10 French Phrases for Charming Small Talk with Neighbours
Break the ice and build rapport with these polite and friendly French phrases for chatting with your neighbours.
Living in a new neighbourhood means meeting new people, and a friendly chat with your neighbours can make a big difference. Whether you're bumping into them at the shops, by the bins, or while walking the dog, knowing a few basic phrases can go a long way. These simple greetings and questions will help you initiate conversations and show you're a neighbourly person. Don't be shy – a little effort in speaking French will be much appreciated!
What this lesson covers
Core French words for everyday conversation.
English meanings, pronunciation hints, and tap-to-hear audio.
A quick flashcard flow and quiz to make the words stick.
Start with these key words
Learn the first set, listen out loud, then move into the full list below.
Flashcards
Practice quiz
Full vocabulary list
Words 1–10
- Bonjour !bon-zhoorHello!
- Comment allez-vous ?ko-mo(n) tal-ay vooHow are you? (formal)
- Ça va ?sa vaHow's it going? (informal)
- Bien, merci. Et vous ?bee-en, mer-cee. ay vooFine, thank you. And you? (formal)
- Ça va bien, merci.sa va bee-en, mer-ceeIt's going well, thank you.
- Il fait beau aujourd'hui.eel fay boh oh-zhoor-dweeThe weather's nice today.
- Vous habitez ici depuis longtemps ?voo za-bee-tay ee-see duh-pwee lon-tomHave you lived here long?
- Quel joli jardin !kel zho-lee zhar-danWhat a lovely garden!
- Je suis votre nouveau voisin.zhuh swee vo-truh noo-voh vwa-zanI'm your new neighbour.
- Bonne journée !bon zhoor-nayHave a good day!
Learn this for real with SPEAKZY
Full lessons, audio, streaks, leaderboards — free to start.