If you're new to learning French—especially here in multilingual Luxembourg—building your vocabulary is the first step toward confident conversations.
In this guide, we’ve grouped 100 essential French vocabulary words by topic to help you focus on what matters most. These are the words every beginner should know to feel more at home in any French-speaking environment.
🗣️ 1. Greetings and Basic Conversation (15 Words)
These expressions help you start conversations politely and confidently.
Bonjour – Hello
Salut – Hi
Bonsoir – Good evening
Au revoir – Goodbye
À bientôt – See you soon
Merci – Thank you
De rien – You're welcome
Oui / Non – Yes / No
S’il vous plaît – Please
Comment ça va ? – How are you?
Ça va bien – I’m doing well
Et vous ? – And you?
Je m’appelle… – My name is…
Enchanté – Nice to meet you
Je ne parle pas bien français – I don’t speak French well
🛒 2. Food and Drink (15 Words)
Perfect for cafés, bakeries, and supermarkets—essential if you’re living or working in Luxembourg.
Pain – Bread
Eau – Water
Café – Coffee
Thé – Tea
Lait – Milk
Jus – Juice
Vin – Wine
Fromage – Cheese
Viande – Meat
Poisson – Fish
Fruits – Fruit
Légumes – Vegetables
Petit déjeuner – Breakfast
Déjeuner – Lunch
Dîner – Dinner
🚶 3. Directions and Places (15 Words)
Get around easily with these words—necessary for asking for directions or navigating your new city.
Où est… ? – Where is…?
Rue – Street
À gauche – Left
À droite – Right
Tout droit – Straight ahead
Près de – Near
Loin de – Far from
Arrêt de bus – Bus stop
Gare – Train station
École – School
Hôpital – Hospital
Boulangerie – Bakery
Magasin – Shop
Pharmacie – Pharmacy
Poste – Post office
👥 4. People and Professions (15 Words)
Speak about roles, introduce yourself, and describe others.
Homme – Man
Femme – Woman
Enfant – Child
Ami / Amie – Friend
Voisin / Voisine – Neighbour
Professeur – Teacher
Médecin – Doctor
Étudiant / Étudiante – Student
Client / Cliente – Customer
Serveur / Serveuse – Waiter/Waitress
Collègue – Colleague
Mari – Husband
Femme – Wife
Patron / Patronne – Boss
Employé / Employée – Employee
🏠 5. Home and Family (15 Words)
Talk about where you live and who you live with.
Maison – House
Appartement – Apartment
Chambre – Bedroom
Cuisine – Kitchen
Salle de bain – Bathroom
Salon – Living room
Fenêtre – Window
Porte – Door
Clé – Key
Famille – Family
Mère – Mother
Père – Father
Frère – Brother
Sœur – Sister
Enfants – Children
⏰ 6. Time and Days (12 Words)
Use these to make plans, appointments, or just talk about your week.
Aujourd’hui – Today
Demain – Tomorrow
Hier – Yesterday
Matin – Morning
Soir – Evening
Lundi – Monday
Mardi – Tuesday
Mercredi – Wednesday
Jeudi – Thursday
Vendredi – Friday
Samedi
Dimanche
Starting with vocabulary that you’ll actually use every day builds confidence and creates momentum. You’ll be able to navigate everyday situations in French without feeling lost—even as a beginner.
At Educateme, our French courses are built around day-to-day communication. We teach you how to use these words in full sentences, conversations, and real context—whether you're preparing for citizenship, working in Luxembourg, or just want to feel more at home here.