600 Useful French Phrases for Real-Life Conversations – Vol.1: How to Start Talking Naturally (001–010)

😔 I can order a croissant, BUT…

“You can introduce yourself, order a croissant, and survive in France.
But do you still hesitate when you want to join a real conversation?”

If you’re stuck at the “I can speak, but not confidently” phase, you’re not alone.
This series will give you 600 practical French phrases to finally break that plateau.

🎯 Who This Is For

• You know basic grammar and vocabulary.
• You can hold short conversations but feel stuck at the beginner/intermediate wall.
• You want to speak more naturally, confidently, and fluently.

🧭 What You’ll Learn in This Series

• 600 real-life French phrases with explanations and translations
• Examples in natural dialogues
• Practical usage notes
• Focus on expressions that appear in the DELF B1–B2 levels

✍️ Each blog post will introduce 10 phrases (like this one).
That means: you can level up your French 10 phrases at a time!

🔟✨ Today’s 10 Key Phrases（001–010)
Start conversation

001. Tu sais quoi ?/ You know what?

A casual way to get someone’s attention or introduce a new idea.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Tu sais quoi ? Je pense qu’on devrait aller à la mer ce week-end.
B: Tu as raison. J’ai l’impression qu’il va faire beau.
A: You know what? I think we should go to the beach this weekend.
B: You’re right. I have the feeling it’ll be sunny.

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Tu sais quoi ? = Casual phrase to grab attention
• devrait = Conditional form of devoir (should)
• avoir l’impression que = to have the impression that

002. Je vais te dire quelque chose./ Let me tell you something.

Used when about to give advice or instructions.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Je vais te dire quelque chose? Fais tes devoirs, et après, tu pourras regarder la télé.
B: D’accord, je vais faire mes devoirs.
A: Let me tell you something. Do your homework, and then you can watch TV.
B: Okay, I’ll do it.

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Je vais te dire… = I am going to tell you…
• tu pourras = Future tense of pouvoir (You will be able to)
• d’accord = Okay, agreed.

003. Devine quoi?/ Guess what?.

Perfect for sharing surprises.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Devine quoi? Je suis enceinte!
B: Oh, félicitations!
A: Guess what? I’m pregnant!
B: Oh, congratulations!

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Devine = Imperative of deviner (guess!)
• enceinte = pregnant (feminine adjective)
• félicitations = Congratulations

004. Au fait…/ By the way…

Switching topics or adding information.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Au fait, tu viens toujours à la soirée de samedi?
B: Oui, bien sûr!
A: By the way, are you still coming to the party on Saturday?
B: Yes, of course!

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Au fait = By the way
• toujours = still (in this context)
• bien sûr = of course

005. Franchement/ Honestly…

Used to express honest opinions.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Franchement, je n’ai pas aimé bien le file.
B: Ah, bon? Je l’ai trouvé super.
A: Honestly, I didn’t like the movie.
B: Really? I thought it was great.

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Franchement = Honestly
• trouver + adjective= to find something (a certain way)
• super= great, awesome

006. Écoute…/ Listen…

Used to get someone’s attention before saying something important.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Écoute, j’ai quelque chose à raconter.
B: Vas-y, j’écoute.
A: Listen, I have something to tell you.
B: Go ahead, I’m listening.

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Écoute = Imperative form of écouter (to listen)
• raconter= to tell, narrate
• Vas-y = go ahead

007. Au fait, j’oubliais…/ By the way, I almost forget…

Good for adding something you nearly forgot to mention.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Au fait, j’oubliais, ton anniversaire est demain, non?
B: Oui, tu t’en souviens!
A: By the way, I almost forgot—your birthday is tomorrow, right?
B: Yes, you remembered!

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• j’oubliais = I was about to forget (use it to add something you nearly missed)
• se souvenir de = to remember something

008. En fait… / Actually…

Used to clarify or correct what was just said.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: En fait, je ne vais pas pouvoir venir ce soir.
B: Ah bon, tu as un empêchement?
A: Actually, I won’t be able to come tonight.
B: Really? Do you have a scheduling conflict?

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• En fait = actually, in fact
• ne vais pas pouvoir = future construction meaning “won’t be able to”
• un empêchement = a scheduling conflict / something preventing attendance

009. Je peux te parler une minute? / Can I talk to you for a minute?

A polite way to ask to start a conversation.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: Je te puis parler une minute? C’est une sujet du projet.
B: Bien sûr, je t’écoute.
A: Can I talk to you for a minute? It’s about the project.
B: Of course, I’m listening.

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• Je peux te parler = Can I talk to you
• au sujet de = about, concerning
• je t’écoute = I’m listening

010. J’ai une question. / I have a question.

Simple and direct way to start a request or clarification.

📘 Mini Dialogue Practice

A: J’ai question. Tu peux m’aider ce devoir?
B: Oui, bien sûr !
A: I have a question. Can you help me with this homework?
B: Yes, of course!

🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes

• J’ai une question = I have a question
• m’aider = to help me

✅ Coming Next: 011–020

Stay tuned for the next 10 expressions in Part 2!
We’ll dive into how to agree, disagree, and keep conversations going naturally in French.