finish a conversation with a stranger, just as you would in English. Of course, this is also available in a “tu” version as c’était un plaisir de te rencontrer .

If you really want to show off your French social skills, this is also an opportunity to follow up with one of the many ways to say goodbye in French !

• C’était un plaisir de te rencontrer ! Au revoir! / À bientôt! – It was nice meeting you! See you soon! / See you around!
• Alors, je dois y aller. C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer. – Well, I’ve got to go. It was nice meeting you .

Conclusion: Nice to meet you in French

There you have it! You now know many different ways to say nice to meet you in French. No matter what social situation you find yourself in, you’ll now be able to choose exactly the right phrase to reflect the formality of the setting and show off your growing fluency.

We’ll leave you with our list of how to say nice to meet you in French that you can come back to for easy reference. As we say, c’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer !

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How to Say “It is Nice” in French: A Comprehensive Guide

Bonjour! If you’re looking to expand your French vocabulary and express that something is nice, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will delve into various ways to say “it is nice” in French, covering both formal and informal expressions. We’ll also provide regional variations, where applicable, and sprinkle in plenty of tips, examples, and cultural insights along the way. Alors, commençons! (So, let’s get started!)

Formal Ways to Say “It is Nice” in French

When it comes to formal language, the French have an array of phrases to express that something is nice. Here are some commonly used formal expressions:

1. C’est agréable. – This is a straightforward way to say “It is nice” in a formal setting. Whether you’re referring to an object, a place, or an experience, this phrase works in most situations. 2. C’est plaisant. – Similar to the previous phrase, “C’est plaisant” is used to convey that something is pleasant or agreeable. It carries a slightly more refined tone, making it suitable for professional or formal conversations. 3. C’est appréciable. – When you want to express that something is enjoyable or praiseworthy, “C’est appréciable” is a great choice. This phrase conveys a sense of appreciation and can be used in more formal contexts.

Informal Ways to Say “It is Nice” in French

French is known for its informality, and there are numerous casual ways to express that something is nice. Here are a few popular informal expressions:

1. C’est sympa. – This is a widely used and versatile phrase to say “It is nice” in everyday conversations. It can convey a general sense of approval or pleasantness across various contexts. 2. C’est chouette. – A colloquial term often used in informal settings, “C’est chouette” means “It’s cool/nice.” It’s commonly used among friends or family to express enjoyment. 3. C’est génial. – Similar to the English phrase “It’s awesome,” “C’est génial” is used to express excitement or extreme satisfaction. This phrase goes beyond mere niceness and conveys a stronger positive sentiment.

Regional Variations

While French is spoken throughout France, there are some regional variations in expressions. Here’s a glimpse of how “It is nice” can be said differently in certain regions:

1. Southern France

In the south of France, locals use the word “ sympa ” more frequently. It’s common to hear phrases like “ C’est sympa ” or “ C’est vraiment sympa ” (It’s really nice) in conversations. This reflects the laid-back and friendly nature of the southern culture.

2. Quebec, Canada

Quebecois French has its own unique flavors. Instead of using “C’est sympa,” locals prefer to say “ C’est le fun ” to express that something is nice. This local expression adds an extra touch of fun and enthusiasm to their conversations.

Useful Tips for Saying “It is Nice” in French

Here are some additional tips to help you express that something is nice in French:

• Be mindful of context: Depending on the situation, you may need to choose between formal and informal expressions. Pay attention to the setting and the people you’re speaking with.
• Adapt your tone: French speakers often convey their emotions through tone. Adjusting your tone to match the expression you’re using can enhance your communication.
• Practice pronunciation: It’s crucial to pronounce French words correctly to be understood. Listen to native speakers, use pronunciation guides, and practice regularly.
• Embrace cultural nuances: Learning a language isn’t just about words; it’s also about understanding the culture. Embrace the cultural nuances associated with French expressions to enhance your language skills.

Examples in Context

To help you grasp the practical usage of these phrases, here are a few examples in context:

• Les jardins du château sont agréables à visiter. (The gardens of the castle are nice to visit.)
• La vue depuis ma chambre d’hôtel est plaisante. (The view from my hotel room is pleasant.)
• Votre présentation était appréciable et bien structurée. (Your presentation was enjoyable and well-structured.)
• Le film que j’ai regardé hier soir était sympa. (The movie I watched last night was nice.)
• Ton nouvel appartement est vraiment chouette! (Your new apartment is really cool/nice!)
• Cette fête était géniale, on s’est beaucoup amusés! (This party was awesome, we had a lot of fun!)

Remember, the best way to improve your language skills is through practice and immersion. So don’t hesitate to engage in conversations with native French speakers and continue exploring the beauty of the French language!

Voilà! You’re now equipped with a range of phrases to express “It is nice” in French. Whether you’re aiming for a formal discussion or a casual chat, these expressions will surely help you convey your appreciation effectively. Bonne chance! (Good luck!)

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How To Say 'Nice To Meet You' In French

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Living abroad in a country where French is the official language ?

If you’re about to meet someone new, there are some essential phrases that can really help you make new friends and build a rapport.

It’s as simple as starting off by knowing how to say “nice to meet you” in French.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the important ways to courteously say “nice to meet you” in French.

So, to help you make a good first impression when you’re introduced to someone new, take a look at the content below.

How do you say “nice to meet you” in French? 🤝

There are four main ways to say “nice to meet you” in French.

These four main ways are:

• enchanté(e)
• c’était un plaisir de
• ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance
• on m’a tellement parlé de vous .

The table just below contains a brief explanation of the contexts in which these are used.

In-depth explanations of the different ways to say ‘nice to meet you’

Now let’s take a closer look at the four ways how to say “nice to meet you” in French.

Here are the in-depth explanations to the contexts and grammar used for the phrases in the table above.

1. Enchanté(e)

In French, we use enchanté or enchantée when we want to say “nice to meet you”.

Now, you might think this word might be a cognate for the English word “enchanted”, and to some extent there are some similarities as enchanté can mean “enchanted” in some situations.

But if you’re meeting someone new in France, use enchanté or enchantée to express joy at meeting someone for the first time.

If you’re a man, you should use the masculine version of this adjective, which is enchanté to show that you’re pleased to meet someone.

If you’re a woman, you should use the feminine version, which is enchantée .

It’s acceptable in formal and informal contexts.

But if you want to know how to say “nice to meet you” in French in other ways, you will see that there are other versions of this French greeting that you can use to show how happy you are to meet someone.

2. C’était un plaisir de…

This phrase c’était un plaisir de… literally translates to English as “it was a pleasure to…” And what you might notice is that it’s not a complete phrase.

Guess what this means?

It means you get to complete it with the phrase of your choice!

Now, there are a few options, including formal and informal modes of address.

If you want to say “it was a pleasure to speak with you” you would say c’était un plaisir de parler avec vous , or c’était un plaisir de parler avec toi .

The only difference between these two examples is the mode of address.

In the first example, we can tell the speaker is addressing someone formally—like a stranger or a work colleague (who might be someone who they respect).

In the second example, we can tell that the speaker is addressing someone informally.

We can notice this because vous is the pronoun used in the first sentence, whereas toi is the pronoun used in the second.

What’s also important to recognise is that c’était un plaisir de… is a phrase in the past tense.

We can tell that it means “it was a pleasure to…” because the verb était is the French verb être in the past tense.

For this reason, we reserve this phrase until the end of the meeting to express that the past action of meeting someone was great.

If you want to know how to say “nice to speak to you” slightly differently, you could even say c’était bien agréable de pouvoir vous parler .

3. Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance

If you find yourself in a formal circumstance where you’re meeting your boss, or your boss’ boss, or the CEO of a company, this calls for a formal phrase to say that you’re pleased to meet them.

Ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance is one of those phrases that is perfect for scenarios like this.

It means “nice to meet you” in French.

Now, there’s another way to say it, which is ravi(e) de vous rencontrer .

It means the same thing and can be used in the same contexts as ravi(e) de faire votre connaissance .

Just like with enchanté/enchantée , remember that ravi de faire votre connaissance is used by male speakers when you want to say “nice to meet you”, and ravie de faire votre connaissance is used by female speakers.

One additional point to keep in mind. Remember that awkwardness mentioned in the opening paragraph?

In situations like these, where you’re meeting the CEO of a company you should always try to avoid informal registers in French speaking countries.

This means you should avoid greeting someone with the word coucou or salut if they’re your boss or CEO.

4. On m’a tellement parlé de vous

The final way to say “nice to meet you” in French is to say on m’a tellement parlé de vous . Technically, though this one doesn’t exactly mean “nice to meet you”.

The phrase translates to English as “I heard a lot about you” or “I heard very much about you”.

You would use this phrase to express admiration and respect when you’re meeting someone who you’ve heard positive things about.

Let’s go back to our example of the CEO.

If you’re meeting the CEO of your company for the first time and they have made significant strides in the industry you work in, when you shake their hand you can say on m’a tellement parlé de vous .

You’ll notice that here, the vous pronoun is used.

This shows that you’re speaking in an informal situation to someone who you respect or someone who is higher up in the company than you are.

You’ll also notice that here, the past tense of the verb parler is used.

So, when you’re using this phrase to say “nice to meet you” in French, this indicates that good things have already been said about the person you’re meeting.

Other ways how to say “nice to meet you” in French

There are a few other ways to say “nice to meet you” in French.

Two examples of alternative phrases that you can use include:

• heureux / heureuse de te rencontrer
• ca m’a fait plaisir de discuter avec vous .

Using heureux / heureuse de te rencontrer

You might want to use the phrase heureux/heureuse de te rencontrer in informal situations.

This uses the adjective heureux , which means “happy” in English. In other words, you can show that you’re “happy” to meet someone using this phrase.

Note the informal te in this phrase.

This shows that you should use it in informal circumstances — like when you’re meeting a friend of a friend, or the partner of a friend.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between heureux and heureuse, in the context of saying “nice to meet you” in French, the word heureux is used by male speakers when they want to express that they’re pleased to meet someone.

The word heureuse is used by female speakers for the same reason.

Using ca m’a fait plaisir de discuter avec vous

Use the phrase ca m’a fait plaisir de discuter avec vous in contexts where you want to say “nice to speak to you you” in French, in formal situations as the phrase means “it was a pleasure to speak with you”.

Again, you will notice the use of the formal pronoun vous .

This should act as another reminder that this phrase should be used in formal circumstances, so save this particular phrase for a formal scenario.

Aim to make the best first impression by learning how to say “nice to meet you” in French.

Try to reserve the formal expressions for formal situations and the informal ones for people that you consider friends, or friends of friends.

Start expressing your joy when you meet someone new and tell them it was nice to meet them in French.

Make sure to check out our guide on introducing yourself in French next.

Have you heard of any other ways to say “nice to meet you” in the French language?

Let us know what they are in the comments section just below!

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Writing Informal Letters in French

Correct greetings and closings are key

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Writing letters in French can be somewhat tricky because they require particular opening and closing conventions. Following some basic rules of French etiquette and grammar will help you find the correct expressions to use when writing to family, friends, or acquaintances.

Following Conventions

For personal correspondence, there are two important conventions in French letters: greetings and closings. The expressions you use depend on your relationship with the person you are writing to, particularly whether you know her personally. Also, consider whether to use  tu  or  vous —tu is the familiar "you," while vous is the formal greeting for "you" in French.

Remember that these French expressions do not always translate well into English. These are usable equivalents, rather than literal translations. Following are possible greetings and closings you can use, depending on whether you know the person.

You can use these greetings either by themselves or with the salutation followed by the person's name. The greeting in French is listed on the left, while the English translation is on the right. French greetings can be particularly tricky. For example, the French title  Mademoiselle —literally "my young lady"—has long been used to distinguish between women, whether due to their age or marital status. Shopkeepers and bank clerks always greet female customers with a polite  Bonjour, Mademoiselle  or  Bonjour, Madame . But in a letter, you have to assess the woman's age in order to choose the correct term, and that can prove challenging.

Closings in French letters can also be tricky, even in personal missives. To help you craft your closing correctly, the following chart uses the same conventions as the previous one: The closing is listed in French on the left, while the translation is on the right.

Considerations

These latter expressions—such as " Bons baisers  (Lots of love) and Bises! (Hugs and kisses)—might seem too informal in English. But, such closings are not necessarily romantic in French; you can use them with friends of the same or opposite sex.

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Enchanté: Learn to Say “Nice to Meet You” in French

Gain cultural insight and charm by learning how to say “nice to meet you” — and step up your language game with this essential phrase!

Saying "Nice to Meet You" Like a Native French Speaker

Other ways to say "nice to meet you" in french, more alternative ways to say “nice to meet you” in french, cultural considerations.

