If you’ve been learning French for a while, you probably know the basics: bonjour, merci, s’il vous plaît. They’re great, but if you really want to blend in with locals and sound more natural, you’ll need to go beyond textbook expressions.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be fluent to sound authentic. All you need are a few real-life phrases that French people actually use every day.
Here are 15 everyday French expressions that will instantly make you sound like a local.
Ça roule ? Literal meaning: Does it roll? Real meaning: “How’s it going?” or “All good?” You can use this instead of the formal Comment ça va ?.
Pas de souci ! Literal meaning: No worry! Real meaning: “No problem!” or “Don’t worry about it!” It’s a friendly way to say everything’s fine.
À toute ! Short for: À tout à l’heure Meaning: “See you later!” This is super casual and used among friends.
Ça marche. Literal meaning: That works. Real meaning: “Okay” or “Sounds good.” You can use it to agree with a plan.
C’est pas grave. Literal meaning: It’s not serious. Real meaning: “It’s okay” or “Don’t worry about it.” Perfect for reassuring someone.
Ça me va. Literal meaning: It goes to me. Real meaning: “That works for me.” You can use this to agree on arrangements.
Comme d’hab. Short for: Comme d’habitude Meaning: “As usual.” A super casual, everyday phrase.
On y va ? Meaning: “Shall we go?” You’ll hear this all the time when it’s time to leave.
T’inquiète. Short for: Ne t’inquiète pas. Meaning: “Don’t worry.” Very casual, used with friends and family.
Ça y est ! Meaning: “Finally!” or “That’s it!” You can use it when something is done or ready.
Bof. Meaning: “Meh” or “So-so.” Perfect for showing you’re not impressed or not too excited.
C’est pas mal. Literal meaning: It’s not bad. Real meaning: “It’s pretty good.” French people often understate things, so this can be high praise.
À plus ! Short for: À plus tard Meaning: “See you later!” Spelled À+ in texts.
Ouais. Meaning: “Yeah.” Informal version of oui. You’ll hear it constantly.
Ça me dit. Literal meaning: It tells me. Real meaning: “Sounds good to me” or “I’m up for it.”
If you enjoyed these phrases and want to speak French confidently in real conversations, I’d love to help you get there. My lessons are fun, practical, and focused on the language you’ll actually use every day — just like the expressions in this post.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or already know some French, I can help you:
Learn natural French the way locals speak it
Build confidence so you can talk without fear
Practice real-life conversations for travel, work, or daily life
Ready to sound like a local? Send me a message today and let’s start your French journey together!