10,000 most common French words
Ranked by how often each word turns up in everyday French, with its meaning in English.
French elides constantly: l’, d’, c’, j’, n’ all appear here in their own right, because that is how they show up in speech. Spelling and pronunciation diverge more than in most languages on this list, so hearing these words matters as much as reading them.
| # | Word | In English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | de | of, from |
| 2 | je | I |
| 3 | est | to be |
| 4 | pas | not |
| 5 | le | the |
| 6 | que | that |
| 7 | la | the; her |
| 8 | vous | you |
| 9 | tu | you |
| 10 | un | an, a |
| 11 | c' | apocopic form of ce |
| 12 | à | to |
| 13 | et | and |
| 14 | il | he |
| 15 | a | has |
| 16 | l' | apocopic form of le, la: the |
| 17 | ne | not |
| 18 | les | the |
| 19 | j' | I |
| 20 | en | in |
| 21 | on | one, people, you, someone |
| 22 | ça | that |
| 23 | une | an, a |
| 24 | d' | apocopic form of de: of |
| 25 | ce | this, that |
| 26 | qu' | apocopic form of que |
| 27 | pour | for |
| 28 | ai | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 29 | n' | Prevocalic form of ne |
| 30 | des | contraction of de + les, literally “of the, from the, some” |
| 31 | qui | who, whom |
| 32 | mais | but, although |
| 33 | dans | in, inside |
| 34 | nous | we |
| 35 | elle | she |
| 36 | me | me |
| 37 | bien | well |
| 38 | si | if, whether |
| 39 | du | contraction of de + le, literally “of the” |
| 40 | y | there |
| 41 | suis | to be |
| 42 | non | no |
| 43 | t' | elided form of te |
| 44 | avec | with |
| 45 | tout | all |
| 46 | plus | more, -er |
| 47 | mon | my |
| 48 | m' | prevocalic form of me |
| 49 | te | you |
| 50 | au | contraction of à + le, literally “to the, for the, at the” |
| 51 | fait | to do |
| 52 | moi | me |
| 53 | s' | Elision of si before il or ils |
| 54 | oui | yes |
| 55 | va | to go |
| 56 | était | to be |
| 57 | as | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 58 | faire | to do |
| 59 | ils | they |
| 60 | sur | on, upon |
| 61 | quoi | what |
| 62 | se | himself |
| 63 | comme | as |
| 64 | sais | to know |
| 65 | être | to be |
| 66 | veux | to want, wish, desire |
| 67 | ici | here |
| 68 | ma | my |
| 69 | toi | you |
| 70 | dit | to say, to tell |
| 71 | lui | him, he, it; the third-person masculine singular personal… |
| 72 | votre | your, belonging to you |
| 73 | es | to be |
| 74 | pourquoi | why |
| 75 | où | where |
| 76 | là | there |
| 77 | rien | nothing |
| 78 | cette | this, that |
| 79 | sont | to be |
| 80 | quand | when |
| 81 | peux | can, to be able to |
| 82 | dire | to say, to tell |
| 83 | son | his, her, their, its |
| 84 | avez | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 85 | vais | to go |
| 86 | alors | then |
| 87 | ton | your |
| 88 | comment | how |
| 89 | par | through |
| 90 | ou | or |
| 91 | chose | thing |
| 92 | bon | good |
| 93 | ont | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 94 | merci | thank you |
| 95 | juste | exactly, precisely |
| 96 | très | very |
| 97 | jamais | never |
| 98 | été | to be |
| 99 | aussi | too, also, as well |
| 100 | avoir | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 101 | vraiment | truly, really, genuinely |
| 102 | voir | please |
| 103 | même | even |
| 104 | sa | his, her, its, their, one's |
| 105 | oh | oh |
| 106 | maintenant | now, currently |
| 107 | tous | all |
| 108 | peut | can, to be able to |
| 109 | deux | two |
| 110 | ces | this, that |
| 111 | êtes | to be |
| 112 | allez | to go |
| 113 | ta | your |
| 114 | autre | another |
| 115 | peu | little; not very much/many |
| 116 | temps | time |
| 117 | quelque | some |
| 118 | fais | to do |
| 119 | toujours | always |
| 120 | encore | still |
| 121 | notre | our |
| 122 | mes | my |
| 123 | besoin | need |