In the world of language learning, few things are as important as the art of greeting someone. From “hello” to “goodbye,” the manner in which we welcome others speaks volumes about our cultural awareness and respect.

Today, we're diving into the nuances of French greetings , going beyond the already familiar Bonjour or Bonsoir to focus on how to express the universally warming sentiment of "nice to meet you."

Whether you’re a student of French, a traveler looking to connect with locals, or a business professional navigating cultural norms, understanding the varied ways to express this foundational greeting will enhance your conversational skills and demonstrate your appreciation for the rich tapestry of the French language.

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Conjugations and grammar aside, the phrase "nice to meet you" in French can be expressed in a number of ways, each catering to specific contexts and levels of formality. Let’s take a closer look at the go-to formal and informal phrases:

The Most Common Way: Enchanté

At the heart of French sophistication and politesse is the word Enchanté , which is used to express delight upon meeting someone. Like many French words, it captures an emotion in just a few syllables.

Native English speakers may hesitate to use Enchanté , thinking it might come off as formal or out of place due to its resemblance to the English term "enchanted," which has very different connotations often tied to fairytales and magic.

Yet, in French, Enchanté does not evoke a mystical vibe but rather aligns more closely with the expression "delighted," making it as commonplace and genuine as saying "I’m pleased to meet you" during French introductions.

Grammar Note : Since Enchanté is a French adjective, it must align in gender with the individual who is introducing themselves. So, since Enchanté is masculine, it becomes Enchantée in the feminine form.

Nice to meet you.

This is your go-to phrase in any respectable, formal encounter, and it is a perfect French word for informal situations as well. Whether meeting your potential in-laws for the first time or sitting through an interview for your dream job , Enchanté is an understated yet powerful acknowledgment of the meeting.

For a more elaborate approach, you may use this expression:

Je suis enchanté de faire ta connaissance.

I am delighted to make your acquaintance.

Formal Expressions: Ravi de vous rencontrer / Ravi de te rencontrer

This phrase, Ravi de vous rencontrer , is a classic and secure choice for conveying your pleasure in making someone's acquaintance in French. Though perhaps not the most informal expression, its degree of formality is moderate — ideal for when the exact social decorum is unclear.

In scenarios where you'd rather play it safe (like meeting a new colleague), opting for this one is your best bet.

Ravi de vous rencontrer.

Pleased to meet you (formal).

Conversely, Ravi de te rencontrer is a more informal version of the same sentiment due to the use of te — the informal second-person singular object pronoun. This version sets a more laid-back tone, perfect for interactions with peers or in casual settings, such as a gathering or party.

Ravi de te rencontrer.

Pleased to meet you (informal).

As you’ll see later in this article, both of these French pronouns can be interchanged in various "nice to meet you" expressions in French, making it a valuable learning focus.

Grammar Note : Like Enchanté(e) , the term Ravi(e) morphs slightly according to the speaker's gender. A male would say Ravi , while a female would say Ravie . Fortunately, the pronunciation for both remains the same, a handy aspect of this useful expression.

The French, with their penchant for nuance, have a bouquet of ways to express this simple yet profound greeting. Here are several alternative phrases and the appropriate times to use them:

C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer / C’est un plaisir de te rencontrer

In French, where specifics of an introduction can convey much about one's anticipation, C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer holds a special place.

This phrase, which resonates as "It’s a pleasure to meet you" in English, suggests a prior eagerness for the interaction. It implies that there is already a positive impression of the person before the actual meeting, making it especially suitable for encounters where you have prior knowledge of the individual.

C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer.

It’s a pleasure to meet you (formal).

For instance, you can use this phrase upon meeting a new team member who you've known would be joining your work environment. The use of vous in this phrase leans towards a formal tone.

However, for a more laid-back approach akin to meeting peers or someone with whom you expect to soon become acquainted on familiar terms, C’est un plaisir de te rencontrer replaces the formal vous with the informal te .

C’est un plaisir de te rencontrer.

It’s a pleasure to meet you (informal).

This version is apt for less formal situations — perhaps in meeting a friend’s partner whom you've already heard much about.

Another similar expression you might come across is C'était un plaisir de vous/e rencontrer . This is the more extensive and courteous way of saying, "It was a pleasure to meet you."

C'était un plaisir de parler avec toi. À bientôt!

It was nice meeting you. See you around!

Use this when you’ve spent some time with the person or when the encounter signifies a memorable moment, such as concluding a business deal or parting ways after a thought-provoking conversation.

Heureux de te rencontrer / Heureuse de te rencontrer

Stepping into more casual realms of interaction, these French expressions break the ice with a direct declaration of happiness at the new connection. Heureux (or heureuse in the feminine form) translates to "happy" in English, providing a cheerful and friendly touch for when you're introduced to someone in a laid-back setting.

Heureux de te rencontrer.

Happy to meet you.

Heureuse de te rencontrer.

It is a warm and slightly more formal way to express pleasure at meeting someone for the first time. It's appropriate for occasions when a certain degree of decorum is expected, like at a dinner party or with respected mentors and professionals.

Ravi de faire votre connaissance / Ravi de faire ta reconnaissance

For those occasions where etiquette is key, Ravi de faire votre reconnaissance is the quintessential French expression of polite introduction, akin to "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Ravi de faire votre connaissance.

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Though its English counterpart may not roll off the tongue as often, the French version is still widely used and carries a dignified air, especially when meeting someone of note or seniority.

When addressing a group of people, whether in a casual get-together or a more structured event like a seminar, this is your go-to phrase. It adapts to plural usage with grace, serving the role of "Pleased to meet all of you" and elevating your French language skills in the eyes of native speakers.

When you need to express your pleasure at meeting several people simultaneously, this phrase carries the day, regardless of the formality of the occasion.

On the flip side, Ravi de faire ta reconnaissance provides a slightly more informal touch while maintaining a respectful tone. The choice of ta over voter brings a personable feel yet retains an element of formality.

Ravi de faire ta reconnaissance.

It's a phrase best kept for scenarios where you want to be courteous without the added weight of formality that voter might imply — though it's still not the phrase you'd likely use for a chance encounter at a local bar.

This list isn’t finished yet! Here is a quick table summarizing some of the alternative informal and formal ways to say “nice to meet you” in French:

Understanding the cultural context of greetings will not only improve your language skills but also give you a deeper understanding of the social fabric of the French-speaking world.

French Etiquette and Customs

Formality and politeness are deeply ingrained in French society. Greetings are often the first indicator of social standing and respect. The French take punctuality seriously, and a well-timed Enchanté can set the stage for a positive impression.

Remember to make eye contact and shake hands when appropriate, and always use Monsieur or Madame until invited by your conversational partner to use their first name.

Non-Verbal Cues and Body Language

The French, known for their eloquence in every area of communication, also express themselves through subtle body language. When using any of the above-mentioned greetings, consider your surroundings and the level of formality.

Stand up straight, hold your head high, and maintain a calm, confident demeanor.

Quick Tip: Use Audio Resources for Practice

Mastering pronunciation is the key to making your French greetings sound authentic. Use online resources and language learning apps like Langster , which provides audio from native speakers, to practice the different dialects, intonations, and speeds of spoken French.

Hearing the language spoken by multiple voices will train your ear to recognize and pronounce words accurately.

Many who study French find it beneficial to immerse themselves in the language by listening to French music, watching French films with subtitles , and even changing the language setting on their devices to French.

The beauty of foreign languages lies not just in their sounds and structures but in the way they carry the cultural nuances of the people who speak them. As you work on incorporating these French greetings into your exchanges, you’re not just learning how to speak; you’re learning how to charm, respect, and connect on a deeper level.

So, next time you meet someone français or someone who speaks the language of Molière, don’t just say, "Nice to meet you." Say it with the grace and elegance of the French language — and mean it. Use these practices to create a ripple effect in your conversations, and leave a lasting impact.

Ellis is a seasoned polyglot and one of the creative minds behind Langster Blog, where she shares effective language learning strategies and insights from her own journey mastering the four languages. Ellis strives to empower learners globally to embrace new languages with confidence and curiosity. Off the blog, she immerses herself in exploring diverse cultures through cinema and contemporary fiction, further fueling her passion for language and connection.

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How to Say Nice to Meet You in French 15+ Ways

If you want to learn how to say nice to meet you in French quickly and easily, look no further!

This guide is your one-stop-shop for learning the ins and outs of saying nice to meet you in French because, to be frank, whether you’re saying it in Japanese, Russian, Spanish, or French, you’re going to need to know how to say nice to meet you in a foreign language at one point or another.

So, let’s get started. In this post, you’ll find over 15 different ways to express yourself when you’re meeting someone for the first time. Whether you want to be formal or informal, we have plenty of easy sayings that are sure to do the trick.

We’ve also included plenty of videos to help you with pronunciation, so you can start talking like a native French speaker in no time.

3 French Phrases I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Paris

While many locals do speak English in Paris, there are a few very important phrases I wish I had known before I landed at Charles de Gaulle…

1. The standard way of saying nice to meet you in French

The standard way of saying nice to meet you in French is enchanté . This word has different meanings in French and English and has multiple spellings, as well.

Enchanté versus Enchantée

The only difference between these two words is the extra e on the end, correct? Well, luckily for us, the only difference in meaning behind this is who says it!

If a man were to say “nice to meet you”, then they would say enchanté as it is the masculine form of the word.

But, if a woman were to say “nice to meet you”, then they would say enchantée as it is the feminine form of the word.

Again, there is no difference in meaning or pronunciation, and you would only be able to see the difference when it is written down or spelled out.

Enchanté in English

The term enchanté in English is literally translated to the word enchanted which we native English speakers have come to associate with magical, fairytales, and storybooks.

Enchanté in French

In French, however, the word enchanté is actually translated to the word delighted which is where we get the saying “I am delighted to meet you.”

How to Pronounce Nice to Meet You in French

If you prefer to listen to the words being spoken and are more of a visual learner like I am, I highly recommend checking out this short video !

Nice to Meet You in French: Formal

2. Nice to meet you – Ravi de vous rencontrer

This is a simple and direct way of saying nice to meet you in French . It is not the kindest nor the most polite, but it gets the point across. If you’re looking to be more optimistic in your answer, however, I recommend using one of the below sentences instead.

That being said, though, it really is all in your body language. If you say “ravi de vous rencontrer” with a big smile and positive attitude, there won’t be any question about your good demeanor.

Listen Here! ➡️ Ravi de vous rencontrer

3. Hello, it’s nice to meet you – Bonjour, ravi de vous rencontrer

If you want to greet the person before saying it’s nice to meet you in French , then a simple bonjour or salut will work just fine.

Listen Here! ➡️ Bonjour, ravi de vous rencontrer

4. Past Tense: It was nice meeting you – C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer

When departing a situation where you just recently met someone, you would use the above phrase.

If you just met them that very day, then you can say “C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer aujourd’hui” which means it was nice meeting you today .

Listen Here! ➡️ C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer

5. It is great to meet you – C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer

This is an upbeat, positive way of expressing your admiration for meeting someone. Throw in a smile and a firm handshake, and you’ll be both formal and optimistic.

Listen Here! ➡️ C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer

6. Past Tense: It was great meeting you – C’était super de vous rencontrer

Formally, when leaving an upscale social event or family home, it’s customary to say something positive like “it was great meeting you.”

If you don’t happen to get to say goodbye to the host or are connecting with someone you met the following day, you can always say “c’était super de vous rencontrer hier” which translates to it was great meeting you yesterday .

Listen Here! ➡️ C’était super de vous rencontrer

7. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance – C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance

Far more formal than the past 3 sentences, this is about as formal as it gets. If you’re being welcomed into a royal home, elegant night out, or are meeting someone who is famous, part of royalty, or the like, then this phrasing will work just fine.

However, if you use it on a friend of a friend on a night out at the bar, you will definitely receive some funny looks.

Listen Here! ➡️ C’est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance

8. Past Tense: It was a pleasure meeting you – C’était un plaisir de vous rencontrer

If you want to tell someone that it was a pleasure meeting them, then you would say the above phrase. This phrase also works for saying “pleased to meet you” in French as well as “pleasure” in French .

If you simply want to say “it’s a pleasure” in French, then you’ll use the phrase c’est un plaisir .

While a native French speaker will likely understand what you mean if you simply say “ plaisir “, the word for pleasure , if you want to be more formal then I recommend using the sentence above.

You can also add aujourd’hui to the end of this sentence to say “it was a pleasure meeting you today” in French.

9. It is very nice meeting you in person – C’est très agréable de vous rencontrer en personne

If you have already been communicating with someone via email, social media, phone calls, texting, or through mutual friends, then this is a great way to acknowledge that.

Otherwise, if you simply say “nice to meet you” in French, the person may feel as though you have forgotten all of your previous conversations which may be awkward for the both of you.

