French conversation · 4 minute read

Start a French conversation.

Start with Bonjour or, with a friend, Salut ! Then ask one question that fits the moment. You don’t need a brilliant opening line to give someone a reason to reply.

These are written example conversations, with translations you can use to build your own replies.

Start with a hello that fits.

Bonjour works in a shop, at a café, or when meeting someone during the day. Salut is more casual: think friends, classmates, or someone you already know.

With someone you don’t know well, vous is a useful polite starting point. It also addresses more than one person. Use tu with a friend or when you’ve agreed to speak informally. Usage depends on the relationship and setting; see TV5MONDE’s explanation of tu and vous.

Ask something easy to answer.

Match the question to where you are. A hostel common room, a classroom, and a message to a friend each give you something different to talk about. These examples use the casual tu form.

Give a little of your own answer.

A conversation feels less like an interview when you share something too. Your answer can be short. Add Et toi ? — “And you?” — to pass it back.

Put the opening into a real exchange.

Imagine you’re meeting a classmate before your first lesson:

The first question comes from the shared situation. The next one gives Lou something new to answer. If you’re texting an existing friend instead, Salut ! Ça va ? is enough; here are several ways to reply to ça va.

Have a phrase ready for getting stuck.

It’s useful to tell the other person you’re learning. You can ask for a slower pace or a repeated word without ending the conversation.

For a polite version, use Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?

Follow the interesting detail.

If someone mentions a trip, ask where they went. If they mention a film, ask whether they liked it. One small follow-up is enough.

You don’t have to understand every word to find one thing you want to know more about.

For example, if someone says Je vais à Lille ce week-end — “I’m going to Lille this weekend” — ask Tu connais déjà Lille ? — “Do you already know Lille?” Find more situations in our French small-talk guide.

Your turn: say hello to a fellow traveller.

You’re sitting down in a hostel common room. Introduce yourself and ask how long the other person is staying. Write your message before opening the example.