| 124 | avait | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 125 | accord | chord |
| 126 | faut | to need, have to, to be necessary |
| 127 | dois | must, to have to, should |
| 128 | vie | life, the state of organisms prior to death |
| 129 | peut-être | maybe, perhaps |
| 130 | aller | to go |
| 131 | fois | times, multiplied by |
| 132 | vu | given |
| 133 | donc | therefore, consequently; thus |
| 134 | sans | without |
| 135 | monde | world |
| 136 | étais | to be |
| 137 | parce | only used in parce que |
| 138 | avant | beforehand; earlier |
| 139 | sûr | sure, certain |
| 140 | trop | too; too much |
| 141 | parler | to speak, talk |
| 142 | personne | no one, nobody |
| 143 | avais | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 144 | père | father |
| 145 | crois | to believe |
| 146 | après | after, later than in time |
| 147 | aux | Contraction of à + les |
| 148 | dieu | a god, male divinity |
| 149 | ouais | synonym of oui; yeah, yep, yup, yes, affirmative expression |
| 150 | ses | his, her, its, their, one's |
| 151 | pense | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 152 | eu | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 153 | aime | to love |
| 154 | leur | them |
| 155 | homme | man |
| 156 | viens | to come |
| 157 | vrai | true; truly |
| 158 | femme | woman |
| 159 | ok | OK |
| 160 | doit | must, to have to, should |
| 161 | veut | to want, wish, desire |
| 162 | ans | year |
| 163 | mal | badly |
| 164 | chez | to, at, in or into the home, office, etc. of |
| 165 | déjà | already, before |
| 166 | depuis | since |
| 167 | beaucoup | much, very much, a lot |
| 168 | vos | your, belonging to you |
| 169 | bonne | good |
| 170 | mort | to die; to be dying |
| 171 | mieux | more, -er |
| 172 | vas | to go |
| 173 | mère | mother |
| 174 | sera | to be |
| 175 | dis | to say, to tell |
| 176 | fille | girl |
| 177 | tes | your |
| 178 | gens | set of people |
| 179 | quel | which |
| 180 | vois | to see |
| 181 | désolé | desolate, forsaken |
| 182 | ca | abbreviation of circa |
| 183 | voilà | it has been, ago |
| 184 | avons | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 185 | petit | small |
| 186 | maison | house |
| 187 | soit | or, meaning, that is to say |
| 188 | cela | that |
| 189 | autres | other |
| 190 | toute | all |
| 191 | soir | evening |
| 192 | passé | to go past |
| 193 | prendre | to take |
| 194 | jour | day |
| 195 | monsieur | mister, sir |
| 196 | nos | our |
| 197 | savoir | to know |
| 198 | choses | thing |
| 199 | salut | hi, hello |
| 200 | cet | this |
| 201 | nom | name |
| 202 | argent | silver |
| 203 | bonjour | greetings; hello |
| 204 | nuit | night |
| 205 | raison | reason |
| 206 | moins | minus; negative |
| 207 | arrive | to arrive |
| 208 | maman | mummy, mommy, mom, mum |
| 209 | reste | to stay |
| 210 | moment | moment |
| 211 | voulais | to want, wish, desire |
| 212 | seul | lonely |
| 213 | aider | to help; to aid |
| 214 | air | air |
| 215 | entre | between |
| 216 | papa | papa, a child's father; also as form of address: dad, daddy |
| 217 | passe | to go past |
| 218 | aurais | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 219 | problème | problem |
| 220 | ah | ah |
| 221 | peur | fear |
| 222 | regarde | to look at |
| 223 | voulez | to want, wish, desire |
| 224 | gars | lad, guy |
| 225 | trouvé | to find; to retrieve something lost, turn up something… |
| 226 | fils | yarn, thread, wire |
| 227 | attends | to wait for, to await |
| 228 | savez | to know |
| 229 | jusqu' | apocopic form of jusque |
| 230 | trouver | to find; to retrieve something lost, turn up something… |
| 231 | trois | three |
| 232 | assez | to a sufficient or moderate degree; enough; sufficiently |
| 233 | famille | family |
| 234 | dû | must, to have to, should |
| 235 | eh | signifying indifference or surprise |