Listen Here! ➡️ C’est très agréable de vous rencontrer en personne

10. Past Tense: It was very nice meeting you in person- C’était très agréable de vous rencontrer en personne

At the end of your visit with someone you have been previously in contact with, this is a great way to round it out. It acknowledges that you have already “met” in one form or another and that you plan on meeting again.

You can also use this phrase to say it was lovely meeting you in French or the like.

Listen Here! ➡️ C’était très agréable de vous rencontrer en personne

11. How to say “good evening, everyone” in French – Bonsoir, toutes les personnes

To greet a crowd or a new group of people that you haven’t met before, then use this phrase. You will be addressing everyone in the room or within hearing distance.

Listen Here! ➡️ Bonsoir, toutes les personnes

Nice to Meet You in French: Informal

12. great to meet you- enchanté de vous rencontrer.

This is a very popular phrase to use between colleagues, students, friends of friends and family members, and so forth.

This is an informal greeting that is full of positivity and optimism. It is often used between people of similar ages, career paths, etc.

Listen Here! ➡️ Enchanté de vous rencontrer

13. Glad to meet you – Ravie de faire ta connaissance

If you are speaking to someone older than you or are meeting in terms of business or a more serious topic, this is a good phrase to use.

Listen Here! ➡️ Ravie de faire ta connaissance

14. Nice to see you in French – Ravi de vous voir

Now, if you have met someone very vaguely before, then this is a great one to use. Even if you can barely remember their name but you know you have been introduced or even near each other before, then acknowledge that!

This is both polite and informal, so you’ll be ticking all the French boxes with this one.

Listen Here! ➡️ Ravi de vous voir

15. Great to see you – Content de te voir

Perhaps you remember hitting it off with someone you met long ago, but you can’t remember their name or you don’t know much about them, then this phrase will still work.

It is a more enthusiastic greeting that will make an I remember having a pleasant experience with you statement.

Listen Here! ➡️ Content de te voir

Responses to Nice to Meet You in French

When someone says nice to meet you in French , it’s important to respond. Use one of the below phrases for either a formal or informal response.

✔️ It is nice to meet you too – C’est aussi un plaisir de vous rencontrer

Simply return the message exactly as they gave it. It’s simple and to the point, without any embellishments.

✔️ I’m so glad to meet you too – Je suis si heureux de te rencontrer aussi

Offer the same greeting, but with more enthusiasm and optimism.

✔️ The pleasure is mine – Le plaisir est pour moi

Let them know that you are equally happy to be meeting and that you have been looking forward to the occasion.

✔️ And you in French – Et vous or Et toi

If someone says it’s nice to meet you in French and you would like to respond in French, an easy saying is et vous ! This means and you, but in a formal way.

Use the formal version when speaking to someone you do not know or someone who is older than you. You can use the informal version, et toi , if you already know the person or if it is a casual meeting.

✔️ Good and you in French – Bien et vous (or et toi)

If someone asks how you are in French after meeting you, a nice way to respond is with “good, and you?” or bien, et vous?

If you already know the person and you are on a first-name basis, then you can use bien, et toi ? since it is less formal.

✔️ I’m Good and you in French – Je vais bien et vous (or et toi)

If you want to be a little bit more formal, you can respond with Je vais bien, et vous? which translates to I’m good, and you? in French.

You can also use et toi if you have been introduced to the person already and have had at least a few conversations previously.

Helpful French Translations

These are some other popular French sayings and phrases that people who are just meeting need to know how to say.

Have a nice day in French Bonne journée

Listen Here! ➡️ Bonne journée

How to say “I’m good” in French Je suis bien

Listen Here! ➡️ Je suis bien

Very nice in French Très sympa

Listen Here! ➡️ Très sympa

Where are you in French Où es-tu

Listen Here! ➡️ Où es-tu

To meet in French Rencontrer – verb

Listen Here! ➡️ Rencontrer

Other Helpful French Resources

✔️ Saying No in French 30+ Ways (& Audio Pronunciation) ✔️ What Time Is It in French 11+ Ways: How to Ask and Tell Time in French ✔️ 33+ Ways to Say Thank You in French (with Audio) ✔️ How to Say Good Night in French 7 Different Ways ✔️ 1-10 in French: Learn to Count from 1-10+ in French (with Pronunciations) ✔️ Good Morning in French: 17 Helpful French Greetings ✔️ Merry Christmas in French 17+ Ways

Helpful France Resources

✔️ Is Paris Safe? A Full Guide on Safety in Paris ✔️ Why Visit Paris? 25 Reasons to Visit Paris, France ✔️ Best Time to Visit Paris: 7 Things to Consider ✔️ One Day in Paris: How to See the Best of Paris in One Day ✔️ 4 Days Paris Itinerary: How to Spend 4 Amazing Days in Paris ✔️ Paris At Night: 24 Amazing Things To Do in Paris at Night ✔️ 27 Incredible Day Trips from Paris ✔️ 17 Beautiful Beaches Near Paris ✔️ Souvenirs from France: 45 Unique French Souvenirs ✔️ Wine Tours in France: 15 Top-Rated French Wine Tours ✔️ 23 Best Things To Do in Chamonix, France: Summer & Winter ✔️ Lake Annecy, France: The Best Activities, Accommodations, and Travel Tips

If you are also interested in learning Spanish, check out these guides:

✔️ Numbers 1-100 in Spanish (with PDF Guide) ✔️ How to Say Good Night in Spanish 20+ Ways ✔️ Say Good Luck in Spanish 35+ Ways ✔️ Congratulations in Spanish 38+ Ways for Every Occasion ✔️ Happy Birthday in Spanish 13 Different Ways ✔️ 35 Helpful Greetings in Spanish – Formal and Informal

The Wrap-Up: Nice to Meet You in French

Whether you simply want to learn how to communicate with basic phrases in French or you are getting started on your path to becoming bilingual, learning the basics is key to learning a new language.

I hope this post on 15+ different ways to say nice to meet you in French was helpful, and you can use it to motivate you to continue learning new languages around the world!

Hey there! I'm Emily Concannon, a seasoned globetrotter who has backpacked her way across over a dozen European countries, immersing myself in the diverse cultures, languages, and cuisines of the region.

My passion for travel transcends personal experiences; I've spent years learning how to transform my globetrotting knowledge into personalized itineraries for fellow travelers worldwide.

With a tally of 26 countries (and counting!) under my belt, my day job involves extensive research on different countries which often leads me to booking a new adventure every chance I get!

How to say you're beautiful in French plus 76 more compliments

Elinor Zucchet

If French seems like a difficult language, you’re in for a treat. Beautiful in French is pretty straightforward, and you can use the same word for both people and objects.

There’s a small caveat though: the feminine and masculine forms are different, and of course, so are plural forms. But if you’ve started to learn French , you already know that.

If the person or object is masculine, use “ beau ” or “ bel ” depending on what comes after it. If the person or object is feminine, use “ belle ” . For plural, respectively, “ beaux ” and “ belles ” . Easy, right? If not, here is a little video help .

Positive words, like compliments, are a wonderful way to engage in a conversation and make friends. French people might not be the most generous with compliments, but they will certainly appreciate one and reward you with a big “ merci ” . Just make sure to use an adequate expression, and of course, choose wisely between “ tu ” and “ vous ”.

In the list below, we’ve mostly used “ tu ”, as most compliments are said to a friend or somebody you know well. We’ve only used “ vous ” for compliments in a professional environment.

C’est parti !

How to say beautiful in French

Oh là là , French is such a romantic language ! But “beautiful” can be used in a wide variety of situations. From describing a landscape to complementing your friends or colleagues, we have you covered. C’est pas beau ça ?

How to say you are beautiful in French

You fell in love with a handsome Montréalais , or a good looking Marseillaise ? Or maybe you just want to compliment a friend before going out? Here is a small guide to know exactly what to say… and to whom!

How to say a thing is beautiful in French

Imagine this: You’re visiting the Louvre, and all of the sudden, you find the most amazing painting. How do you share your amazement with everybody else? Well, here’s how!

How to compliment someone on their work in French

Compliments in a workplace can go a long way. Here are a few expressions to help you maintain a positive vibe au travail !

How to compliment someone on their appearance, clothing or things in French

In France, looks are important — sometimes too important. Many French will carefully select their outfit just to go get a baguette . So, complimenting somebody on their style is sure to faire plaisir , especially in the French capital of fashion!

How to compliment someone on their personality or lifestyle in French

Even to French people, looks are not the only thing that matters. If you are looking for compliments in French that are a little less… shallow, we have compiled a list of positive qualities you can highlight.

How to respond to compliments in French

Last but not least, here are a couple of ways to answer a compliment in French. You can also check out this article on ways to say thank you . Trop gentil !

Compliments in France: a mitigate culture

Who doesn’t love compliments? Well, while French people certainly appreciate them, they don’t give them as easily as some other cultures. For example, in the US or Canada, it’s very common to be encouraged by your boss or your teacher, but not in France. Basically, if you don’t hear any complaints, it means that people are happy with you.

Friends or relatives might compliment each other, but many people will not give “fake” compliments. For example, if they think your outfit is questionable, they might say “C’est original mais je ne le porterais pas” (It’s original but I wouldn’t wear it) but they won’t say “C’est joli” .

In general, they also tend to be a little less enthusiastic about things. You will not see a French person (except me, maybe), screaming and jumping in awe in front of a breathtaking landscape… or a super cute dress.

Finally, it’s rare to receive a compliment from a total stranger… unless they are trying to sell you something or have another agenda! A sociologist explains why French culture is so compliment-greedy in this short video .

Even though French people can be sparing with their compliments, if they tell you one, it’s likely they really mean it. So don’t be shy and return the compliment when you can. Just make sure to refer to this list to have the perfect compliment at hand, et le tour est joué !

And if you love learning fun French vocabulary for free? You know where to go ( our French learning blog ).

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How to Write Letters and Emails in French 📨

Today, I’m going to tell you about writing letters in French. Everything written in French tends to be more formal than in English; business letters, emails… and there are some quite archaic formulas that are still very much used nowadays.

In this “French letter guide”, I will focus on how to start and end your French letter: we use very precise salutations and closings in French letters, and some archaic expressions are still common for business letters.

French people will be forgiving if you make mistakes in the core of the text, but for example writing “ma chérie” to a friend could send the wrong message.

And choosing an inappropriate letter closing like “je vous embrasse” for a business partner would be a big faux-pas!

So let’s study how to write letters in French.

5 Common French Salutations in Letters

Before you even start writing your French letter, you need to select the correct French salutation or greeting.

When you don’t know who you are writing to

If you don’t know who you are writing to, start your letters by “Messieurs”.

Other French salutations

• If you are addressing your letter to “le Responsable des livraisons” but you still don’t know his/her name, start your letter with “Monsieur,” (even if you don’t know whether the person is a man or a woman).
• If you know the name of the person, start your letter by “Monsieur X, or Madame X,”. Note that for a business letter, Mademoiselle is no longer used in writing.
• If you are writing to someone you know, you met, or if you are answering to someone who wrote you first, then you can start with “Cher Monsieur X,” or “Chère Madame X,” or even “Chère Mademoiselle X”. Use this French salutation you feel like being a bit more friendly, not if you are writing to complain!
• When writing to a friend, start with “Cher Pierre,” ” Chère Anne,” – it’s common, but still a bit formal.
• You can also drop the formal salutation altogether and just say hello in French : “salut Pierre”, “Coucou Anne”…

About “cher” in French

In the context of a salutation to start a French letter, “cher” means dear.

• cher + masculine singular noun = cher Pierre
• chère + feminine masculine noun = chère Anne
• chers + plural = chers Anne et Pierre
• chères + plural feminine only = chères Anne et Marie

“Cher” can be followed by “Monsieur/ Madame / Mademoiselle” Cher Monsieur, or with “Monsieur/ Madame / Mademoiselle ” + a last name Cher Monsieur Dupont

However, I suggest you don’t write “Cher Monsieur Pierre”. This would be frowned upon in higher social classes.

Be careful with “Chéri” ❤️

“Chéri(e)” (do say the final “i”), is a common French love nickname for sweetie.

So, if you write “Pierre chéri”, or “mon chéri”, Pierre is going to think you are in love with him.

It’s rare nowadays to use “chéri(e)” with friends, although it was common about 50 years ago. But it has changed.

How to Close Your French Letter

A typical way to close a french business letter is “dans l’attente de vous lire, je vous….” and then you add the French closing expression.

French Business Letters Closing Expressions

These common closings will work for French business letters or very formal letters.

