Frasa
SituationsGet the app (opens the App Store in a new tab)

French · Neighbours · Elementary

Small talk phrases in French

Greet your neighbour with “Bonjour, madame” or “Bonjour, monsieur”, then keep it light: the weather (“Il fait vraiment froid aujourd'hui”), how long you’ve lived here (“J'ai emménagé il y a six mois environ”) or the weekend. Stick to vous, and finish with “Bonne journée” as the doors open.

Try it · about two minutes

You share the lift with a neighbour and fill the ride with a few friendly words about the weather.

Sound on: the neighbour speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. The lift doors open and a neighbour you’ve seen in the hall steps in.

    You

    Bonjour, madame.

    Hello, madam.

  2. Neighbour

    Il fait vraiment froid aujourd'hui.

    It’s really cold today.

    You

    Oui, vraiment !

    Yes, really.

  3. Neighbour

    Vous habitez ici depuis longtemps ?

    Have you lived here long?

    You

    J'ai emménagé il y a six mois environ.

    I moved in about six months ago.

  4. Neighbour

    Ça vous plaît ici ?

    Do you like it here?

    You

    Oui, j'aime beaucoup.

    Yes, I like it a lot.

  5. Neighbour

    Vous avez passé un bon week-end ?

    Did you have a good weekend?

    You

    C'était bien, merci.

    It was good, thanks.

  6. Neighbour

    Bonne journée à vous !

    Have a nice day.

    You

    Merci, vous aussi !

    Thanks, you too.

Key phrases

  • Bonjour, madame.

    Hello, madam.

  • Il fait beau aujourd'hui, non ?

    Lovely weather today, isn’t it?

  • Il fait vraiment froid aujourd'hui.

    It’s really cold today.

  • On dirait qu'il va pleuvoir.

    It looks like it’s going to rain.

  • Vous habitez ici depuis longtemps ?

    Have you lived here long?

  • J'ai emménagé il y a six mois environ.

    I moved in about six months ago.

  • Je viens d'emménager à l'étage au-dessus.

    I’ve just moved in upstairs.

  • Ça vous plaît ici ?

    Do you like it here?

  • Vous avez passé un bon week-end ?

    Did you have a good weekend?

  • Bonne journée à vous !

    Have a nice day.

Good to know in France

Vous, not tu

With a neighbour

Bonjour, madame.

Hello, madam.

With friends

Salut, ça va ?

Hi, how are you?

With neighbours you don’t know well, people use vous and “Bonjour, madame / monsieur”. Wait for them to suggest tu.

A lift ride, start to finish

  1. 1

    Say “Bonjour” as you step in, even to someone you’ve never met.

  2. 2

    Keep it light: the weather, the weekend, the building.

  3. 3

    Wish them a good day, or a good evening later on, as you get out.

Bonjour or bonsoir

In the evening, people switch to “Bonsoir”, and say “Bonne soirée” as they part. In the afternoon, “Bonne fin de journée” is a common goodbye.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.