10 French Expressions You’ll Actually Hear in France

Have you ever learnt a French phrase in class, only to arrive in France and hear something completely different?

You know Bonjour, Merci and Comment allez-vous ? But then someone replies with Ça va, et toi ?, your waiter says Voilà, and the conversation moves on before you’ve had a chance to catch up.

Welcome to everyday French!

The French people speak in cafés, at markets, around the dinner table and on the street isn't always the French you'll find in a textbook. It's full of little expressions that help conversations flow, show interest and make you sound more at ease.

Here are 10 expressions you'll actually hear in France, along with when and how to use them.

1. Bonjour !

Meaning: Hello! / Good morning! / Good afternoon!

Let's start with the most important one.

In France, Bonjour is more than a greeting. It's a small sign of politeness and the usual way to open an interaction. Say it when entering a shop, approaching a receptionist or greeting the person serving you at a café.

You'll often hear it throughout the day, not just in the morning.

Try it: Walk into a boulangerie and say Bonjour ! before ordering your croissant. A little greeting goes a long way.

2. Ah bon ?

Meaning: Oh really? / Is that so?

This is one of those expressions that makes conversations feel more natural. Use it when someone tells you something surprising, interesting or unexpected.

In conversation:

Je pars en vacances en Bretagne demain.

(I'm going on holiday to Brittany tomorrow.)

Ah bon ? Tu pars avec qui ?

(Oh really? Who are you going with?)

Depending on your tone, Ah bon ? can express surprise, curiosity or even a little disbelief.

It's also a useful expression when you're not quite sure what to say next. Rather than staying silent, you can show that you're listening and invite the other person to tell you more.

3. Du coup…

Meaning: So… / As a result… / Then…

If there's one expression you'll hear again and again in informal French, it's du coup.

People use it to connect ideas, explain what happened next or move a conversation along. It's particularly common in spoken French.

In conversation:

Le train avait du retard, du coup je suis arrivé en retard au travail.

(The train was delayed, so I arrived late at work.)

You'll hear it used in many different ways, sometimes even as a conversational filler. You don't need to use it in every sentence, but recognising it will help you follow what people are saying.

4. Ben…

Meaning: Well… / Um… / Well, then…

Ben is a casual spoken form of eh bien. It's often used when someone is thinking, hesitating or responding to a question.

In conversation:

Tu veux manger où ce soir ?

(Where do you want to eat tonight?)

Ben… je ne sais pas. Tu as une idée ?

(Well… I don't know. Do you have an idea?)

You'll hear ben at the beginning of sentences, especially when people are thinking aloud. It gives the conversation a relaxed, natural rhythm.

And no, you don't need to have your answer ready before you start speaking. Sometimes a little ben… buys you a moment to think.

5. Voilà !

Meaning: There you go! / That's it! / Exactly!

This little word does a lot of work in French.

Someone might say voilà when handing you your coffee, finishing an explanation or confirming that something is just right.

In conversation:

Donc, je prends la deuxième rue à gauche ?

(So, I take the second street on the left?)

Voilà !

(Exactly!)

Listen to how people use it in different situations. The meaning shifts with the context, but the general idea is often that something has been presented, completed or understood.

Curious about learning French beyond the textbook?

At Cosmopoli'French, we believe French is best learnt when you have the chance to use it. Our small-group classes bring conversation and authentic French culture together, helping you practise the language in a relaxed setting where making mistakes is part of the process.

We focus on connection before correction, so you can build confidence expressing yourself rather than worrying about getting every word perfect.

Discover the Cosmopoli'French approach →

6. Ça marche !

Meaning: That works! / Sounds good!

When someone suggests a plan and you're happy with it, Ça marche ! is an easy, natural response.

In conversation:

On se retrouve devant le cinéma à 19h ?

(Shall we meet in front of the cinema at 7 pm?)

Oui, ça marche !

(Yes, sounds good!)

You can use it to agree on a meeting time, confirm arrangements or let someone know that their suggestion suits you.

It's a great alternative to relying on D'accord every time you want to say yes.

7. En fait…

Meaning: Actually… / In fact…

Use en fait when you want to clarify something, correct a misunderstanding or explain what you really mean.

In conversation:

Tu habites à Paris ?

(Do you live in Paris?)

Non, en fait, j'habite à Lyon.

(No, actually, I live in Lyon.)

It's especially useful when you're speaking spontaneously and want to add a detail as your thoughts develop.

You'll hear it in all sorts of conversations, from making plans to explaining why you're running late.

8. Allez !

Meaning: Come on! / Let's go! / Go on!

Allez ! is a wonderfully versatile expression. It can encourage someone, get things moving or signal that it's time to leave.

In conversation:

Allez, on y va !

(Come on, let's go!)

You might hear it when friends are getting ready to leave, someone is encouraging you to keep going, or a group is finally heading out the door.

Pay attention to the tone. Said warmly, it can be encouraging. Said impatiently, it can mean something closer to "Hurry up!"

9. T'inquiète !

Meaning: Don't worry! / No worries!

This is the informal, shortened version of Ne t'inquiète pas. You'll hear it among friends and people who are comfortable with one another.

In conversation:

Désolée, j'ai oublié de t'envoyer l'adresse.

(Sorry, I forgot to send you the address.)

T'inquiète !

(No worries!)

It's friendly and reassuring, and a useful expression when you want to put someone at ease.

For a more complete version, you can say Ne t'inquiète pas. With friends, though, T'inquiète ! is perfectly natural.

10. Bref…

Meaning: Anyway… / In short… / Long story short…

When someone has been telling a story and wants to get to the point, you might hear bref.

It's often used to summarise what happened or move past the details.

In conversation:

J'ai raté le bus, il pleuvait, et j'ai dû marcher pendant vingt minutes. Bref, je suis arrivé trempé !

(I missed the bus, it was raining, and I had to walk for twenty minutes. Anyway, I arrived soaking wet!)

It's a handy expression to recognise because it often signals that the speaker is wrapping up a story or moving on to the main point.

And here's a little detail worth remembering: in France, you'll often hear people shorten or blend sounds in casual speech. Don't worry if an expression sounds different from the way you practised it in class. Your ear will get more familiar with it over time.

French is more than knowing the right words

Knowing these expressions is a good start. The real difference comes when you begin recognising them in conversation, understanding the context and feeling comfortable enough to use them yourself.

At Cosmopoli'French, we approach French as something to live, not just something to study. Our small-group classes give you the chance to practise speaking, exchange ideas and discover the culture behind the language, with room to make mistakes and find your own voice.

Curious about our approach? Discover how we bring French into everyday life through conversation, culture and real-world experiences. Explore the Cosmopoli'French approach →

A little French, a little more often

You don't need to memorise all ten expressions at once. Start with one or two. Notice when you hear them in a French film, a podcast or a conversation. Try them out when the opportunity comes along.

And remember, sounding natural doesn't mean speaking perfectly. It means learning to take part in the conversation, one expression at a time.

At Cosmopoli'French, we love finding ways to make French part of everyday life, both inside and outside the classroom. From the expressions we share in class to the cultural experiences we enjoy together, there's always another opportunity to practise.

We're already looking ahead to Term 1 2027, with more opportunities to learn French in a small group and build confidence speaking it.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for a glimpse of our classes, the expressions we're learning and the moments that make learning French together so enjoyable. Keep an eye out for our January class announcements, too.