• For a very formal letter “Je vous prie d’agréer, (repeat the salutation), l’expression de mes salutations distinguées.” Je vous prie d’agréer, chère Madame Dupont, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées.
• VERY formal, but you are the one providing the service or the good, write: “Je vous prie d’agréer, (repeat the salutation), l’expression de mes salutations dévouées.”
• A bit less formal: “Je vous prie d’agréer, (repeat the salutation), l’expression de mes meilleures salutations.”
• Still formal but you know the person – not a friend, but it’s a personal relationship, not business:  “Je vous prie d’agréer, (repeat the salutation), l’expression de mes sentiments distingués.”  For example, you are writing to the oncle of your friend, to thank him for giving you the name of a plumber. And they’re a very formal family: “Je vous prie d’agréer, Cher Monsieur Dupont (or even Cher Frank if you are on a first name basis), l’expression de mes sentiments distingués.”

Best regards in French?

To translate ‘best regards’ in French, write:

• “Meilleures salutations,”
• “Salutations distinguées,”

note these expressions end with a comma.

Warm regards in French?

To say warm regards in French, write “Cordialement”. I use this one all the time.

Yours truly in French?

Yours truly is “Bien à vous” or “bien à toi” if you are saying “tu” to the person.

Check out French Today’s audiobook about French greetings and politeness .

Master French politeness without hesitation and avoid embarrassing faux-pas.

More Details & Audio Samples

Personal Letters

When you are writing a pesonnal letter in French to acquaintances, or friends who are quite formal – or maybe older friends – write:  “Amicalement,” or “Je vous adresse toute mon amitié,” both closings meaning kind of like “warmest regards”.

What is Bisous at the end of a French letter ?

Many foreigners have been confused with a French friend ending a letter or email with bisous… Did you miss a romantic signal?

No you didn’t. Ending a French letter to a friend with “bisou” or “je t’embrasse” is very common, and not necessarily romantic!

With closer friends and family you may close your letter with:

• More formal : “Affectueusement”, “affectueuses pensées” kind of like “Fondly”, or “Je vous embrasse” which is “hug and kisses” but using the formal “vous”.
• Less formal: “Je t’embrasse (bien fort),” or “Gros bisous,” “Grosses bises,” or “Bisous,” , the equivalent of “hugs and kisses”in French
• Absolutely not formal: “Bizoux”, “bizoudou”… like 😘

Note that for all these expressions, the “vous” can also be used as a plural, and in this case may, or may not be as formal.

Don’t use XOXO in French

In American English, it’s very common to end a text with XOXO – meaning hugs and kisses.

The French don’t hug, and don’t know this symbol nor would they understand it.

How to Write the Name on the French Envelop?

You’ll write the address in the front of the envelop, pretty much the same way you’d do anywhere in the US or Europe.

For the name, you have plenty of options: so let’s take my name for example.

• My first name is Camille.
• My maiden name is Chevalier.
• My married name is Chevalier-Karfis (hyphenated names are not common for French people: most wives would just take their husband’s last name).
• My husband’s first name is Olivier.
• His last name is Karfis.

So you could write:

• Camille Chevalier-Karfis – straight and to the point – that’s the one I would use for a business kind of letter
• Madame Camille Chevalier-Karfis – pretty common in standard automated business letters
• Madame Chevalier-Karfis – that’s the one I would use if I wrote a personal letter
• Madame Olivier Karfis – very very old-fashioned and a tad snob. Using my husband’s first name and last name to define me… That’s the one my Mom would use…

How to Label the Envelop to France?

Once you’ve taken care of the name on the envelop, write the info from the smallest to the biggest entity:

• start with the name (if it’s the business letter, then maybe the salutation, department, certainly the name of the company),
• Apartment number, po box,
• street number and address,
• town (sometimes followed by Cedex + a number in French).

Camille Chevalier-Karfis French Today 63 rue de Goas Plat 22500 Paimpol France

It’s my actual address: feel free to write me a letter, a postcard, or lavish me with gifts 🤣

Where to Write Your Return Address?

In France, the return address is written in the back of the letter, at the very top, across the width of the letter.

However that can be confusing for your home country.

So, as a precaution, when sending a letter internationally, I always write “from” and then cross the return address, just in case (as shown on the picture of the envelope featured above)

This “from” in French would be – “de: X”, or “de la part de: X”, – or “expéditeur: X”

💌 How to Write a French Love Letter

If you are writing to your loved one, you may start with a French love nickname . “Ma chérie” when writing to a woman, “mon chéri” for a man are the norm.

At the end, you’ll probably say I love you in French : “je t’aime”, “je t’aime de tout mon coeur”. Click on the link to see variations.

Then you’ll probably end with some kind of kiss: here again, there are many ways to send kisses in French . “Je t’embrasse amoureusement” is a safe one on the formal side. “Mille bisous d’amour” is a cuter way to send kisses to your loved one.

How to Write a Condoleance Letter in French

I hope you won’t have to write a condoleance letter in French.

To express your sympathy in French, the most used phrase would be:

Je vous adresse mes (sincères) condoléances Please receive my (sincere) condolences/my sympathy.

Here are other typical examples – I won’t translate them : the words don’t translate well literally but I’m sure you’ll get the idea.

Be careful to choose the appropriate politeness formula: choosing vous or tu, and conjugating the French verbs accordingly. To start and finish your letter, you’d use the regular French letter writing expressions.

• En ces moments difficiles, je suis désolé de ne pas pouvoir être avec toi, mais je tenais à te faire part de mes sincères condoléances.
• Prenant part à votre douleur, je vous présente mes sincères condoléances, à vous et à votre famille.
• C’est avec grande tristesse que nous avons appris le décès de… nous partageons votre peine et vous faisons part de nos sincères condoléances.
• Nous sommes profondément émus par ce deuil qui vous affecte. Dans cette difficile épreuve, nous vous assurons de notre amitié et vous envoyons toute notre affection.
• Nous vous offrons toute notre affection et notre soutien pendant ces moments difficiles. Nous pensons bien fort à vous et à votre famille et vous adressons nos condoléances les plus sincères.
• Je tiens à m’associer à votre peine et à vous apporter tout mon soutien en ces durs moments que la vie nous impose.

Expressing your sympathy in a little bit less formal way:

• C’est avec une immense tristesse que j’ai appris la mort de…. Je te présente mes condoléances les plus sincères et si tu as besoin de parler, je suis là. Tu peux toujours compter sur moi, n’hésite pas. Bien affectueusement.
• Un petit mot pour dire que nous pensons bien à toi et à toute ta famille dans ces moments difficiles. Je garderai un excellent souvenir de… et de sa gentillesse. Si tu veux te changer les idées et venir nous voir, ça serait avec plaisir. Gros bisous.

How to Write a Thank you Note in French

Since I lived both in France and in the US, I can tell you that writing thank you notes is less frequent in France than it is in the US.

We also have a much smaller market for greeting/special occasion cards and don’t send out these too often.

In very posh families, it’s not uncommon to have a special pad made out with your name at the top, and you use that to answer invitations or send thank you notes. But it’s disappearing nowadays.

The norm would be to start your thank you note with “merci pour”… or “j’écris pour te/vous remercier pour….”. More ways of saying Thank you in French .

⚠️ Punctuation When Typing a French Letter

Some rules of punctuation used when typing out a text are different in French than in English.

• Un point d’exclamation ! Un point d’interrogation ? Space BEFORE and after
• Les deux points : un point virgule ; space BEFORE and after
• Une virgule,  a comma – no space before, space after
• Un point. A period – no space before, space after
• Trois petits points (also called les points de suspension)… – no space before, space after
• ” les guillemets ”  ouvrez les guillemets – fermez les guillemets – space after/before
• (les parenthèses) no space

French Letter Vocabulary

Let me just list the common French letter vocabulary

• une enveloppe – envelop
• un timbre – stamp
• affranchir – to stamp
• l’expéditeur – expeditor
• le destinataire – recipient
• la poste – post office
• le courrier – mail
• la boîte aux lettres – letterbox

Voilà, I hope this article will help you next time you write a letter in French. 

I post new articles every week, so make sure you subscribe to the French Today newsletter – or follow me on  Facebook , Twitter  and  Pinterest .

Good luck with your French studies.

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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Can You Understand Today’s Spoken French?

It’s not just slang. The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners.

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Writing an Email in French: My best tips

• November 22, 2021

How do you write an email in French?

Let’s say you want to send an email to thank your teacher for your progress in French. Should you use “ Tu ” or “ Vous ” ? How do you start and end an email? Which sentences can you use?

Let’s dive in.

Want all the vocabulary of the lesson ?

1) write an email in french: greetings.

So what’s in an email, after l’objet (= the subject line) ?

Before diving into the heart of the email, let’s start with the first line.

It’s usually a greeting of some sort, such as:

• Bonjour (= Hello )
• Bonsoir (= Good evening )
• Salut (= Hi! , informal, with friends)
• Coucou (= Hi! , informal and a bit more intimate)

Just as in spoken French!

Click here to learn more: Mastering the Basics: French Greetings + How to Practice Your French

Or you can be more formal, and write your email like you’d write a letter:

• Monsieur, madame, (= Dear Sir / Madam , cold and formal, if you don’t know who’s going to read the letter.)
• Cher monsieur, (= Dear Sir, warmer but still formal)
• Chère madame, (= Dear Madam, same but for a woman)

We would never really use these in spoken French.

Here, Cher / chère means “ dear ,” but as you probably know, it also means “ expensive ” when talking about things you can buy.

• Une montre chère = an expensive watch
• Un ami cher / un cher ami = a dear friend

Le truc en + : Some French adjectives have two meanings like “ cher ,” one more down-to-earth, the other more metaphorical. When the adjective comes after the noun, it’s usually the concrete meaning. When it comes before the noun, it’s usually the metaphorical meaning. For instance : un grand homme = a great man, un homme grand = a tall man.

By the way, Chéri (Chérie / Mon chéri / Ma chérie) means “ my love, my dear. ” Don’t make the embarrassing mistake of sending that greeting to your French teacher instead of “ cher ” !

It’s becoming more common to start an email the “American way,” with simply the name of your reader: Géraldine, … (I’m not fond of this greeting in French.)

2) Write an email in French: Ending an email

Ending an email also relies on a few usual expressions:

• Bisous (= kisses ) → Informal and intimate, for family and close friends
• Bonne journée (= Have a nice day ) → Neutral, friendly
• Cordialement (= Cordially ) → More formal. Common in letters and emails, never used in spoken French.
• Bien à vous (= Yours / Kind regards ) → Formal but warm and friendly.
• Veuillez agréer, Madame, mes sincères salutations… (= Please accept, Madam, my sincere greetings… ) → Very formal. I never used it, even in writing, and it’s never used in conversations.

We can use Bisous (with close friends and family) and Bonne journée (with anyone) in real spoken French conversation.

Variations on Bisous are a bit more outdated but more elegant:

• Bises = Kisses
• Grosses bises = “Big kisses”, hugs and kisses
• Bons baisers de Paris = “Big kisses from Paris” = From Paris with love

These are all “kisses” like la bise , the French informal greeting of an “air kiss”. It’s not a romantic thing!

Click here to learn more : French Culture Lesson — La Bise – Comme une Française

Finally, you can use “goodbye” like we use at the end of a conversation:

• À demain (= “See you tomorrow” – also applies for “writing tomorrow”)
• À bientôt (= “See you soon” )
• À très vite (= “See you very soon” )

3) Write an email in French: “Tu” or “Vous” ?

“ Tu ” (= singular “ you ”) is the informal, intimate pronoun to use when talking to friends and family. It conveys friendliness, closeness.

“ Vous ” (= plural “ you ”) is the respectful, more distant pronoun to use when talking to someone you don’t know and aren’t friends with, like a baker, a counter clerk or any administration. It conveys respect and formality.

There’s a grey area in the middle. For people you technically don’t know, that you do respect, but still want to be friendly with. For friends of friends for instance. Or an in-law. Or a teacher on the Internet that sends you an email every week! 😉

Well, it depends. Use what you’re comfortable with. Three thoughts on that:

• Some people will feel weird if you use “ tu ” with them. Especially if they’re people who are just doing their job.
• Some people will feel weird if you use “ vous .” Since “ vous ” is often used for elders, it might make them feel old!
• So there’s no real “safe” pronoun here. But don’t worry! If you’re sincere and polite, nobody will mind which pronoun you use. You’re not fluent, you’re allowed to make mistakes, we understand.

Click here to learn more about “Tu” and “Vous” and how we switch between them: Tu or Vous? How to say “you” in French

In the examples for this lesson, I’ll use “ tu ,” but you can easily switch. And if you want to send me an email to thank me, I give you the permission to use “ tu ” !

4) Write an email in French: Thanking someone

Basic ways to thank someone in French:

• Merci (= Thank you) → The one used in everyday conversation; you need to know this essential French polite word.
• Merci beaucoup (= Thank you very much)
• Merci énormément (= Thank you so much, with more emphasis, less common)
• Merci pour tout. (= Thank you for everything.)

