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500 Most Common French Words

These 500 words cover most of everyday spoken French. They are ordered by frequency, so the first hundred are the ones you meet in almost every sentence. Each entry has an example sentence, because a word in isolation is far harder to remember than a word in use.

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500 words

# French English
1 learticle the (masc.)
2 deprep. of, from
3 unarticle a, an (masc.)
4 êtreverb to be
5 etconj. and
6 àprep. to, at
7 ilpron. he, it
8 avoirverb to have
9 neadv. not (part 1)
10 jepron. I
11 sonadj. his, her
12 queconj. that, which
13 sepron. oneself
14 quipron. who, which
15 cepron. this, that
16 dansprep. in
17 enprep. in; of it
18 duarticle of the, some
19 ellepron. she
20 auarticle to the, at the
21 pourprep. for
22 pasadv. not (part 2)
23 vouspron. you (formal/plural)
24 parprep. by, through
25 surprep. on
26 faireverb to do, to make
27 plusadv. more
28 direverb to say, to tell
29 mepron. me
30 onpron. one, we
31 monadj. my
32 luipron. him, to him
33 nouspron. we, us
34 commeconj. like, as
35 maisconj. but
36 pouvoirverb can, to be able to
37 avecprep. with
38 toutpron. all, everything
39 ypron. there, to it
40 allerverb to go
41 voirverb to see
42 bienadv. well
43 adv. where
44 sansprep. without
45 tupron. you (informal)
46 ouconj. or
47 leuradj. their; to them
48 l'hommenoun man
49 siconj. if
50 deuxnum. two
51 le marinoun husband
52 moipron. me
53 vouloirverb to want
54 tepron. you (object)
55 l'annéenoun year
56 venirverb to come
57 quandconj. when
58 grandadj. big, tall
59 celuipron. the one
60 notreadj. our
61 devoirverb must, to have to
62 adv. there
63 le journoun day
64 prendreverb to take
65 mêmeadj. same; even
66 falloirverb to be necessary
67 trèsadv. very
68 aussiadv. also, too
69 la femmenoun woman; wife
70 parlerverb to speak
71 depuisprep. since, for
72 autreadj. other
73 le tempsnoun time; weather
74 donnerverb to give
75 la chosenoun thing
76 avantprep. before
77 trouververb to find
78 chezprep. at (someone's place)
79 la mainnoun hand
80 savoirverb to know
81 l'enfantnoun child
82 petitadj. small
83 encoreadv. again, still
84 aimerverb to like, to love
85 passerverb to pass, to spend
86 peuadv. little, few
87 alorsadv. then, so
88 sousprep. under
89 demanderverb to ask
90 la maisonnoun house
91 la vienoun life
92 le mondenoun world; people
93 toujoursadv. always
94 mettreverb to put
95 rienpron. nothing
96 croireverb to believe
97 jamaisadv. never
98 la villenoun city, town
99 le paysnoun country
100 les gensnoun people
101 le travailnoun work, job
102 l'œilnoun eye
103 la têtenoun head
104 l'eaunoun water
105 le repasnoun meal
106 l'argentnoun money; silver
107 l'aminoun friend
108 la famillenoun family
109 la mèrenoun mother
110 le pèrenoun father
111 le filsnoun son
112 la fillenoun daughter; girl
113 le frèrenoun brother
114 la sœurnoun sister
115 l'écolenoun school
116 le livrenoun book
117 la voiturenoun car
118 la portenoun door
119 la fenêtrenoun window
120 la tablenoun table
121 la ruenoun street
122 la placenoun square; seat
123 le nomnoun name
124 le motnoun word
125 la questionnoun question
126 la réponsenoun answer
127 l'exemplenoun example
128 la raisonnoun reason
129 le problèmenoun problem
130 l'idéenoun idea
131 le momentnoun moment
132 l'heurenoun hour; time
133 la semainenoun week
134 le moisnoun month
135 la nuitnoun night
136 le matinnoun morning
137 le soirnoun evening
138 le pointnoun point
139 le casnoun case
140 la façonnoun way, manner
141 la finnoun end
142 le débutnoun beginning
143 l'Étatnoun state
144 le gouvernementnoun government
145 la loinoun law
146 l'entreprisenoun company
147 le groupenoun group
148 l'histoirenoun story, history
149 la musiquenoun music
150 le filmnoun film, movie
151 la languenoun language; tongue
152 le numéronoun number
153 le prixnoun price; prize
154 le magasinnoun shop
155 le marchénoun market
156 l'additionnoun bill
157 le trainnoun train
158 la garenoun train station
159 l'avionnoun aeroplane
160 le voyagenoun trip, journey
161 la plagenoun beach
162 l'hôtelnoun hotel
163 la chambrenoun room, bedroom
164 la cuisinenoun kitchen; cooking
165 le litnoun bed
166 la chaisenoun chair
167 l'appartementnoun flat, apartment
168 le jardinnoun garden
169 l'arbrenoun tree
170 le chiennoun dog
