Tu or vous
Use vous with shop staff, strangers and anyone older, and tu with friends and family. Starting with bonjour and vous is the polite default in France.
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Your first French phrases
Twelve phrases for your first week in France, with a guide to how they actually sound.
| French | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour ! | bohn-ZHOOR | Hello / Good morning |
| Bonsoir ! | bohn-SWAHR | Good evening |
| Comment ça va ? | koh-mahn sah VAH | How's it going? |
| Je m'appelle Sam. | zhuh mah-PEL sam | My name is Sam. |
| Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. | zhuh voo-DREH uhn kah-FAY, seel voo PLEH | I'd like a coffee, please. |
| C'est combien ? | seh kohm-BYAN | How much is it? |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît. | lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH | The check, please. |
| Où sont les toilettes ? | oo sohn lay twah-LET | Where are the restrooms? |
| Je ne comprends pas. | zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah | I don't understand. |
| Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ? | voo poo-VAY ray-pay-TAY, seel voo PLEH | Could you say that again, please? |
| Excusez-moi. | ex-kew-zay-MWAH | Excuse me. |
| Bonne journée ! | bun zhoor-NAY | Have a good day! |
The nasal sounds in bonjour, combien and comprends are written ohn, an and ahn here: let the air go through your nose and don't pronounce the n.
A conversation you'll practice
A café in Paris, as Talvo runs it. The tutor plays the server, you order out loud, and it keeps going until you've paid.
ServerBonjour ! Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?Hello! What can I get you?
YouJe voudrais un café et un croissant, s'il vous plaît.I'd like a coffee and a croissant, please.
ServerTrès bien. Un café et un croissant, ça fait 4 euros 50. Vous voulez payer comment ?Great. A coffee and a croissant, that's 4.50 euros. How would you like to pay?
YouPar carte, s'il vous plaît.By card, please.
ServerParfait. Bonne journée !Perfect. Have a good day!
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Letters you don't say
The end of many words is silent: beaucoup is boh-KOO and ils parlent is eel PARL. Every word in a Talvo lesson comes with a pronunciation guide and audio.
Le or la
Every noun is masculine or feminine: le café, la baguette, un croissant, une crêpe. Learn the article together with the word and you'll rarely have to guess.
Linking sounds
Vous avez sounds like voo-za-VAY: the final s joins the next vowel. This is called liaison, and it's why spoken French can sound like one long word.
How Talvo teaches French
- Tap Replay or Slowly on any line the tutor says, and Show translation when you need it
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning French
Is it French from France or Canada?
Talvo teaches standard French as it's spoken in France. It's understood everywhere French is spoken, including Québec.
Can I learn French with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
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