Click here to learn more about saying “thank you” in French : Learn to Say Thank You in French: What to say and correct pronunciation

More personal:

• Merci pour ton aide (= Thank for your help.)
• Merci pour tout ce que tu as fait (= Thank you for everything you’ve done.)
• Ça m’a vraiment fait super plaisir ! (= “It really pleased me a lot” literally = I really loved it! – “ super ” is informal.)

If you’re sending an email to say thank you, the more precise you are, the better. Explain how you feel, why their help mattered, what it allowed you to do now.

Merci énormément pour avoir gardé les enfants. Ça nous a beaucoup aidé, et on a pu enfin passer une soirée à deux avec Michel. Tu es vraiment très gentille ! (= Thank you so much for taking care of the kids. It helped us a lot, and we finally got to spend an evening with Michel, just the two of use. You’re really nice!)

And these are all sentences you can use in spoken French conversation as well!

But some “thanks” are used mostly in writing only. Especially “ Merci de… ” which is actually a command or a plea:

• Merci d’avance. = Thank you in advance.
• Merci de m’aider. = Thank you for helping me (in advance)
• Merci de me répondre rapidement (= Thank (in advance) you for answering promptly)
• Merci de ne pas toucher la vitre. (= Thank you for not touching the glass, on a sign in a zoo or a museum.)

You can use “ Merci de… ” (in advance) instead of “ Merci pour… ” (for something in the past), in an email. I’m not a fan though, it feels a bit passive-aggressive. Merci d’avance is fine though.

For instance:

Bonjour Madame, J’aimerais réserver une table dans votre restaurant avec des amis. Pouvez-vous m’envoyer vos menus, si possible ? Merci d’avance, Bonne journée, Julia

(= Hello Madam, I’d like to book a table in your restaurant, with some friends. Could you send me your menus, if possible? Thanks a lot, Have a great day, Julia)

5) Writing an email in French: Answer back

Basic answers to Merci :

• De rien (= You’re welcome) → Most basic, everyday French.
• Je t’en prie. / Je vous en prie. (= You’re welcome) → A bit more elegant.
• Pas de problème. (= No problem)
• Il n’y a pas de quoi. (= There’s no need [to thank me.])

But of course, it’s even better if you don’t deflect the good you did. You deserve to be thanked! Own it, and maybe tell them more about why you did it and how that made you feel. And soon you’re having a full conversation in French!

For now, Merci à toi ! (= Thank you.) You’re on your way to improve your French conversation, and that’s wonderful.

Learn more with these other free lessons:

• Learn to Say Thank You in French: What to say and correct pronunciation
• Tu or Vous? How to say “you” in French
• French Culture Lesson — La Bise
• Quoi in French: What It Means and How to Use It
• Explore France and understand fast spoken French : l’Alsace (and SLANG)

Pick one that looks interesting, click on the link, and I’ll see you in the next video!

À tout de suite. (= See you very soon.)

→ If you enjoyed this lesson (and/or learned something new) – why not share this lesson with a francophile friend ? You can talk about it afterwards! You’ll learn much more if you have social support from your friends 🙂

→ Double your Frenchness! Get my 10-day “ Everyday French Crash Course ” and learn more spoken French for free. Students love it! Start now and you’ll get Lesson 01 right in your inbox, straight away.

Click here to sign up for my FREE Everyday French Crash Course

Join the conversation!

Hi, how do you ask if a restraunt has availabilities? Is “Avez-vous des disponibilités la première semaine d’avril” correct?

Oui, c’est ça. “Auriez-vous une table / plusieurs tables disponibles pour la première semaine d’avril ?”

Fabien Comme une Française Team

How do I say “Thank you For thinking oF writing to me”

Bonjour Anna,

I’d say: “Merci d’avoir pensé à m’écrire.”

Salut Fabien, I want to say something like “I hope you’re doing well” but in french. Would “J’espère que tu vas bien?” be similar to that?

Salut Nicholas, Oui, you can say that or “J’espère que tout va bien” (I hope all is well.) Bien à toi, Fabien Comme Une Française Team

Does anyone have any tips for how to say something like: “if you need anything else, please let me know” in French?

Bonjour Dom,

Of course, you can say “si vous avez besoin de quoique ce soit, n’hésitez pas/faites moi savoir.”

Belle journée,

Fabien Comme Une Française Team

When writing “have a good weekend” in French, is it “bon weekend”, “bon week end” (with space) or ” “bon week-end” (with hyphen)?

Bonjour Jacquelyn,

Il s’agira de « bon week-end ».

I have received a helpful email in English from the assistant manager of a French hotel I will be visiting. It is signed “Best regards, Gaëlle.” I want to reply in French. Is “Bonjour, Gaëlle” appropriate? If so, is the comma necessary?

The comma will not be necessary before the name, but it should appear after (Bonjour Gaëlle,).

I hope this helps.

How would you say Referred by Mrs. X….

Bonjour Lilianne,

It depends on the context, but generally, you may use “recommandé.e par …”.

Bonjour Géraldine et l’équipe de Comme une Française,

En France, est-ce que c’est impoli d’écrire « Claire, » , « Claire : », ou encore pas de salutation spécifique (comme un SMS) au début d’un courriel, spécifiquement quand ce courriel est sa réponse à la réponse de son interlocuteur (c.-à-d. le troisième courriel)? Ou est-ce que c’est nécessaire d’écrire toujours « Bonjour Claire ! » ou une autre salutation que vous avez décrite ici ?

Est-ce que c’est plus courant d’écrire « Bonjour Claire ! » (avec un point d’exclamation) ou « Bonjour Claire, » (avec une virgule) ?

Je pense que ces différences sont subtiles, mais importantes. Merci pour votre aide !

Bonjour Claire,

Oui, en effet, on préfèrera une salutation (Bonjour/Salut, etc.) suivie de la virgule.

Comment dit on en anglais tu bien chez moi ?

Bonjour Maria,

Je crois qu’il nous manque un verbe dans cette phrase. Tu (?) es bien chez moi = “Are you well in my house?” dans le sens de “Did you settle well?”, “Do you like it here?”, “Does it suit you?”

J’espère que cette réponse est utile.

Bonne journée,

Merci Beaucoup Geraldine. Tu m´a aidé enormement avec les e mails. Tu es vraiment tres gentille.

Salut Géraldine! Pas de “gros bisous “😘 dans tes mails ?

merci beaucoup Geraldine . C’est tres utile et pratique. vous etes le meillere peter en Grece

Merci beaucoup Géraldine. C’est super utile parce ce que je vais rester avec un ami en France la semaine prochaine et aprés, je lui ecrirai pour dire ‘merci’.

C’est très utile et pratique. Merci beaucoup!

C’est exactement ce que je voulais aussi. Merci beaucoup, madam. Vous etes le meilleur.

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French Sentences for Beginners

French sentences for beginners: a comprehensive list of 50+ phrases.

In this comprehensive lesson, you’ll find a list of common French phrases to help improve your basic conversation level in the French language. Learning a new language can be challenging, but with consistent practice, you can achieve fluency. To build your vocabulary, try to learn a few basic sentences or words each day.

In the French sentence examples provided, we use casual language with the pronoun “tu” (you). If you’re looking to use formal language, simply replace “tu” with “vous” (you). Additionally, we’ll cover the nuances of using formal and informal language in French conversation and provide examples for when to use “tu” and “vous” in different situations.

For example, when speaking to a stranger who is older or in a position of authority, it’s best to use “vous.” However, if you’re speaking to someone who is much younger or someone you’re already familiar with, such as a family member or friend, you can drop the formal “vous” and use “tu” instead.

Examples of common French phrases include:

Comment vas-tu ? (informal) – Comment allez-vous ? (formal) = How are you? Quel âge as-tu ? (informal) – Quel âge avez-vous ?(formal) = How old are you?

Note: “vous” is also used when speaking to a group of people. For example, when you meet three friends on the street and you ask them: How is it going? You will then say: Comment allez-vous ?

When learning French, it’s important to practice regularly in order to build up your vocabulary. One effective way to do this is by committing to learning a few basic sentences or words each day. This consistent approach will help you gradually acquire new vocabulary and improve your overall understanding of the language. Remember, mastering a new language takes time and patience, but with regular practice, you’ll see progress and be able to communicate more effectively in French.

We hope these French sentences with English translation help you to learn new words. Don’t forget to check out all our lessons.

You can also watch our video to learn basic sentences in French :

Want to improve your French conversation skills? Check out our post on “French conversation – Everyday dialogues”! This post is filled with practical examples of common everyday dialogues in French, which will help you to understand and use the language in real-life situations. You will be able to learn how to hold a conversation in French, from asking for directions to making plans with friends, and much more.

Tags: basic French French sentences

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How to Write Letters and emails in French For Any Occasion

By: Author Calli Zarpas

Posted on Published: July 11, 2022  - Last updated: May 13, 2024

If you’re looking to learn how to write letters and emails in French, you’ll need to learn a few key components: a proper salutation, a polite introduction, and a formal closing sentence. Everything else in your letter will depend on the reason you’re writing it.

Guide to writing letters and emails in French

And if you’re wondering if the French are really writing letters anymore. They are! Even though you might be looking to learn cool slang words or how to order a delicious French meal as a new French learner, you’ll be surprised by how much learning how to write letters and emails in French will come in handy–especially if you plan to live here.  

Why to Learn How to Write Letters and Emails in French

For a quick example, I’m currently in the process of applying for a new visa here in France. When I was applying from the United States for past visas, the visa department had a phone helpline, an email address, and an easy online messaging system for questions and concerns. 

But here in France, things are a little bit more complicated. When I was applying last month, there was no phone number (or even email!) so I had to physically go into the office to ask a question and apply for my visa. When I got to the prefecture they told me I couldn’t turn in my application there, but I instead had to mail it to them.

I didn’t understand why I had to physically mail them my application when I could’ve quite literally reached my hand across the table and given it right to them at my appointment. But, I digress. 

But it’s not just the French government that loves letters. When canceling a French phone line, you have to mail a letter to the phone carrier. When you want to move out of your apartment, you have to mail a letter to your landlord. And when you close a bank account, you have to send your bank a letter in order to do so. 

In the United States, all of these things could be done with either a quick trip to the physical location or just with a phone call. Here in France, it’s letters only. Hopefully, now you’re convinced of the importance of learning letter (and occasionally email) writing in France so let’s dive into exactly how to do it. 

Writing a French Letterhead

If you’ve ever written a formal letter, it’s likely you’ve included a letterhead ( un en-tête in French) in the top left corner. A letterhead usually includes important details like where and when the letter was written. 

In French, there are a few different formatting options, but usually, you’ll write your name and address on the top left and then the name of your recipient underneath it on the right like this:

Your name Your address Your phone number/email

Recipient’s name Recipient’s address

For an email, you don’t have to worry about this since the time and destination are known automatically. 

Learning How to write letters and emails in French: A Proper Salutation

As you know, when writing any letter or email, it’s important to start off with who you’re addressing. In English, we almost exclusively say “dear” before the name of whoever we’re writing to, but in French you’ll usually only use “dear” or “very dear” for people you know.

• Cher (m.) / Chère (f.) = Dear
• Très cher (m.) / Très chère (f.) = Very dear

If you’re writing to somewhere you don’t know, you’ll usually just start off with their title like Madame (Mrs.), Monsieur (Mr.), Docteur (Dr.), etc. When I received a letter back from the French visa office saying I was missing a few papers for my application they simply addressed the letter, “ Madame .” 

Learning How to write letters and emails in French: A Polite Introduction

Now that you’ve chosen the right salutation, it’s time to start off with a polite introduction. You don’t want to dive into the letter without introducing the subject first, so here are a few ways to do so.

Je vous contacte pour = I’m contacting you to…

Le but de cette lettre est de = The goal of this letter is to…

Je vous informe par la présente que = I hereby let you know.. 

If you’re sending you letter after a specific event you can also start your letter with some context like this:

Suite à notre conversation téléphonique du = After our phone conversation…

À la suite de notre dernière rencontre … = After our last meeting…

Je vous remercie de votre courrier du … = Thank you for your letter…

Learning How to Write Letters and Emails in French: A Formal Conclusion 

Once you’ve added your en-tête , written your polite introduction, and explained why you’re writing your letter or email, it’s time to start writing. The content of this part of the letter/email will be totally dependent on your subject and there aren’t any specific rules to be aware of (besides using formal language if you’re writing to someone you don’t know). 

But, there are a few rules when it comes to the conclusion. The difficult thing about choosing a concluding sentence is that depending on where you fall in the hierarchy of the relationship and the customs of the organization/business, the conclusion might differ.