171 le chatnoun cat
172 le painnoun bread
173 le cafénoun coffee; café
174 le laitnoun milk
175 la viandenoun meat
176 le poissonnoun fish
177 le fromagenoun cheese
178 le vinnoun wine
179 la bièrenoun beer
180 le médecinnoun doctor
181 l'hôpitalnoun hospital
182 le corpsnoun body
183 le visagenoun face
184 le cœurnoun heart
185 la santénoun health
186 l'universiténoun university
187 l'étudiantnoun student
188 le professeurnoun teacher
189 l'examennoun exam
190 le coursnoun course, class
191 le bureaunoun office; desk
192 le patronnoun boss
193 le collèguenoun colleague
194 le projetnoun project
195 le plannoun plan
196 la décisionnoun decision
197 l'avisnoun opinion
198 travaillerverb to work
199 étudierverb to study
200 apprendreverb to learn
201 enseignerverb to teach
202 lireverb to read
203 écrireverb to write
204 écouterverb to listen
205 entendreverb to hear
206 regarderverb to look at, to watch
207 répondreverb to answer
208 aiderverb to help
209 chercherverb to look for
210 montrerverb to show
211 apporterverb to bring
212 acheterverb to buy
213 vendreverb to sell
214 payerverb to pay
215 coûterverb to cost
216 mangerverb to eat
217 boireverb to drink
218 cuisinerverb to cook
219 dormirverb to sleep
220 se leververb to get up
221 s'asseoirverb to sit down
222 ouvrirverb to open
223 fermerverb to close
224 commencerverb to begin
225 finirverb to finish
226 attendreverb to wait
227 entrerverb to enter
228 sortirverb to go out
229 revenirverb to come back
230 partirverb to leave
231 marcherverb to walk; to work
232 courirverb to run
233 voyagerverb to travel
234 conduireverb to drive
235 rendre visitephrase to visit (someone)
236 connaîtreverb to know (someone)
237 se souvenirverb to remember
238 oublierverb to forget
239 comprendreverb to understand
240 expliquerverb to explain
241 essayerverb to try
242 utiliserverb to use
243 plaireverb to please
244 détesterverb to hate
245 perdreverb to lose
246 gagnerverb to win, to earn
247 jouerverb to play
248 chanterverb to sing
249 danserverb to dance
250 rireverb to laugh
251 pleurerverb to cry
252 nagerverb to swim
253 nettoyerverb to clean
254 laververb to wash
255 appelerverb to call
256 envoyerverb to send
257 raconterverb to tell
258 changerverb to change
259 choisirverb to choose
260 déciderverb to decide
261 grandirverb to grow up
262 mourirverb to die
263 naîtreverb to be born
264 vivreverb to live
265 habiterverb to live, to reside
266 sentirverb to feel; to smell
267 penserverb to think
268 recevoirverb to receive
269 arriververb to arrive; to happen
270 tenirverb to hold
271 porterverb to carry; to wear
272 suivreverb to follow
273 importantadj. important
274 justeadj. right, fair; just
275 fauxadj. wrong, false
276 possibleadj. possible
277 nécessaireadj. necessary
278 difficileadj. difficult
279 facileadj. easy
280 rapideadj. fast, quick
281 lentadj. slow
282 hautadj. high, tall
283 longadj. long
284 courtadj. short
285 jeuneadj. young
286 vieuxadj. old
287 fortadj. strong
288 faibleadj. weak
289 chaudadj. hot, warm
290 froidadj. cold
291 cheradj. expensive; dear
292 libreadj. free, available
293 pleinadj. full
294 videadj. empty
295 sûradj. sure, safe
296 dangereuxadj. dangerous
297 heureuxadj. happy
298 tristeadj. sad
299 fatiguéadj. tired
300 maladeadj. ill, sick
301 propreadj. clean; own
302 saleadj. dirty
303 calmeadj. quiet, calm
304 bruyantadj. noisy
305 gentiladj. kind, nice
306 intéressantadj. interesting
307 ennuyeuxadj. boring
308 prêtadj. ready
309 ouvertadj. open
310 ferméadj. closed
311 clairadj. clear; light
312 sombreadj. dark
313 beauadj. beautiful
314 joliadj. pretty
315 bonadj. good
316 mauvaisadj. bad
317 meilleuradj. better, best
318 dernieradj. last
319 prochainadj. next
320 différentadj. different
321 nouveauadj. new
322 seuladj. alone; only
323 plusieursadj. several
324 chaqueadj. each, every
325 quelque chosepron. something
326 quelqu'unpron. somebody
327 personnepron. nobody; person
328 beaucoupadv. a lot, much
329 tropadv. too much
330 assezadv. enough; quite
331 presqueadv. almost
332 environadv. about, roughly
333 au moinsphrase at least
334 surtoutadv. especially, above all
335 plutôtadv. rather
336 à peinephrase hardly
337 tout de suitephrase right away
338 en même tempsphrase at the same time
339 quand mêmephrase anyway, still
340 doncconj. therefore, so
341 en plusphrase besides