| 236 | toutes | all |
| 237 | plaît | to please, to appeal to |
| 238 | pourrait | can, to be able to |
| 239 | travail | work; labor |
| 240 | pris | to take |
| 241 | pu | can, to be able to |
| 242 | tête | head |
| 243 | quelle | what |
| 244 | sait | to know |
| 245 | sommes | to be |
| 246 | appelle | to call |
| 247 | quelques | some |
| 248 | faites | to do |
| 249 | partir | to go away, leave, depart |
| 250 | vite | quickly |
| 251 | arrête | to stop, to come to a standstill; to halt, to stop from… |
| 252 | seule | lonely |
| 253 | serait | to be |
| 254 | voiture | car |
| 255 | enfants | child |
| 256 | tuer | to kill |
| 257 | merde | shit!, crap! |
| 258 | hé | Used to call someone; hey |
| 259 | pendant | during, throughout, for the duration of |
| 260 | idée | idea |
| 261 | chance | chance |
| 262 | parle | to speak, talk |
| 263 | aurait | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 264 | part | to go away, leave, depart |
| 265 | elles | they |
| 266 | jours | day |
| 267 | grand | big |
| 268 | aujourd'hui | today |
| 269 | venir | to come |
| 270 | ami | friend |
| 271 | demain | tomorrow |
| 272 | hein | huh, hey, eh |
| 273 | tard | late |
| 274 | puis | then; after; next |
| 275 | truc | procedure, technique |
| 276 | passer | to go past |
| 277 | petite | small |
| 278 | tant | so much |
| 279 | connais | to know, to be familiar with |
| 280 | combien | how much |
| 281 | mec | guy, fellow, bloke, chap, dude, boyfriend |
| 282 | sens | to smell |
| 283 | pouvez | can, to be able to |
| 284 | porte | to carry |
| 285 | sortir | to exit, go out, come out |
| 286 | super | extremely, very |
| 287 | heure | hour, time |
| 288 | contre | against |
| 289 | coup | sound of the action |
| 290 | comprends | to understand, comprehend |
| 291 | entendu | to hear |
| 292 | vient | to come |
| 293 | allons | to go |
| 294 | ensemble | together |
| 295 | nouveau | new, novel |
| 296 | amour | love |
| 297 | importe | to import |
| 298 | sang | blood |
| 299 | désolée | desolate, forsaken |
| 300 | cas | initialism of conseil d'administration |
| 301 | sous | below, under |
| 302 | rester | to stay |
| 303 | amis | friend |
| 304 | prends | to take |
| 305 | fini | to finish, end, complete |
| 306 | hommes | man |
| 307 | tué | to kill |
| 308 | question | question |
| 309 | partie | divided into two equal parts vertically, per pale; said of… |
| 310 | histoire | story |
| 311 | devrais | must, to have to, should |
| 312 | aide | to help; to aid |
| 313 | dernière | last |
| 314 | demande | to ask |
| 315 | chercher | to look for, to seek |
| 316 | pensais | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 317 | genre | like, kind of |
| 318 | seulement | only |
| 319 | police | police |
| 320 | car | as, since, because, for |
| 321 | mois | month |
| 322 | frère | brother |
| 323 | laisser | to leave, to leave behind |
| 324 | aucun | no, none, not any |
| 325 | mettre | to put; to place |
| 326 | eux | they |
| 327 | laisse | to leave, to leave behind |
| 328 | chaque | each |
| 329 | ville | town, city |
| 330 | arrivé | to arrive |
| 331 | devrait | must, to have to, should |
| 332 | parlé | to speak, talk |
| 333 | vont | to go |
| 334 | longtemps | for a long time; over a long period |
| 335 | aucune | no, none, not any |
| 336 | heures | hour, time |
| 337 | bébé | baby |
| 338 | place | place, square, plaza, piazza |
| 339 | revoir | to see again |
| 340 | putain | fuck, fucking hell, bloody hell |
| 341 | compris | to understand, comprehend |
| 342 | ni | neither; nor |
| 343 | savais | to know |
| 344 | leurs | their |
| 345 | étaient | to be |
| 346 | attention | attention |
| 347 | donner | to give, to transfer the possession/holding of something to… |
| 348 | affaire | business; matter; affair |
| 349 | endroit | place, spot |
