Have you ever rehearsed what you wanted to say in French… but when it’s time to speak, your mind goes blank?
You’re not alone.
At the intermediate level, most learners understand more than they can comfortably say. That’s because while you’ve learned a lot of vocabulary and grammar, real-life conversations are rarely as predictable as a textbook dialogue.
This blog gives you something more practical: 60 ready-to-use phrases to help you start, continue, and end a conversation in French — confidently, naturally, and politely.
To help you practice these and memorise them I’ve organised them as flashcards.
And if you’d like to practise these phrases with gentle guidance and a supportive group, scroll down to the end for details about our Intermediate Conversation Sessions.
PART 1 – Starting a Conversation in French Beyond Bonjour
Let’s be honest. Starting a conversation in French can feel daunting.
Do you go formal or informal? Do you need to apologise? What if you sound rude, too blunt, or too shy?
Whether you’re about to approach a hotel concierge, ask a question at a market stall, strike up a chat with a colleague, or even open a sensitive topic with your partner — that very first phrase sets the tone. It can either help you feel in control… or make you wish you’d just stayed quiet.
These 20 phrases give you natural, go-to openers that sound polite, engaging, and — most importantly — human.
You’ll see examples for:
- Polite/formal situations (reception desk, administrative help, check-ins)
- Casual contexts (with friends, family, or even a flirty café exchange)
- Everyday useful phrases (“I have a quick question” or “Can I talk to you about something?”)
You don’t need a big vocabulary to start speaking — you just need the right entry point.
Just click above to go through the French phrases and their English meaning. And below you can play the Match game to help you memorise these!
Click HERE to find all these flashcards using a free version of Quizlet.
PART 2 – How to Keep a French Conversation Going (Even When You Blank)
So, you’ve started talking… but now what?
This is the part where many learners hit a wall.
The conversation begins well — maybe with a cheerful “Ça va ?” or a polite “Je voulais vous demander…” — and then suddenly… your mind goes foggy.
You need to clarify, respond, share something, or even politely disagree… but the words feel stuck somewhere between your brain and your mouth.
That’s where this set of 20 phrases comes in.
These are the kinds of phrases native speakers use without thinking — to link ideas, ask for clarification, express opinions, or simply buy a bit of time. They help you:
- Reconnect when you lose your place
- Clarify what you meant or check what the other person said
- Engage more actively with what’s being said
- Shift the topic naturally (without feeling like a robot)
Speaking French isn’t just about what you say — it’s how you keep the momentum going. And these expressions will help you do exactly that.
Just click above to go through the French phrases and their English meaning. And below you can play the Match game to help you memorise these!
Click HERE to find all these flashcards using a free version of Quizlet.
PART 3 – How to End a French Conversation Beyond Au Revoir
Here’s something most textbooks never teach you: how to say goodbye properly.
In English, we often just say “Alright, I’m off” or “See you later”.
But in French, la politesse — social grace — is key.
Ending a conversation well shows respect, warmth, and cultural awareness. It’s not just about saying something nice — it’s about reading the moment and choosing the phrase that fits.
This final set of 20 phrases will help you:
- Exit politely from a conversation at work or in a formal setting
- Wrap up a casual chat without being too abrupt
- Signal that you’d like to stay in touch
- Gently draw a conversation to a close when you’re in a hurry or mentally done
Whether you’re saying goodbye to a colleague, leaving a voicemail, ending a café chat, or ducking out of a group Zoom call… these phrases will help you sound natural, not nervous.
Remember: how you leave a conversation in French is often just as important as how you began it.
Just click above to go through the French phrases and their English meaning. And below you can play the Match game to help you memorise these!
Click HERE to find all these flashcards using a free version of Quizlet.
Ready to Put These Phrases Into Practice?
You don’t need to learn more rules. You need a space where you can speak, be supported, and gently improve through real conversation.
That’s exactly what we do in my small-group Intermediate Conversation Series.
Each month, we meet for:
- 4 live sessions focused on a practical theme
- Speaking practice + feedback
- Vocab lists, prompts, listening activities
- A nurturing, uplifting community of learners like you
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about getting more comfortable speaking as you are — one conversation at a time.