If I’m responding to a letter or email, I’ll usually just use the same conclusion they use since that’s usually the safest choice. But here I’ll list a few formal conclusions, which will always be the last sentence of your letter, from most formal to least formal. 

Very Formal:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, l’assurance de ma considération distinguée. 

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my distinguished consideration. 

Je vous prie de croire, Madame, en l’assurance de mes sentiments les meilleurs.

Please believe, Madame, the guarantee of my best intentions. 

Veuillez recevoir, Madame/Monsieur, l’expression de mes sentiments distingués.

Please accept, Madame/Sir, the exprespression of my distinguished intentions. 

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur, l’assurance de mes sentiments respectueux.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my respectful intentions. 

Croyez, chère Madame, à mes sentiments les meilleurs.

Believe, dear madam, my best intentions. 

Least Formal:

Amicalement.

Bien amicalement.

Amitiés.

Bien à vous.

Sincères salutations.

Sincèrement.

Bien sincèrement.

Cordialement.

Bien cordialement.

These can all be used to replace “Yours,” “Best wishes,” “Kind regards,” “Regards,” and “Best,”. 

Now that your letter is complete you can sign your name. For really formal emails and letters, especially those used for administrative purposes, you can add the date and the place you wrote the letter/email underneath your name like this:

[Signature]

Fait le [date] à [location]

And that’s it! You’ve learned all of the basics of writing a French letter. Happy writing!

Become an expert in French letter writing! Our good friend, Camille, at Frenchtoday.com and the creator of the À Moi Paris audio course, does also excellent job teaching how to write letters in French. This post on her site offers is a wonderful compliment to this page !

More articles by Calli:

• Drinking Age In France
• C’est La Vie Meaning
• Voilà Meaning
• Oh là là Meaning
• Ways of saying “Yes” in French

Sharing is caring!

Calli Zarpas

Calli Zarpas, blogger, producer, and content creator, is a lover of all things travel, wellness, and French. Having begun traveling in her teens, Calli visited 30 countries before settling down in France post-college. When she's not writing French-language content for FrenchLearner or traveling the world, you can find Calli creating content for herself and others on  Instagram and her blog,  Wooish .

See all posts by Calli Zarpas

How to Say “Have a Nice Day” in French (with audio clips)

In this article, we discuss what native French speakers say when leaving to wish someone a good day - or some other moment in time : afternoon, evening, week, month, year, holiday, event etc.

As always, there are various phrases you can use depending on the time of day, time of year, or event.  Each phrase also can take on numerous variations that you can choose from.  Which one you pick depends in turn on how formal or informal you want to be, and how much emphasis you want to convey.

Let's start with the basics : wishing someone a nice day as we leave.

Have a nice day in French

There are a few ways to say "have a nice day" in French.

The closest to English is :  " Passe une bonne journée " (note : you cannot say "passe un bon jour", a mistake many beginners tend to make).

"Bon, j'y vais, merci pour le café ! A plus tard, passe une bonne journée !" (OK I'm leaving, thanks for coffee ! See you later, have a nice day !)

"Merci, bonne journée à toi aussi !"

In the last sentence, we use " bonne journée ! ", a shorter version of "passe une bonne journée" that's also very commonly used for "have a nice day" in French :

"Au revoir madame, bonne journée !" (good bye ma'am, have a nice day)

"Au revoir monsieur, merci, bonne journée à vous aussi." (good bye sir, thanks, have a nice day too)

Looking at these examples, you can tell "have a nice day" is used when leaving, i.e. for good-bye, not for hello.

For example, you may NOT say "Bonjour, bonne journée !" If you do, the person you say it to will be puzzled and confused. It's like saying "Hello, good bye".

In a more formal context, you can say " j'espère que vous passerez une bonne journée ", for example when talking to a customer.  This literally translates to "I hope you have a nice day".

Another slightly formal version is " je te souhaite une bonne journée " or "je vous souhaite une bonne journée".   Here you're literally wishing the person a good day (I wish you a nice day).

If you want to be very friendly and pleasant, you can further emphasize what you say by adding "très" :

" passe / passez une très bonne journée ! " : have a great day

" Très bonne journée ! " : same meaning

"J'espère que vous passerez une très bonne journée !"  :  I hope you have a great day !

Variation: have a nice afternoon

If it's after mid-day, before ending a conversation in French you typically say " have a good afternoon " instead of "have a nice day" :

" Passez une bonne après-midi ! "

Or simply : " Bon après-midi ! "

Note that "après-midi" can be considered either masculine or feminine :  "un après-midi" and "une après-midi" are both acceptable.   So we can write either "bon après-midi" or "bonne après-midi".

Here's an example dialogue :

"Bon, on part jouer au foot.  A plus tard !"

"D'accord, bon après-midi ! amusez-vous bien."

Note that, in colloquial, spoken French, native speakers sometimes say "bon aprem !".

As you've probably guessed, "aprem" is shortcut for "après-midi" - French speakers have a strong habit of shortening every word they can : la fac, perso, pro, la rando, l'expo, la prépa etc.

You can also use the semi-formal structures we saw above when discussing "bon après-midi" :

" J'espère que tu passeras une bonne après-midi "

"Je vous souhaite une bonne après-midi"

Variation: have a nice evening

This phrase is typically used starting late afternoon, and until after dinner time  (after that it's "night" time).  Where you would say "have a nice day" in the morning, you can say :

" Passe / passez une bonne soirée ! " : have a nice evening

Or, the short version : " bonne soirée ! "

Example dialogue :

"Il est 18h, je m'en vais.  Je finirai le travail demain."

"OK, passe une bonne soirée !"

"Merci, bonne soirée à toi.  A demain."

Just like "have a nice day", in a more formal setting, you can extend the phrase with "j'espère" or "je te/vous souhaite":

" J'espère que vous passerez une bonne soirée " : I hope you'll have a good evening.

" Je te souhaite une bonne soirée ! " : I wish you a nice evening.

Variation: have a good night

When you are ready to call it a day and to leave the place you're at, you typically say "bonne nuit !"

Some native speakers also pronounce it like this :

"bonne nuit" is generally associated with the act of sleeping.  Suppose you had people over for dinner and it's quite late.  They're about to leave your house to go to a club downtown.  In this case, you don't usually say "bonne nuit" since they're not about to go to sleep.  Instead you may say "bonne soirée" even though it's late.

The same variations as for "have a nice day" can be used for "bonne nuit" :

" Passe / passez une bonne nuit ! " :  have a good night

"Je vous souhaite une bonne nuit !" : I wish you a good night

"Merci pour cette soirée très sympa ! Bonne nuit !"

"Merci à vous ! Bonne nuit, à demain !"

Variation: have a nice week

Besides the different times of the day, the French phrases we've seen so far can also be applied to other moments and events.  Remember, you say these phrases when you're about to leave the person you're speaking with, to say good bye.

Here's a common one that you can use when parting away from a person you won't be seing for a week :

" Passez une bonne semaine ! " or "bonne semaine !": have a nice week

You can use them for specific periods of time and events, such as vacations.   Here are some examples using the same structure as with "have a nice day" previously :

" Passez de bonnes vacances ! " or "bonnes vacances !" : have a nice vacation

" Passez un bon séjour ! ", "bon séjour !", "nous vous souhaitons un bon séjour" : have a nice stay, we wish you a nice stay .  Note that all the variants, including those with "souhaiter" and "espérer", apply to the above examples as well.

More generally, in French you can use these phrases for all kinds of moments :

" Bon cinéma ! " : have a good movie

" Bonne visite ! " : have a nice visit

" Passez une bonne fête ! " : have a good party

" je vous souhaite un bon Noël " : I wish you a nice Christmas

" J'espère que vous passerez une bonne fin d'année " : hope you have a nice year end

" Passez une bonne cérémonie ! " : have a nice ceremony

Let's wrap up with a little quiz

To conclude this discussion about how to say "have a nice day" and other related good-bye phrases in French, let's see if you really got the hang of it.

Try to fill in the blanks in the short dialogues below, and write your answers in the comments at the bottom of this article.  There are several possible answers for each, just pick one you think is appropriate. Here you go :

1) Chérie, je sors, salut à ce soir !

Conduis prudemment ! __________

2) Je pars aux Antilles pour une semaine à partir de mardi prochain !

C'est génial ça ! __________

3) Je serai chez les voisins de 17h à 18h, ils font un petit apéro pour leur arrivée.

C'est sympa ça ! ___________

4)  Nous allons visiter le musée demain, il y a une belle expo de Modigliani.

Très intéressant, dommage que je ne puisse pas venir.  _____________

That's all ! Have a nice one ! (not really translatable into French, the closest is probably "bon courage !")

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I used the phrase je vous souhaite une bonne journée, and it always gets a good reaction.

Hello Susana, je t’ai envoyé la correction en messsage privé, pour ne pas révéler encore les bonnes réponses à ceux qui veulent faire le quiz 🙂

1-bonne soirée 2-je te souhaite une bonne semaine 3-passez um bon sejour 4-bonne visite

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How to Say Good Morning in French with Pronunciations

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman . Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,267,321 times. Learn more...

Whether you’re jet-setting to Europe or hanging out with a French-speaking friend, it’s handy to have the French word for “good morning” stashed somewhere in your mental phrasebook. We’ve got you covered with plenty of friendly, personalized greetings you can use each morning, along with some physical greetings that are common in French culture. In just a few minutes, you’ll be a pro at greeting anyone and everyone in the language of love.

Things You Should Know

• Say bonjour if you want to tell someone good morning in French.
• Greet your friends in the morning with a casual salut .
• Personalize your greetings with titles like Madame and Monsieur or terms of endearment like mon amour or ma chérie .

Cheat Sheet

Simple Greetings

• In France, people always say bonjour to greet other people, even if the situation is a little unconventional. For instance, you’d said “bonjour” when entering a crowded elevator. [2] X Research source
• If you’re exiting the conversation, offer a friendly bonne matinée (buhn meh-tee-nay) or bonne journée (buhn-zhoor-nay), which mean “have a good morning” or “have a good day,” respectively. [3] X Research source

• The literal translation for “good morning” doesn’t organically exist in French— bonjour is the closest equivalent. Bon matin was created and inspired by the English phrase “good morning” and doesn’t have any roots in the French language.

• You could use salut to greet a neighborhood friend or a family member, but you wouldn’t use it to greet a random person on the street. [6] X Research source
• Greeting a significant other? Offer a flirtier salut toi (sah-loo twa) instead (this translates to “hello, you”). [7] X Research source

Personalized Greetings

• Bonjour madame (bohn-zhoor mah-dahm) : Good morning, ma’am/Mrs.
• Bonjour monsieur (bohn-zhoor muh-syuhr) : Good morning, sir/Mr.
• Bonjour mademoiselle (bohn-zhoor mehd-mwah-zell) : Good morning, miss. [8] X Research source
• Always use titles to greet someone you have a formal relationship with, like your boss. [9] X Research source It’s also a good rule of thumb to use titles when greeting people who are significantly older than you. [10] X Research source

• Unlike most French words, the "s" at the end of "tous" is pronounced, although it isn't drawn out.
• Add a caring touch to your greeting by asking Tu as bien dormi? (too ah byeh dol-mi) or Vous avez bien dormi? (voos ah-vay byeh dol-mi)—this just means “Did you sleep well?” [12] X Research source

• Mon amour (mohn ah-moor) : my love
• Ma chérie (mah sheh-ree) : my sweetheart/my darling (to a woman)
• Mon chéri (mohn sheh-ree) : my sweetheart/my darling (to a man)
• Mon cher (mohn shehr) : my sweetheart/my darling (to a man)
• Ma chère (mah shehr) : my sweetheart/my darling (to a woman)
• Ma belle (mah bell) : my beautiful (to a woman; informal)
• When there’s a masculine and feminine form of the adjective, use the form that matches the gender of the person you're addressing. If only a masculine form exists (as with "mon amour"), the term is suitable for anyone. If only a feminine form is available (as with "ma belle"), it is only okay to use with women. [13] X Research source

Community Q&A

• What if you bump into someone in the evening rather than in the morning? Wish someone a good evening with bonsoir (bohn-swar) , or with bonne soirée (bohn-swaa-ray) if you’re leaving someplace (like a restaurant or office). [14] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Feel free to greet your friends and family members with “faire la bise” (cheek kisses) if you’re a young adult. [15] X Research source If you’re greeting someone older than you or someone in a position of authority, stick with a traditional handshake instead. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/greetings/
• ↑ https://www.lawlessfrench.com/listening/de-limportance-de-dire-bonjour/
• ↑ https://langster.org/en/blog/how-to-say-good-morning-in-french
• ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhyg9mn/articles/z4c3382
• ↑ https://lingua.edu/the-best-ways-to-say-hello-in-french-for-every-occasion/
• ↑ https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/titles/
• ↑ https://www.thelocal.fr/20200817/when-can-you-drop-the-monsieurmadame-and-use-first-names-in-france/
• ↑ https://lingoculture.com/vocab/french-greetings/
• ↑ https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/terms-of-endearment/
• ↑ https://www.thelocal.fr/20171108/whats-in-a-kiss-the-story-of-the-french-bise/
• ↑ https://www.provencewinezine.com/faire-la-bise/

About This Article

The most common way to say "good morning" in French is "bonjour," which works well in any social setting. When you're greeting your close friends in the morning, feel free to switch to "salut," which is very informal and similar to "hi" or "hey" in English. If you would like to say "good morning" to a married woman, say "bonjour madame." To say "good morning" to an unmarried woman, you can say "bonjour mademoiselle," which is like saying "Good morning, miss!" in English. You could also say "bonjour monsieur" to say "Good morning, sir!" If you want to address a crowd, say "bonjour à tous," meaning "Good morning, everyone!" To learn about other greetings in French, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Learn How to Write in French Easily

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Improve Your Written French Today

Whether you want to pen a love letter or submit an essay in France, you need to know how to write in French. Luckily, learning how to write in French is fairly straightforward. Since French uses the Latin Alphabet, you’re already ahead of the game. Improve your writing in French fast with these easy steps.