| 350 | pourrais | can, to be able to |
| 351 | corps | body |
| 352 | façon | way; manner; fashion |
| 353 | donné | to give, to transfer the possession/holding of something to… |
| 354 | est-il | is he |
| 355 | voici | ago |
| 356 | train | train |
| 357 | dont | of/from whom/which, whose; whereof |
| 358 | écoute | to listen |
| 359 | yeux | eye, organ that is sensitive to light, helping organisms to… |
| 360 | trouve | to find; to retrieve something lost, turn up something… |
| 361 | pouvoir | can, to be able to |
| 362 | type | type; sort, kind |
| 363 | perdu | to lose |
| 364 | premier | first |
| 365 | première | first |
| 366 | côté | as for, in terms of |
| 367 | point | point |
| 368 | tellement | so; so much; very |
| 369 | main | hand |
| 370 | tiens | to have; to hold |
| 371 | sois | to be |
| 372 | enfant | child |
| 373 | vieux | old |
| 374 | matin | morning |
| 375 | venu | to come |
| 376 | pardon | excuse me |
| 377 | là-bas | there, over there |
| 378 | suite | result |
| 379 | vers | towards |
| 380 | minutes | minute |
| 381 | demandé | to ask |
| 382 | venez | to come |
| 383 | devant | confronted with, faced with |
| 384 | dr | abbreviation of docteur |
| 385 | enfin | finally; in the end |
| 386 | arrêter | to stop, to come to a standstill; to halt, to stop from… |
| 387 | cause | cause |
| 388 | nouvelle | new, novel |
| 389 | attendez | to wait for, to await |
| 390 | chambre | a room |
| 391 | droit | straight, straight on |
| 392 | parti | to go away, leave, depart |
| 393 | mis | to put; to place |
| 394 | eau | water, a liquid that is transparent, colorless, odorless,… |
| 395 | compte | to count |
| 396 | dirait | to say, to tell |
| 397 | terre | earth; soil |
| 398 | belle | handsome, fine, attractive |
| 399 | espère | to hope |
| 400 | aimerais | to love |
| 401 | loin | far, distant |
| 402 | mari | husband |
| 403 | donne | to give, to transfer the possession/holding of something to… |
| 404 | fin | end, close, finish |
| 405 | croire | to believe |
| 406 | mme | abbreviation of Madame |
| 407 | aura | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 408 | gros | big, thick, fat |
| 409 | boulot | work |
| 410 | plutôt | rather, instead |
| 411 | chérie | cherished; beloved |
| 412 | prêt | ready |
| 413 | filles | girl |
| 414 | bureau | desk |
| 415 | mourir | to die; to be dying |
| 416 | hier | yesterday |
| 417 | possible | possible |
| 418 | jouer | to play |
| 419 | demander | to ask |
| 420 | celui | the one |
| 421 | voulait | to want, wish, desire |
| 422 | beau | in vain |
| 423 | jeune | young |
| 424 | euh | er, um, uh; expressing hesitation, reflection, confusion,… |
| 425 | dehors | outside |
| 426 | docteur | a doctor |
| 427 | a-t-il | The interrogative form of avoir in the third-person… |
| 428 | confiance | confidence |
| 429 | appeler | to call |
| 430 | années | year |
| 431 | vérité | truth |
| 432 | école | school |
| 433 | chef | head |
| 434 | femmes | woman |
| 435 | propos | aim, intention |
| 436 | semaine | week |
| 437 | vivre | to live |
| 438 | regardez | to look at |
| 439 | feu | fire |
| 440 | journée | day |
| 441 | madame | a title or form of address for a woman, formerly for a… |
| 442 | téléphone | telephone |
| 443 | près | near; close |
| 444 | affaires | business; matter; affair |
| 445 | meilleur | good |
| 446 | devez | must, to have to, should |
| 447 | dessus | on |
| 448 | mains | hand |
| 449 | penses | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 450 | prie | to pray |
| 451 | équipe | team |
| 452 | vas-y | go ahead; go on |
| 453 | grande | big |
| 454 | manger | to eat |
| 455 | arriver | to arrive |
| 456 | dur | hard |
| 457 | guerre | war |
| 458 | ait | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 459 | appelé | to call |
| 460 | marche | to walk |
| 461 | sécurité | security, safety |
