List of 100 Most Common French Words for Beginners

Why Learn Basic Words in French?

Mastering basic French vocabulary gives you a strong foundation to:

• Start simple conversations.
• Navigate daily life while traveling in French-speaking regions.
• Build a deeper understanding of French culture and literature.

Also Read: 60+ new words in English with meanings

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Essential French Words for Beginners

If you’re a beginner, focusing on these categories will help you gain practical knowledge:

1. Greetings and Courtesies
   
   • Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello
   • Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
   • S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please
2. Basic Pronouns
   
   • Je (zhuh) – I
   • Tu (tew) – You (informal)
   • Il/Elle (eel/ehl) – He/She
3. Common Verbs
   
   • Être (eh-truh) – To be
   • Avoir (ah-vwahr) – To have
   • Aller (ah-lay) – To go
4. Numbers
   
   • Un (uh) – One
   • Deux (duh) – Two
   • Trois (trwah) – Three

Also Read: GRE word list, 50 words to improve your vocabulary

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List of 100 Most Common French Words

Pronouns

1. Je (zhuh) – I
2. Tu (tew) – You (informal)
3. Il (eel) – He
4. Elle (ehl) – She
5. Nous (noo) – We
6. Vous (voo) – You (formal/plural)
7. Ils (eel) – They (masculine)
8. Elles (ehl) – They (feminine)

Basic Verbs

9. Être (eh-truh) – To be
10. Avoir (ah-vwahr) – To have
11. Aller (ah-lay) – To go
12. Faire (fehr) – To do/make
13. Parler (par-lay) – To speak
14. Manger (mahn-zhay) – To eat
15. Boire (bwah) – To drink
16. Voir (vwahr) – To see
17. Aimer (eh-may) – To love/like
18. Savoir (sah-vwahr) – To know (a fact)

Common Nouns

19. Homme (awm) – Man
20. Femme (fahm) – Woman
21. Enfant (ahn-fahn) – Child
22. Fille (fee) – Girl
23. Garçon (gahr-sohn) – Boy
24. Maison (meh-zohn) – House
25. Voiture (vwah-tewr) – Car
26. Chien (shyuhn) – Dog
27. Chat (shah) – Cat
28. Ville (veel) – City

Days of the Week

29. Lundi (luhn-dee) – Monday
30. Mardi (mahr-dee) – Tuesday
31. Mercredi (mehr-kruh-dee) – Wednesday
32. Jeudi (zhuh-dee) – Thursday
33. Vendredi (vahn-druh-dee) – Friday
34. Samedi (sahm-dee) – Saturday
35. Dimanche (dee-mahnsh) – Sunday

Months

36. Janvier (zhahn-vyay) – January
37. Février (fay-vree-yay) – February
38. Mars (mahrs) – March
39. Avril (ah-vreel) – April
40. Mai (meh) – May
41. Juin (zhwahn) – June
42. Juillet (zhwee-yeh) – July
43. Août (oot) – August
44. Septembre (sehp-tahm-bruh) – September
45. Octobre (ohk-toh-bruh) – October
46. Novembre (noh-vahm-bruh) – November
47. Décembre (day-sahm-bruh) – December

Numbers

48. Un (uh) – One
49. Deux (duh) – Two
50. Trois (trwah) – Three
51. Quatre (katr) – Four
52. Cinq (sank) – Five
53. Six (sees) – Six
54. Sept (set) – Seven
55. Huit (weet) – Eight
56. Neuf (nuhf) – Nine
57. Dix (dees) – Ten

Colors

58. Rouge (roozh) – Red
59. Bleu (bluh) – Blue
60. Vert (vehr) – Green
61. Jaune (zhone) – Yellow
62. Noir (nwahr) – Black
63. Blanc (blahng) – White
64. Gris (gree) – Gray
65. Rose (rohz) – Pink

Common Adjectives

66. Petit (puh-tee) – Small
67. Grand (grahn) – Big
68. Bon (bohn) – Good
69. Mauvais (moh-vay) – Bad
70. Beau (boh) – Beautiful
71. Nouveau (noo-voh) – New
72. Vieux (vyuh) – Old
73. Facile (fa-seel) – Easy
74. Difficile (dee-fee-seel) – Difficult

Basic Phrases

75. Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello
76. Salut (sah-lew) – Hi
77. Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
78. S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please
79. Excusez-moi (ehk-skoo-zay mwah) – Excuse me
80. Oui (wee) – Yes
81. Non (nohn) – No
82. Comment ça va? (koh-mahn sah vah?) – How are you?
83. Je m’appelle… (zhuh mah-pel) – My name is…
84. Où est…? (oo eh?) – Where is…?

Family Terms

85. Père (pehr) – Father
86. Mère (mehr) – Mother
87. Frère (frehr) – Brother
88. Sœur (sur) – Sister
89. Oncle (ohn-kluh) – Uncle
90. Tante (tahnt) – Aunt

Other Useful Words

91. Aujourd’hui (oh-zhoor-dwee) – Today
92. Demain (duh-mahn) – Tomorrow
93. Hier (yair) – Yesterday
94. Toujours (too-zhoor) – Always
95. Jamais (zhah-may) – Never
96. Pourquoi (poor-kwah) – Why
97. Parce que (parce kuh) – Because
98. Ici (ee-see) – Here
99. Là (lah) – There
100. Bien (byahn) – Well

Also Read: Hardest 5-letter words in English and how to simplify them

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Basic Words in French with Pronunciation

Pronunciation can seem daunting, but with practice, you’ll master the sounds. Here are tips for some tricky aspects:

• Nasals: Words like “un” and “en” are pronounced through the nose.
• Silent Letters: The last consonant in many words is often silent, like in “femme.”
• Accents: Accent marks, like é (as in café), change the sound of vowels.

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Basic Words in French for Beginners: A Quick Guide

Here’s a simple way to start your learning journey:

1. Use Flashcards: Write down words with their pronunciation.
2. Listen to Native Speakers: Apps like Duolingo and platforms like YouTube can help you understand proper pronunciation.
3. Practice Daily Conversations: Start with phrases like “Bonjour!” and “Merci!”

Also Read: 50 new difficult English words for IELTS & TOEFL exam

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A Handy French Guide for Students

If you’re a student preparing for exams or simply looking for a structured approach, a 12th French guide or textbook can be your best friend. These often include:

• Vocabulary lists.
• Grammar explanations.
• Practice exercises for speaking and writing.

Country-wise Study Abroad
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Study in Netherlands	Study in New Zealand
Study in Germany	Study in Ireland

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Conclusion

By mastering these basic words in French and practicing regularly, you’ll set a strong foundation for further learning. Whether it’s for travel, education, or personal growth, knowing even simple words and phrases can make a big difference in your fluency journey. Bonne chance!