The Basics of French Writing for Beginners

When it comes to French writing, it’s a little different than speaking French. But, if you know how to read French well, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems.

Before you read the 8 easy steps of learning to write in French, there’s one important factor in mastering French writing: practice. The only way you can truly improve your French writing skills is with a lot of practice . Make sure you write a little bit in French every day. Soon, you’ll find that writing in French is like second nature.

1. Watch Out for French Spelling

One of the biggest obstacles that throws French learners off is spelling. Unfortunately, those silent letters that you don’t pronounce are very much there in writing. Be careful how you spell certain complicated words. You need to master all parts of French grammar to write French correctly.

2. Genders Influence Grammar in French

You may already know that nouns have genders in French. They can either be masculine or feminine. And depending on the gender, different parts of a French sentence need to be conjugated.

• articles : French articles need to be conjugated to reflect the gender and the number of the noun. These can be ‘le’, ‘la’, ‘l”, and ‘les’ for definite articles, and ‘un’ and ‘une’ for indefinite articles.
• pronouns : Pronouns in French are the words that replace the name of the subject in a sentence. ‘He’, ‘she’, and ‘them’ are some examples of pronouns in English. In French, you need to use different forms of pronouns depending on the gender of the subject.
• adjectives : When you’re describing a noun, you use an adjective. And since the noun is the only reason the adjective’s there in the sentence, you need to make the adjective fit the noun in French. There are various ways to conjugate French adjectives depending on the gender and the number of the noun, so make sure you brush up on that knowledge before you write in French.

3. Careful with French Accent Marks

French accent marks also don’t do us any favors. While they’re extremely useful when it comes to French pronunciation, their writing isn’t as straightforward. Try to associate the sound with the written French word. There are only 5 accent marks in French. One is the cedilla (ç), which only works with the letter “c”, and another is the acute accent (é), which only sits on top of the letter “e”. So in practice, there are only 3 different kinds of accents you should look out for in French.

4. Follow the French Sentence Structures

English and French sentence structures are similar in many ways. Both follow the SVO (subject-verb-object) structure, which makes writing in French much easier. And just like in English, the French sentence structure is also flexible. You can switch the words around to emphasize a part of a sentence, but still have the same meaning.

• Tomorrow , I’m going to work.    Demain  je vais travailler. I’m going to work  tomorrow .   Je vais travailler  demain .

The most important part of the first sentence is the time the speaker goes to work. The second sentence focuses on the subject, the speaker instead. Still, both sentences convey the same meaning of going to work.

If you want to ask a question in French, you can do so by putting a question word at the beginning of the sentence. Common question words are:

• How  Comment
• What  Que / Qu’est-ce que queue
• What kind  Quel genre
• When  Quand
• Why   Pourquoi

You can also ask a question by switching the order of the verb and the pronoun around, and connecting them with a hyphen:

• Do you speak English?    Parlez-vous anglais ?

It’s important to remember these basic rules of French sentence structure before you start writing in French. If you want to learn how to write in French effectively, practice these 4 steps a lot.

Psst! Did you know we have a language learning app?

• It teaches you useful words and phrases.
• Presented in a natural, everyday context.
• Spaced out over time, so you absorb your new language organically.
• It’s kind of like learning the words to your new favorite song!

You’re only one click away!

How to Write in French for Intermediate Students

If you’re an intermediate French learner you’re familiar with basic French grammar, and you’re confident in writing in French. But, there’s always room to improve. Once you know the basic steps of how to write in French, it’s time to make your writing even better. You can start paying attention to style, flow, and structure. The tips below will benefit your French writing practice.

5. Try Nominalization

This useful technique will make your sentences better. Nominalization means that you make nouns in the sentence more dominant. While in English, the dominant words are verbs, in French, you can write with the focus of the noun instead, making them more meaningful. Here’s an example to demonstrate.

• Normal sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace est froide.
• Nominalized sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace, c’est droid.

6. Use French Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the tools to write complex French sentences. Without them, you’re limited to simple and boring sentence structures. As an intermediate student, you can start connecting two equal or unequal sentences to make an even more interesting phrase. Here are the different kinds of French conjunctions you can use to write better in French:

Coordinating Conjunctions:

You use these kinds of conjunctions to connect two equal sentences. The most common coordinating conjunctions in French are:

Subordinating Conjunctions:

If one of the sentences in unequal or dependent on the other, you need to use subordinating conjunctions. These connectors often show causality. The most common conjunctions in French for this category are:

7. Style and Flow

Now that you wield the power of conjunctions, you have to be careful with it. As fun as it is to write long and complicated sentences in French, it doesn’t sound good. Make sure you use appropriate sentence lengths as you’re writing in French.

Aim for shorter sentences. Make them explain your point well. But, feel free to mix the flow up with the occasional longer sentences. That’s how you write in French with a nice and smooth flow. And that’s how you perfect your French writing too. It will be a pleasure to read your work.

Writing in French for Advanced Learners

Once you mastered all of the French writing rules, you’re officially an advanced French learner. But, there may still be room to improve your French writing. If you’re looking to kick your projects up a notch, you can learn how to write essays and dissertations in French. These pointers will be useful if you ever attend school or university in France, or you want to take a language exam.

8. Get Familiar with French Essay Structure

When you’re writing an essay, you have to structure it for readability. If you want to learn how French high schoolers are taught to write their essays, this is the structure they follow: thèse-antithèse-synthèse (thesis-antithesis-synthesis). Learn how to write French essays using a traditional French essay structure.

• Introduction : You begin your essay by having an introduction, which is a context for argument.
• Thesis : In this section, you present and defend the statement of your thesis. You need to write everything that supports the topic of your essay.
• Antithesis : The antithesis follows the thesis. This is where you state conflicting evidence and explain other potential substitutes for your essay. Including an antithesis doesn’t mean that you disagree with your original thesis. You just need to show that you thought of all possibilities before arriving to your conclusion.
• Synthesis : This is your conclusion. This is where you summarize your arguments, and explain why you still stand by your original thesis despite the antithesis.

9. Use Introduction and Conclusion Vocabulary

Certain words can encourage sentence flow by introducing or concluding some parts of your work.

• tout d’abord (firstly)
• premièrement (firstly)
• deuxièmement (secondly)
• ensuite (then)
• enfin (finally)
• finalement (finally)
• pour conclure (to conclude)

You can use these words when introducing a new idea to your dissertation or essay. These words will signal the readers that they are encountering a new part or thought of your writing process.

10. Writing a Dissertation in French

This is the form of writing you encounter in French higher education. It’s a very complex form of French writing, only the most advanced and fluent French learners should attempt it. It’s also a longer piece of academic writing. It may take you weeks to complete research and write your French dissertation.

The French dissertation is similar to essay structure. But, there’s one main difference: your thesis isn’t a statement, but rather a question. It’s your job in the dissertation to take the reader through your thought process and research to answer your question. This logic is known as “ Cartesian logic .” It comes from Descartes , who was a well known French philosopher.

History of Written French

French was used in Strasbourg Oaths, and it first appeared in writing in 842 AD. Before then, Latin was the only language used for literature in Europe. However, in the 10th and 11th centuries, French appeared in some religious writings and documents but was not used up to the late 12th century or early 13th century. The first greatest French Literature work, the Song of Roland (Chanson de Roland), was published around the year 1200.

Writing in French Alone Won’t Make You Fluent

You need to learn how to write in French to be proficient in the language. But, it won’t make you fluent. The only way to become fluent is to practice speaking French. While it’s crucial to develop every area of your French knowledge, if you want to be fluent in French, you need a reliable language learning method like OptiLingo.

OptiLingo is an app that gets you speaking, not typing a language. It gives you the most common French words and phrases, so you’re guaranteed to learn the most useful vocabulary. Don’t waste time trying to learn French you’ll never use. Complement your French writing practice with fun speaking exercises when you download OptiLingo !

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How to Write a Poem in French

Whether you have a poet’s soul or you haven’t written a poem since grade school, exploring the world of French poetry can be an excellent way to improve your French skills.

But today you won’t just be observing—you are going to become an active participant in this exciting world!

Using French to create something of your own is a surefire way to strengthen your language skills.

I’m about to show you how to write your very own poem in French—four different types, in fact, with options suitable for beginners through advanced learners.

4 Types of Poems for All Levels of French Learners

1. calligrammes, 2. short poems in alexandrins, 3. french sonnet, 4. poèmes en prose.

• Why French Learners Should Write Poems in Français

And one more thing...

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Calligrammes are very visual poems invented by poet Guillaume Apollinaire in the early 20th century. The poems are arranged in such a way as to have the words display the subject of the poem, like in  this poem in the shape of a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat , or this short poem , which is arranged in the shape of the Eiffel Tower:

« Salut monde dont je suis la langue éloquente que sa bouche Ô Paris tire et tirera toujours aux Allemands »

(Hello, world, of which I am the eloquent tongue that its mouth, Oh Paris, sticks out and shall always stick out at the Germans)

Try it yourself:  Calligrammes are fun poems for any level of French learner to attempt. Because their actual rhythm is not imposed, you are free to use whatever words you have at your disposal to construct your own very visual poems.

Short rhyming poems written in  alexandrins  are a great way to test your French rhyming skills.   The alexandrin  is the French answer to iambic pentameter: It is a rhythmic style of verse wherein each line of poetry has 12 syllables, divided in the middle to make six and six. Often, but not always,  alexandrins  will rhyme.

Victor Hugo offers some excellent examples of  alexandrins  in his work. His “Demain, dès l’aube,”  (Tomorrow, at dawn) which appears in “Contemplations,”  is made up of verses in  alexandrins  that are arranged in rimes croisées,  or crossed rhymes.

What results is a poem of three stanzas, each of which is made up of four lines with the rhyme pattern ABAB:

Demain, dès l’aube, à l’heure // où blanchit la campagne, Je partirai. Vois-tu, // je sais que tu m’attends. J’irai par la forêt, // j’irai par la montagne. Je ne puis demeurer // loin de toi plus longtemps.

Tomorrow at dawn, at the hour when the countryside grows white, I shall leave. Do you see, I know that you are waiting for me. I shall go by the forest; I shall go by the mountains. I cannot remain far from you any longer.

The slashes show the break in the line, known as the  césure . As you can see, it often appears at a place that is logical to the meaning of the sentence, as well as to its syllabic constraints.

Try it yourself:  This sort of poem is great for a beginner, as its constraints force you to seek out new words. Try writing a poem in  alexandrin  verse by first picking a theme.

For example, you could choose to write about your backyard. Brainstorm words belonging to the  champ lexical  (lexical group of words) associated with your backyard: nouns like  gazon  (lawn) or  arbre  (tree), but also adjectives like  verdoyant  (verdant) or lumineux  (luminous).

Use a thesaurus to help, if you need to. Here are two of the top French thesauruses:

• Larousse  has an online version.
• Le Petit Robert  is a must-have tool for any French learner.

Once you have come up with a list of words, you can begin to write your verses, paying close attention to the rhyming pattern and syllables as you write:

• This French rhyming dictionary will surely be helpful.
• This French guide to counting syllables (particularly those pesky sometimes silent “e” endings), will be a great aid too.

A step up from the simple rhyming  alexandrin  is the sonnet, which uses not only  alexandrins  but a very specific rhyme scheme.

Several different types of sonnets exist throughout the world, but the types most often used in France are two versions of the model invented by Petrarch, which called for stanzas written in alexandrins  in the following rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDE CDE.