| 462 | garçon | boy |
| 463 | essaie | to test, to try on |
| 464 | important | important |
| 465 | dites | to say, to tell |
| 466 | exactement | exactly, quite |
| 467 | font | to do |
| 468 | fort | strongly |
| 469 | presque | almost |
| 470 | plein | due |
| 471 | derrière | behind |
| 472 | ben | Well; uh |
| 473 | mariage | marriage |
| 474 | parents | relative, relation, family member |
| 475 | capitaine | captain, leader |
| 476 | dernier | last |
| 477 | fou | mad, crazy |
| 478 | ceux | the one |
| 479 | tomber | to fall |
| 480 | attendre | to wait for, to await |
| 481 | vue | given |
| 482 | pensé | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 483 | souviens | to remember |
| 484 | envie | desire, lust, urge |
| 485 | fête | winter holidays |
| 486 | jeu | game |
| 487 | génial | ingenious, characteristic of a genius |
| 488 | pays | land; region; home ground; homeland; home country; country;… |
| 489 | garde | to keep; to retain; to store; to save |
| 490 | cours | courtyard |
| 491 | bientôt | soon |
| 492 | numéro | number |
| 493 | personnes | person |
| 494 | cinq | five |
| 495 | parfait | perfect |
| 496 | excusez-moi | excuse me |
| 497 | laissé | to leave, to leave behind |
| 498 | ainsi | in this way, thus |
| 499 | retour | return |
| 500 | semble | to seem, to resemble, to look like |
| 501 | autant | so much |
| 502 | peine | punishment |
| 503 | minute | minute |
| 504 | essayé | to test, to try on |
| 505 | plan | map |
| 506 | instant | pressing, insistent |
| 507 | serai | to be |
| 508 | prison | prison |
| 509 | penser | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 510 | essayer | to test, to try on |
| 511 | prend | to take |
| 512 | arme | weapon |
| 513 | mauvais | bad |
| 514 | mot | word |
| 515 | travailler | to work |
| 516 | quatre | four |
| 517 | rentrer | to go back, to re-enter |
| 518 | regarder | to look at |
| 519 | choix | choice |
| 520 | parfois | sometimes |
| 521 | film | movie, film |
| 522 | abord | the manner with which one acts in the presence of another… |
| 523 | voyez | to see |
| 524 | faute | error, mistake |
| 525 | facile | easy, simple |
| 526 | croyais | to believe |
| 527 | bas | low |
| 528 | changer | to exchange |
| 529 | entendre | to hear |
| 530 | plaisir | pleasure |
| 531 | heureux | happy |
| 532 | entrer | to enter |
| 533 | voudrais | to want, wish, desire |
| 534 | propre | own |
| 535 | étiez | to be |
| 536 | tour | tower |
| 537 | fera | to do |
| 538 | ensuite | in turn, subsequently, thereafter, then |
| 539 | garder | to keep; to retain; to store; to save |
| 540 | agent | agent |
| 541 | allait | to go |
| 542 | lit | to read |
| 543 | travaille | to work |
| 544 | adore | to love, to adore |
| 545 | amie | friend |
| 546 | rendre | to return, to restore, to give back |
| 547 | allons-y | let's go |
| 548 | route | road |
| 549 | lieu | place |
| 550 | année | year |
| 551 | voit | to see |
| 552 | commence | to begin, commence |
| 553 | service | service |
| 554 | devoir | duty |
| 555 | attend | to wait for, to await |
| 556 | drôle | funny, amusing |
| 557 | difficile | difficult |
| 558 | sûre | sure, certain |
| 559 | pire | bad |
| 560 | peuvent | can, to be able to |
| 561 | sujet | subject |
| 562 | état | state, condition |
| 563 | ceci | this |
| 564 | impossible | impossible |
| 565 | sorte | to exit, go out, come out |
| 566 | perdre | to lose |
| 567 | dollars | dollar, usually the US dollar |
| 568 | voulu | to want, wish, desire |
| 569 | morte | dead |
| 570 | ira | to go |
| 571 | faisait | to do |
| 572 | bizarre | bizarre, odd, strange, funny |
| 573 | oublié | to forget |
| 574 | arrêtez | to stop, to come to a standstill; to halt, to stop from… |
| 575 | ferai | to do |
| 576 | serais | to be |
| 577 | tôt | early |
| 578 | inquiète | worried |
| 579 | payer | to pay |
