French vocabulary: beginner (A1)
The 161 words and phrases taught in the beginner chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Hello and goodbye
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- bonjourhello, good morning
- comment allez-vous ?how are you? (polite)
- très bien, mercivery well, thank you
- et vous ?and you? (polite)
- voici…this is…, here is…
- un ami / une amiea friend (man / woman) · and sound the same
- enchanté / enchantéenice to meet you · a woman writes ; same sound
- je m'appelle…my name is…
- vous êtes de… ?are you from…? (polite)
- je suis de…I'm from…
- au revoirgoodbye
- bonne journéehave a good day
- vous aussiyou too (polite)
- à bientôtsee you soon
2. Numbers and prices
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- c'est combien ?how much is it?
- la carte postalepostcard · plural : the s is silent
- l'euroeuro · masculine:
- le guideguidebook, guide
- ça coûte combien ?how much does it cost?
- alorsso, then
- je prendsI'll take (literally “I take”)
- ça fait…that comes to…
- voilàhere you are, here's…
- le centimecent
- le numéro de téléphonephone number
3. At the café
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- qu'est-ce que vous prenez ?what will you have? (polite)
- le cafécoffee · also “café”, the place
- le café crèmecoffee with hot frothy milk
- s'il vous plaîtplease (polite) · sounds like “seel voo pleh”; to a friend:
- autre chose ?anything else?
- tu prends… ?are you having…? (to a friend)
- et toi ?and you? (to a friend)
- le thétea
- le croissantcroissant · sounds like “krwah-sa(n)”
- l'additionthe bill · feminine:
- l'eauwater · feminine: , a mineral water
- la tartineslice of bread with butter or jam
- le chocolat chaudhot chocolate
- le serveur / la serveusewaiter / waitress
4. Getting around
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- excusez-moiexcuse me (polite)
- où est… ?where is…?
- la garerailway station
- allez tout droitgo straight on
- puisthen, next
- tournez à gaucheturn left
- loinfar · the opposite is (near): , near here
- à piedon foot
- il y athere is, there are
- la pharmaciepharmacy, chemist's
- sur la placeon the square · : on; : square (in a town)
- là-basover there
- merci beaucoupthank you very much · : a lot, very much
- de rienyou're welcome
5. Family and friends
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- la famillefamily
- la photophoto
- làthere
- le pèrefather
- la mèremother
- le garçonboy
- le frèrebrother
- avoir… ansto be… years old
- la sœursister · œu sounds like the “u” in “fur”, with rounded lips
- la cousine / le cousincousin (woman / man)
- les frères et sœursbrothers and sisters
- quel âge ?how old?
- les parentsparents
6. My home
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- l'appartementflat, apartment · masculine:
- joli / joliepretty, nice
- le salonliving room
- la chambrebedroom
- à côténext door, next to it
- la cuisinekitchen
- la portedoor
- la clékey
- la tabletable
- la lampelamp
- la chaisechair
- le sacbag
- le canapésofa
7. My day
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- se leverto get up ·
- à quelle heure ?at what time?
- le matinmorning, in the morning
- tôtearly · the opposite is , late
- travaillerto work
- maisbut
- habiterto live (in a place)
- le soirevening, in the evening
- finirto finish · ,
- rentrerto go home, to come home
- versaround (with a time)
- le bureauoffice, desk
- commencerto start
- tu as de la chanceyou're lucky
8. Food and shopping
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?what can I get you? · said by shopkeepers
- je voudraisI would like
- un kilo dea kilo of
- la tomatetomato
- et avec ceci ?anything else? · said by shopkeepers
- le fromagecheese
- un morceau dea piece of
- la bouteillebottle
- le laitmilk
- le painbread
- la confiturejam
- la baguettebaguette, French stick
- ce sera tout ?will that be all?
- c'est toutthat's all
9. Time and dates
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- le cabinet médicaldoctors' practice, surgery
- le rendez-vousappointment, meeting
- avecwith
- le docteurdoctor · used as a title:
- mardiTuesday, on Tuesday
- marsMarch · the s is pronounced
- ça vous va ?does that suit you? (polite) · to a friend:
- je vais êtreI'm going to be
- pour le travailfor work · : for; : work
- c'est possible ?is that possible?
- parfaitperfect
- c'est à quel nom ?what name is it under?
- à jeudisee you on Thursday
- demaintomorrow
10. Likes and dislikes
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- onwe (in conversation) · takes the form of the verb:
- ce soirtonight, this evening
- bonne idéegood idea
- aimerto like, to love
- la cuisinefood, cooking (a country's cuisine) · also means kitchen (chapter 6)
- beaucoupa lot, very much
- le poissonfish
- adorerto love
- moi aussime too
- détesterto hate
- le champignonmushroom
- pas de problèmeno problem
- préférerto prefer ·
- mangerto eat
11. Hobbies and free time
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- faireto do, to make
- le week-endweekend, at the weekend
- souventoften
- faire du véloto go cycling · : bike
- jouer au tennisto play tennis
- tu veux… ?do you want (to)…?
- avec moiwith me
- je ne peux pasI can't
- chezat the home of · : at my parents' place
- avec plaisirI'd love to (literally “with pleasure”)
- le clubclub
- la natationswimming
- désolé / désoléesorry · a woman writes ; same sound
- parfoissometimes
12. Your first conversation
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- la placeseat (on a train) · also a square in a town (chapter 4)
- librefree (not taken)
- bien sûrof course
- chez moihome, at my place · : I'm going home
- d'où ?where from?
- le professeur / la professeureteacher · no article after :
- la musiquemusic
- jouer du pianoto play the piano
- la guitareguitar
- la plagebeach
- pardon ?sorry? pardon?
- répéterto repeat · , like
- plus lentementmore slowly
Other levels: Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1) · Upper intermediate (B2)