342 par exemplephrase for example
343 en tout casphrase in any case
344 en ce momentphrase at the moment
345 jusqu'à présentphrase so far
346 pas encorephrase not yet
347 pas du toutphrase not at all
348 s'il vous plaîtphrase please (formal)
349 merciphrase thank you
350 de rienphrase you are welcome
351 pardonphrase sorry, excuse me
352 bonjourphrase hello, good day
353 au revoirphrase goodbye
354 bonsoirphrase good evening
355 bonne nuitphrase good night
356 à bientôtphrase see you soon
357 ouiadv. yes
358 nonadv. no
359 peut-êtreadv. maybe
360 sûrementadv. probably, surely
361 bien sûrphrase of course
362 malheureusementadv. unfortunately
363 ensembleadv. together
364 iciadv. here
365 là-basadv. over there
366 en hautphrase upstairs, at the top
367 en basphrase downstairs
368 devantprep. in front of
369 derrièreprep. behind
370 à gauchephrase on the left
371 à droitephrase on the right
372 dehorsadv. outside
373 dedansadv. inside
374 prèsadv. near
375 loinadv. far
376 partoutadv. everywhere
377 demainadv. tomorrow
378 hieradv. yesterday
379 aujourd'huiadv. today
380 tôtadv. early
381 tardadv. late
382 bientôtadv. soon
383 souventadv. often
384 parfoisadv. sometimes
385 rarementadv. rarely
386 d'abordadv. first, at first
387 enfinadv. finally
388 soudainadv. suddenly
389 entreprep. between
390 pendantprep. during
391 contreprep. against
392 selonprep. according to
393 malgréprep. despite
394 à cause dephrase because of
395 grâce àphrase thanks to
396 au lieu dephrase instead of
397 troisnum. three
398 quatrenum. four
399 cinqnum. five
400 sixnum. six
401 septnum. seven
402 huitnum. eight
403 neufnum. nine; new
404 dixnum. ten
405 vingtnum. twenty
406 centnum. hundred
407 millenum. thousand
408 demiadj. half
409 la moitiénoun half
410 la plupartnoun most
411 le restenoun the rest
412 le niveaunoun level
413 le pasnoun step
414 l'erreurnoun mistake
415 la chancenoun luck; chance
416 la peurnoun fear
417 l'amournoun love
418 la paixnoun peace
419 la forcenoun strength
420 la couleurnoun colour
421 la lumièrenoun light
422 le soleilnoun sun
423 la pluienoun rain
424 l'hivernoun winter
425 l'éténoun summer
426 le week-endnoun weekend
427 la montrenoun watch
428 le téléphonenoun telephone
429 le portablenoun mobile phone
430 l'ordinateurnoun computer
431 le messagenoun message
432 la lettrenoun letter
433 le journalnoun newspaper
434 la clénoun key
435 le sacnoun bag
436 les vêtementsnoun clothes
437 la chaussurenoun shoe
438 le manteaunoun coat
439 la chemisenoun shirt
440 le papiernoun paper
441 l'arrêtnoun stop (bus)
442 l'aéroportnoun airport
443 le centrenoun centre
444 le quartiernoun neighbourhood
445 le villagenoun village
446 la campagnenoun countryside
447 la montagnenoun mountain
448 la rivièrenoun river
449 la mernoun sea
450 l'îlenoun island
451 l'animalnoun animal
452 la fleurnoun flower
453 le fruitnoun fruit
454 le légumenoun vegetable
455 le selnoun salt
456 le sucrenoun sugar
457 le petit-déjeunernoun breakfast
458 le déjeunernoun lunch
459 le dînernoun dinner
460 le restaurantnoun restaurant
461 la fêtenoun party, celebration
462 le cadeaunoun present, gift
463 le jeunoun game
464 le sportnoun sport
465 l'équipenoun team
466 le matchnoun match
467 la classenoun class
468 le devoirnoun homework; duty
469 le rêvenoun dream
470 l'habitudenoun habit
471 le conseilnoun advice
472 la nouvellenoun news item
473 le doutenoun doubt
474 le sensnoun sense, meaning
475 la différencenoun difference
476 le changementnoun change
477 le résultatnoun result
478 la causenoun cause
479 l'effetnoun effect
480 le typenoun type, kind
481 la partienoun part
482 le morceaunoun piece
483 la chose importantephrase the important thing
484 se dépêcherverb to hurry
485 se rencontrerverb to meet
486 s'intéresserverb to be interested
487 se réveillerverb to wake up
488 se coucherverb to go to bed
489 s'habillerverb to get dressed
490 se laververb to wash oneself
491 se promenerverb to go for a walk
492 se reposerverb to rest
493 s'inquiéterverb to worry
494 se tromperverb to be mistaken
495 avoir besoinphrase to need
496 avoir enviephrase to feel like
497 avoir raisonphrase to be right
498 il y aphrase there is, there are
499 c'estphrase it is, this is
500 est-ce quephrase (question marker)

Compiled and checked by the Flipkado team · Last updated 2026-08-22

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