If you're starting to learn French, building a strong vocabulary is the first step toward having real conversations. In this guide, you'll find 100 essential French words that beginners should learn first.

These words will help you understand basic conversations, travel in French-speaking countries, and communicate with confidence.

Basic French Greetings

Greetings are the first thing you learn in any language because they are used every day. In French culture, greeting someone properly is considered polite and important. For example, saying “Bonjour” when entering a store or starting a conversation is almost mandatory in France.

• Bonjour — Hello
• Bonsoir — Good evening
• Salut — Hi
• Au revoir — Goodbye
• À bientôt — See you soon
• Bonne nuit — Good night
• Bienvenue — Welcome
• Enchanté — Nice to meet you
• Ça va ? — How are you?
• Merci — Thank you
• Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much
• De rien — You're welcome
• S'il vous plaît — Please
• Pardon — Sorry / excuse me
• Excusez-moi — Excuse me

Common Words

These words appear constantly in everyday French conversations. Learning them early helps you understand simple sentences and interact with people more easily. Some of these words are also used to express agreement, disagreement, or simple emotions.

• Oui — Yes
• Non — No
• Peut-être — Maybe
• Maintenant — Now
• Aujourd'hui — Today
• Demain — Tomorrow
• Hier — Yesterday
• Ici — Here
• Là — There
• Très — Very
• Beaucoup — A lot
• Peu — Little
• Tout — Everything
• Rien — Nothing
• Quelque chose — Something
• Pourquoi — Why
• Comment — How
• Quand — When
• Où — Where
• Parce que — Because

French Pronouns

Pronouns are extremely important because they replace nouns in sentences. In French, pronouns often change depending on gender and number, which is different from English. Mastering these pronouns will allow you to build simple sentences much faster.

• Je — I
• Tu — You (informal)
• Il — He
• Elle — She
• Nous — We
• Vous — You (formal/plural)
• Ils — They (masculine)
• Elles — They (feminine)
• On — One / we (informal)
• Moi — Me
• Toi — You
• Lui — Him
• Elle — Her
• Nous — Us
• Eux — Them

Essential Verbs

Verbs are the backbone of any language. In French, verbs are conjugated depending on the subject, which means their form changes. Learning the most common verbs will help you express actions and create your first complete sentences.

• Être — To be
• Avoir — To have
• Faire — To do / make
• Dire — To say
• Aller — To go
• Voir — To see
• Savoir — To know
• Pouvoir — Can / to be able to
• Vouloir — To want
• Devoir — Must / have to
• Prendre — To take
• Donner — To give
• Parler — To speak
• Aimer — To like / love
• Manger — To eat
• Boire — To drink
• Venir — To come
• Rester — To stay
• Travailler — To work
• Étudier — To study
• Épeler — To spell
• Écouter — To listen
• Penser — To think

Useful Adjectives

Adjectives describe people, objects, or situations. In French, adjectives often change depending on the gender and number of the noun they describe. This is why you may see slightly different forms of the same adjective. Learning common adjectives will make your sentences more expressive.

• Grand — Big / tall
• Petit — Small
• Bon — Good
• Mauvais — Bad
• Nouveau — New
• Vieux — Old
• Jeune — Young
• Facile — Easy
• Difficile — Difficult
• Rapide — Fast
• Lent — Slow
• Heureux — Happy
• Triste — Sad
• Important — Important
• Possible — Possible
• Intéressant — Interesting
• Différent — Different
• Plein — Full
• Vide — Empty
• Prêt — Ready
• Rouge — Red
• Bleu — Blue
• Vert — Green
• Jaune — Yellow
• Rose — Pink
• Blanc — White
• Noir — Black

Learning these essential words will give you a solid foundation for understanding French and starting your first conversations.

How to Memorize French Words Faster

The best way to remember vocabulary is to hear it, repeat it, and use it in real conversations. Practicing with a teacher can also help you improve your pronunciation and confidence much faster.