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150 Must-Know French Words for Everyday Conversations

Learning French becomes much easier if you start with the right vocabulary. If you are a beginner, mastering essential words will help you understand simple conversations, build basic sentences, and feel confident in speaking in real-life situations.

In this blog, you’ll find 150 must-know everyday French words, arranged in categories, including example sentences and a weekly learning plan. The guide is ideal for all those who want to establish a French vocabulary for beginners and improve their foundation to enable them to speak the language more naturally from the very first day.

What Beginners Should Focus On Regarding Vocabulary

French beginners often get overwhelmed by grammar and long word lists, but you actually only need to focus on five main types of basic French words:

 

  1. High-frequency daily vocabulary 

Words used in greetings, simple requests, directions, etc.

 

  1. Essential verbs

Action words with which you can form sentences even at the A1 level.

 

  1. Numbers, days & time expressions

Useful for shopping, appointments, and describing routines.

 

  1. Common nouns

People, objects, and places are used in most everyday French words.

 

  1. Useful adjectives & connectors

They help you describe, compare, and express simple opinions.




Which Modules Can Be Retaken

Flexibility is one of the IELTS single module retake’s biggest selling points. Candidates have the option to retake any one skill from:

  • Listening – When candidates got audio passages wrong.
  • Reading – When difficult texts dragged the overall band score down.
  • Writing – Where many candidates find it tough to achieve task, grammar, or coherence.
  • Speaking – Ideal if a case of nerves on test day impaired performance.

Nevertheless, you are not allowed to retake more than a single skill simultaneously. If you are weak in more than one section, it might still be worth attempting the complete IELTS again.

Advantages Over Retaking the Entire Test

The advantages of IELTS One Skill Retake 2025 extend beyond convenience— they can also save you time and money.

  • Improved focus – Rather than studying all four sections, you can put effort into one.
  • Lower cost – A retake of one module is less expensive than the entire IELTS test.
  • Less anxiety – Having only one section to cope with reduces stress.
  • Increased likelihood of fulfilment – If your Listening, Reading, and Speaking bands were good but Writing didn’t meet the mark, this option allows you to rectify it without jeopardising the others.
  • Quicker migration and admission – A marginal improvement in one module can open study visas, PR applications, or university admissions.
  • More equitable evaluation – It recognises that a single bad day in a single module should not stop your overall aspirations.

150 Essential French Words (Grouped by Category)

  • Below is a practical list of 150 beginner-friendly words that are in most everyday conversations.

     

    1. Greetings & Basic Expressions (20 words)

     

    • bonjour – hello
    • salut – hi
    • bonsoir – good evening
    • au revoir – goodbye
    • merci – thank you
    • s’il vous plaît – please
    • excuse – sorry
    • oui – yes
    • non – no
    • bien – good
    • mal – bad
    • comme ci, comme ça – so-so
    • bienvenue – welcome
    • à bientôt – see you soon
    • à demain – see you tomorrow
    • excusez-moi – excuse me
    • de rien – you’re welcome
    • ça va ? – how are you?
    • ça va – I’m fine
    • pas mal – not bad

     

    Example sentences:

     

    • Bonjour, comment ça va ? (Hello, how are you?)

     

    • Merci beaucoup ! (Thank you very much!)

     

    2. Essential Verbs (20 words)

    • être – to be
    • avoir – to have
    • aller – to go
    • faire – to do
    • dire – to say
    • pouvoir – can
    • vouloir – to want
    • savoir – to know
    • venir – to come
    • prendre – to take
    • mettre – to put
    • voir – to see
    • donner – to give
    • parler – to speak
    • aimer – to like/love
    • manger – to eat
    • boire – to drink
    • venir – to come
    • vivre – to live
    • chercher – to look for

     

    Example sentences:

     

    – Je veux apprendre le français. (I want to learn French.)

     

    – Nous allons au marché. (We are going to the market.)

     

    3. Numbers, Days & Time Words (20 words)

    Numbers:  1–10

    • un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix
    • Days:
    • lundi – Monday
    • mardi – Tuesday
    • mercredi – Wednesday
    • jeudi – Thursday
    • vendredi – Friday
    • samedi – Saturday
    • dimanche – Sunday

     

    Time words:

     

    aujourd’hui – today

    demain – tomorrow

    hier – yesterday

    Example sentences:

    • Je travaille lundi. (I work on Monday.)
    • Il y a dix personnes. There are ten people.

     

    4. People & Family (15 words)

    • moi – me
    • toi – you
    • il – he
    • elle – she
    • nous – we
    • vous – you (formal/plural)
    • ils/elles – they

     

    • la famille – family
    • la mère – mother
    • le père – father
    • la sœur – sister
    • le frère – brother
    • l’ami(e) – friend
    • le bébé – baby
    • les enfants – children

    Example sentences:

    • Ma sœur habite à Paris. (My sister lives in Paris.)
    • Ils sont mes amis. – They are my friends.