Two French poets, Marot and Pelletier, adapted this version, creating versions that called for either ABBA ABBA CCD EED or ABBA ABBA CCD EDE rhyme schemes, respectively. While Pelletier’s version is known as the “French” sonnet and Marot’s the “Italian,” both were quite common in the works of the Renaissance poets in France.

Near the end of his life, Renaissance poet Pierre de Ronsard dictated six sonnets for the  “Sonnets pour Hélène,”  three of which were in the Marot form and the other three of which were in the Pelletier form. This sonnet, “Quand vous serez bien vieille,”  (When you are quite old) is of the Marot form.

Here is the first stanza:

Quand vous serez bien vieille, au soir, à la chandelle, Assise auprès du feu, dévidant et filant , Direz, chantant mes vers, en vous émerveillant : Ronsard me célébrait du temps que j’étais belle.

When you are quite old, and sit in the evening by candlelight Near the fire, rambling and burning out, You will say, singing my verses and marveling at them: Ronsard celebrated me back when I was beautiful.

Another interesting constraint that Ronsard imposed upon himself in these sonnets is the alternation of masculine and feminine rhymes. A masculine rhyme is one where the final syllable is not a silent “e.” You can see the masculine rhymes in bold above.

Try it yourself:  Because this form has more constraints than a simple poem in  alexandrin,  it is great for intermediate learners of French. Many sonnets are love poems, so you may wish to look into your heart for inspiration.

The resources that you already discovered for your short  alexandrin  poems will be just as helpful now that you have graduated to sonnets.

All languages have a style of free-form poem, and that of French, the  poème en  prose (prose poem), is attempted by many and mastered by few.

One excellent example of a prose poet is Charles Baudelaire, who wrote several different poems as he wandered Paris, compiling them into a book he called  “Le Spleen de Paris.”  One such poem is “Anywhere out of the world,”  (title in English), a poem that explores the wanderlust of the poet via an imagined conversation between the narrator himself and his own soul.

The poem is laid out as though a prose work, complete with dialogue in quotes and prose punctuation and line breaks. Here is how it starts:

Cette vie est un hôpital où chaque malade est possédé du désir de changer de lit. Celui-ci voudrait souffrir en face du poêle, et celui-là croit qu’il guérirait à côté de la fenêtre.

Il me semble que je serais toujours bien là où je ne suis pas, et cette question de déménagement en est une que je discute sans cesse avec mon âme.

« Dis-moi, mon âme, pauvre âme refroidie, que penserais-tu d’habiter Lisbonne ? Il doit y faire chaud, et tu t’y ragaillardirais comme un lézard. Cette ville est au bord de l’eau ; on dit qu’elle est bâtie en marbre, et que le peuple y a une telle haine du végétal, qu’il arrache tous les arbres. Voilà un paysage selon ton goût ; un paysage fait avec la lumière et le minéral, et le liquide pour les réfléchir ! »

Mon âme ne répond pas.

This life is a hospital, where each patient is possessed with a desire to change beds. This one wants to suffer next to the stove, and that one thinks he’d heal better near the window.

It seems to me that I would always be better where I’m not, and this question of displacement is one that I discuss without end with my soul.

“Tell me, my soul, poor, cold soul, what would you think about living in Lisbon? It must be warm there, and you would perk up like a lizard. This city is on the edge of the water; they say it’s built of marble, and that the people there hate plants so very much that they rip up all the trees. That’s a landscape that would be to your liking, a landscape made of light and mineral, and liquid to reflect them!”

My soul does not answer me.

Try it yourself:  While it’s easy to see why some believe that prose poetry is the easiest of all four, it can actually be the most difficult, at least to do well. Picking a theme and finding the images that will best illustrate it is a long process and requires extensive vocabulary and mastery of verb tenses.

However, with all of the work you have under your belt, there’s no reason not to give prose poems—or any poem on this list, for that matter—a go.

We’d love to see what you create  if you want to share it with us !

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

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Why French Learners Should Write Poems in  Français

Poetry is a great tool for language learners for a variety of reasons.

The first, of course, is French pronunciation . Given that poems are written with a very distinct style and rhythm, reading your own creations aloud can be a great way to get used to pronouncing the unfamiliar words and to learn the appropriate diction of the language. 

But learning poetry can also be an exercise in cultural exploration . Think about what it would be like to have no grasp of Shakespeare’s sonnets, for example. While of course sonnets aren’t used all that often in the daily life of a native English speaker, having a familiarity with these famous verses can help both native anglophones and learners of English to get acclimated with the history of this language. It is much the same in French.

Finally, poems give you an outlet to use new words and grammatical structures that you have learned elsewhere. Reading or hearing new vocabulary and structures is the first step, but using them yourself (writing or speaking) will really solidify them into your knowledge.

Like in English, poetry in French exists in a variety of different styles. Each of these styles has something to offer to a French learner, be it an understanding of the rhythm of French, a new way to express yourself or an experiment in rhyming.

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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The Five Phrases Tourists Must Know Before A Trip To France, According To Rick Steves

Maybe you've heard that people in France get annoyed when you visit but don't speak their language. Perhaps that oft-repeated chestnut has even kept you from taking that dream trip to this beautiful country. Everyone is different, and while some people might be fine with you not knowing a word of French, others can certainly seem unhappy about it. Either way, learning a few words is something travel expert Rick Steves says to always do before traveling abroad. It's a mark of respect, but you certainly don't have to be fluent. From Steves' website , he recommends you learn at least five specific phrases to help you on your travels. Even if you have a last-minute business trip to Paris, these words and phrases are easy to learn. In fact, you may know some of them already. 

Don't worry, we're not talking about reading Albert Camus books to prepare to see the Eiffel Tower and Versailles. These are simple things like saying "pardon me," "hello," and "goodbye," as well as "please" and "thank you." Steves suggests that you'll get better treatment if you use these phrases while visiting France. Even a good-faith attempt goes a long way. In addition, we have a few more words and phrases that you can add to this list if you have more time and the inclination to learn. We've also got some additional tips to help you navigate through a country that speaks a language different from your own. 

The five phrases you should learn before visiting France

Steves wrote on his website that you should learn to say "bonjour," which means "good day." You may know this one, but if not, it's pronounced "bohn zhoor." If you feel like you sound too American, try saying the word with a French accent. Silly or not, it's probably going to get you closer than you might otherwise be. To say "goodbye," say "au revoir." It's pronounced "oh rev wah." Steves also recommends you learn to say "pardon me," which is an easy one. It's "pardon," pronounced "par duhn" with the tiniest suggestion of an "n" sound at the end. He mentions that you'll use this a lot on public transportation, but you'll also say this on the street to get someone's attention and to squeeze through crowded tourist spots. 

To say "please," you'll say "s'il vous plaît." Don't be intimidated by the accent marks. It's pronounced "see voo play." "Thank you" is "merci," or "mare see." To greet someone, you can say "bonjour, madame" or "bonjour, monsieur" for "ma'am" and "sir" (madame is pronounced like it is in English, and monsieur is pronounced "mis yur"). Then, simply replace "bonjour" with "au revoir" when you leave.

We also suggest a few other phrases, like "Parlez-vous anglais?" which means "Do you speak English?" (It's best used once you've said "pardon.") It's pronounced "par lay voo ahn glays." Another important one is "Où sont les toilettes?" which means "Where is the bathroom?" (Oo sohn lay twah let).

Other tips for being understood in Paris

An attempt to speak French in France will go a long way, even if you're not good at it. Your accent doesn't have to be perfect. After all, even if someone said "hello" and a few other words in English with a French accent, you would still know what they meant. You can also use hand gestures to back up your words, like waving hello and goodbye, or a hand on your heart while saying "thank you." It's also important to pay attention to context. Are you in a restaurant? Is someone asking for help? A lot of things are communicated without words. Numbers or prices can be written down. Even a simple smile can go a long way. 

If you really need to communicate past a few phrases, however, tourists traveling abroad to France or anywhere else can use Google Translate's phone hacks for a more stress-free trip . Simply  download the app and let it access your camera. Hold it over text to instantly translate menus, labels, signs, and more. You can also do live translation on the app with conversation mode to quickly go back and forth between English and French speakers. Finally, if you have some time before your trip, an app like Duolingo  can give you some more basics. Here are some more of the best language teachers for first time travelers . 

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Observe Memorial Day with these events in southern Maine

Tons of towns have parades and ceremonies happening Monday.

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Kids and adults gather at a Memorial Day parade to honor and celebrate veterans in South Portland. Sofia Aldinio/ Staff Photographer

BATH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at 200 Congress Ave. and concludes at Library Park and will be followed by a wreath-laying service at 11 a.m.

BERWICK 11 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at Berwick Town Hall/Sullivan Square and proceeds to Lord’s Cemetery by way of Wilson and Allen streets. After a ceremony there, the parade will continue down Saw Mill Hill Street with a pause at the Somersworth-Berwick Bridge for a brief memorial service for those lost at sea. The parade ends at Sullivan Square with a memorial service honoring area veterans.

BIDDEFORD-SACO Opening ceremony at 9:55 a.m. Monday at Saco City Hall. Parade starts at 10 a.m. from Saco City Hall and proceeds along Main Street and down York Hill into Biddeford, continues along Main Street, onto Alfred Street and finishes at Veteran’s Memorial Park with a closing ceremony at 10:45 a.m.

BRUNSWICK-TOPSHAM 9 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from Topsham Town Hall, pauses for observances while crossing the Brunswick-Topsham bridge, and concludes at the Brunswick Mall.

CAPE ELIZABETH 9 a.m. Monday. Parade begins at the middle school parking lot, turns right on Scott Dyer Road, right onto Route 77 and ends at the village green adjacent to the town hall. A brief ceremony and laying of the wreath will be held at the Village Green after the parade.

CUMBERLAND 8 a.m. Monday. Kids run at Greely High School followed by 5K Run and Remember race at 8:30 a.m. Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Mabel I. Wilson School and ends at the veterans’ monument in Moss Side Cemetery in Cumberland Center, where a ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Advertisement

FALMOUTH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from 65 Depot Road (Falmouth American Legion) to Pine Grove Park, where a ceremony will be held.

FREEPORT 9:30 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds from Holbrook Street, heads north on Main and makes a right onto School Street, then right onto Park Street, ending in Memorial Park. There will be a small ceremony in Memorial Park starting at 10 a.m.

GORHAM 11 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Village School (12 Robie St.) and ends at Eastern Cemetery on Johnson Road.

GRAY 11:30 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves the Russell School (8 Gray Park), proceeds to Shaker Road and continues to the Soldiers Monument at the intersection of Routes 26 and 3 for a wreath-laying ceremony. Parade continues north to the American Legion Post (15 Lewiston Road) for a closing ceremony.

LYMAN 1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts at Waterhouse Road/Mill Pond in Goodwins Mills and ends at the Lyman Town Hall on South Waterboro Road.

NEW GLOUCESTER 9 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Memorial Elementary School (86 Intervale Road) and heads down Intervale Road to Route 100/202 to Veterans Park for a memorial service. The parade will reconvene and go down Peacock Hill Road, then take a left on Gilmore Road. Advertisement

OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1 p.m. Monday. Parade starts at the corner of Ballpark Way and E. Emerson Cumming Boulevard and proceeds down Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach Street to First Street and ends at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

PORTLAND 2 p.m. Monday. The procession starts at Longfellow School (432 Stevens Ave.) and ends at Evergreen Cemetery for a commemoration ceremony.

SANFORD 10 a.m. Monday. The parade starts at the Sanford Armory (88 William Oscar Emery Drive), proceeds up Gowen Park Drive and ends at Central Park.

SCARBOROUGH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Scarborough High School, turns onto Route 114 and then Route 1, past town offices to the Maine Veterans Home and concludes with a ceremony there.

SOUTH PORTLAND 10:30 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Southern Maine Community College parking lot, proceeds down Broadway to the Veterans Monument for a short Memorial Day recognition service.

WELLS 9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Wells High School (200 Sanford Road) and proceeds to Ocean View Cemetery for a ceremony and musical performances. Advertisement

WESTBROOK 10 a.m. Monday. Parade proceeds down Main Street and will be followed by a ceremony in Riverbank Park.

WINDHAM 9 a.m. Monday. Parade starts at Windham Town Hall and proceeds onto Route 202 toward Windham High School. At 10 a.m., there will be a ceremony in front of Windham’s Veterans Memorial Flagpole at Windham High School.

YARMOUTH 10 a.m. Monday. Parade leaves from Yarmouth High School (286 West Elm St.) and proceeds to the Memorial Green at Town Hall for a ceremony.

YORK 10 a.m. Monday. Parade starts near St. Christopher’s Church (4 Barrell Lane) and proceeds down York Street to York Town Hall.

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