     

    5. Food & Drinks (15 words)

    • le pain – bread
    • le lait – milk
    • l’eau – water
    • le café – coffee
    • le thé – tea
    • la pomme – apple
    • la banane – banana
    • le riz – rice
    • le poulet – chicken
    • la salade – salad
    • le fromage – cheese
    • le vin – wine
    • le jus – juice
    • le poisson – fish
    • le gâteau – cake

     

    Example sentences:

    • Je voudrais du café. (I would like some coffee.)
    • La salade est délicieuse. (The salad is delicious.)

    6. House & Daily Objects (20 words)

    • la maison – house
    • l’appartement – apartment
    • la chambre – bedroom
    • la cuisine – kitchen
    • la salle de bain – bathroom
    • la porte – door
    • la fenêtre – window
    • le lit – bed
    • la table – table
    • la chaise – chair
    • le téléphone – phone
    • l’ordinateur – computer
    • le livre – book
    • la voiture – car
    • les clés – keys
    • le sac – bag
    • le verre – glass
    • l’assiette – plate
    • la lumière – light
    • l’eau chaude – hot water

    Example sentences:

    • Où sont mes clés ? (Where are my keys?)
    • J’aime lire dans ma chambre. (I like reading in my room.)

     

    7. Places in the City (15 words)

    • la ville – city
    • la rue – street
    • le magasin – shop
    • le supermarché – supermarket
    • la gare – station
    • l’école – school
    • le restaurant – restaurant
    • le café – café
    • l’hôpital – hospital
    • le parc – park
    • la banque – bank
    • l’aéroport – airport
    • le marché – market
    • l’hôtel – hotel
    • le cinéma – cinema

    Example sentences:

    • Le marché est près d’ici. (The market is near here.)
    • Nous allons au cinéma. (We’re going to the cinema.)

     

    8. Adjectives & Descriptive Words (15 words)

     

    • grand – big
    • petit – small
    • bon – good
    • mauvais – bad
    • beau – beautiful
    • cher – expensive
    • facile – easy
    • difficile – difficult
    • chaud – hot
    • froid – cold
    • rapide – fast
    • lent – slow
    • heureux – happy
    • triste – sad
    • fatigué – tired

     

    Example sentences

    • C’est facile ! (This is easy!)
    • Je suis fatigué. (I am tired.)

     

    9. Useful Connectors (10 words)

     

    • et – and
    • mais – but
    • you – or

     

    • donc – so
    • parce que – because
    • avec – with
    • sans – without
    • pour – for
    • très – very
    • toujours – always

     

    Example sentences:

    Je veux apprendre parce que j’aime la langue. (I want to learn because I love the language.)

How to Memorise Vocabulary Fast

  1. Employ Spaced Repetition (SRS applications)

Review words at increasingly longer intervals to store them in your long-term memory.

 

  1. Learn in categories, not random lists

The brain remembers better when words are grouped by meaning.

 

  1. Focus on pronunciation from day one

Say each word loud 5–10 times; your speaking confidence will grow.

 

  1. Use the words in short sentences

It builds automatic recall.



  1. Review old words weekly

Repetition ensures that you won’t forget your base vocabulary.



Weekly Vocabulary Learning Plan (Beginner Friendly)

Week 1:

Greetings, pronouns, connectors (30 words)

 

Week 2:

Essential verbs + verbs of everyday routine (25–30 words)

 

Week 3:

Numbers, days, months, food items (25 words) Week 4: Household items, family members, places around town 

Week 5:

 Adjectives + revision (20–25 words) 

Conclusion

Building a strong foundation in French starts with mastering the right vocabulary. These 150 must-know everyday French words give you everything you need to start speaking confidently, form simple sentences, and understand basic conversations. When you combine structured vocabulary learning with regular practice, example sentences, and a weekly study routine, you’ll see steady progress-no overwhelm, no confusion. Stay consistent, review often, and keep using the words in real situations. With the right approach, even beginners can build meaningful French communication skills quickly and naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I memorise French vocabulary?

 The fastest and most effective method is the use of spaced repetition, daily practice, and example sentences.

Can I retake only IELTS Writing or Speaking?

Yes, you can retake a single module—Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking.

Is it possible to become fluent with just basic vocabulary?

 Basic words allow you to begin speaking, but fluency requires gradual vocabulary expansion. 

Which apps help with French vocabulary?

 Duolingo, Memrise, Anki, WordReference, TV5MONDE.

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