| 580 | coeur | nonstandard spelling of cœur |
| 581 | dès | starting from onward; as early as |
| 582 | pouvais | can, to be able to |
| 583 | reviens | to come back, to return |
| 584 | chien | dog |
| 585 | suffit | to be enough, to suffice |
| 586 | prenez | to take |
| 587 | pensez | to think, reflect, concentrate one's mind on something |
| 588 | café | coffee |
| 589 | calme | to calm, pacify, soothe |
| 590 | cherche | to look for, to seek |
| 591 | montrer | to show |
| 592 | parles | to speak, talk |
| 593 | photo | photo |
| 594 | ferme | to shut |
| 595 | problèmes | problem |
| 596 | cœur | heart |
| 597 | sûrement | surely, certainly |
| 598 | verre | glass |
| 599 | aimes | to love |
| 600 | devons | must, to have to, should |
| 601 | veulent | to want, wish, desire |
| 602 | doute | doubt |
| 603 | musique | music |
| 604 | courant | to run |
| 605 | sauf | except, save |
| 606 | moyen | method, way of doing |
| 607 | nouvelles | new, novel |
| 608 | puis-je | an interrogative form of je peux |
| 609 | avis | opinion |
| 610 | sauver | to save, rescue; to protect |
| 611 | hôpital | hospital |
| 612 | questions | question |
| 613 | meurtre | murder |
| 614 | sérieux | serious |
| 615 | seconde | second |
| 616 | trucs | procedure, technique |
| 617 | comprendre | to understand, comprehend |
| 618 | allais | to go |
| 619 | esprit | immaterial or incorporeal substance |
| 620 | cool | cool |
| 621 | mlle | abbreviation of Mademoiselle |
| 622 | marché | to walk |
| 623 | fous | mad, crazy |
| 624 | haut | high |
| 625 | salle | hall |
| 626 | malade | ill, unwell, sick |
| 627 | changé | to exchange |
| 628 | gentil | kind, sweet |
| 629 | allé | to go |
| 630 | six | six |
| 631 | simple | single |
| 632 | semaines | week |
| 633 | celle | the one |
| 634 | appris | to learn |
| 635 | seigneur | lord |
| 636 | dîner | to dine |
| 637 | sors | to exit, go out, come out |
| 638 | commencé | to begin, commence |
| 639 | suppose | to suppose, to think, to reckon, to surmise |
| 640 | chemin | path, way, road |
| 641 | partout | everywhere |
| 642 | bras | arm |
| 643 | cul | butt, bum, ass, arse |
| 644 | prochaine | upcoming |
| 645 | visage | face |
| 646 | meilleure | best |
| 647 | face | face |
| 648 | soirée | evening |
| 649 | roi | king |
| 650 | surtout | above all |
| 651 | retard | delay |
| 652 | écrit | to write |
| 653 | livre | book |
| 654 | rapport | ratio |
| 655 | chéri | cherished; beloved |
| 656 | message | message |
| 657 | vaut | to be worth |
| 658 | ferais | to do |
| 659 | morts | dead |
| 660 | boire | to drink |
| 661 | soyez | to be |
| 662 | président | president |
| 663 | plait | post-1990 spelling of plaît |
| 664 | bois | to drink |
| 665 | sinon | except, apart from |
| 666 | erreur | error |
| 667 | mr | abbreviation of Monsieur |
| 668 | rentre | to go back, to re-enter |
| 669 | rendez-vous | date |
| 670 | devait | must, to have to, should |
| 671 | revenir | to come back, to return |
| 672 | joue | to play |
| 673 | pauvre | poor |
| 674 | devenir | future |
| 675 | s | abbreviation of sud; south |
| 676 | rencontrer | to meet |
| 677 | sort | to exit, go out, come out |
| 678 | commencer | to begin, commence |
| 679 | pouvait | can, to be able to |
| 680 | occupe | to occupy, to take up |
| 681 | entends | to hear |
| 682 | souvent | often |
| 683 | pièce | room in a house, etc |
| 684 | reçu | to receive |
| 685 | grave | much; a lot |
| 686 | mets | to put; to place |
| 687 | intérieur | interior |
| 688 | honneur | honor |
| 689 | dormir | to sleep |
| 690 | an | year |
| 691 | faux | badly; inaccurately; untruly |
| 692 | messieurs | mister, sir |
| 693 | groupe | group |
| 694 | rêve | dream |
| 695 | carte | card |
| 696 | aviez | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 697 | appel | call |
| 698 | manque | to lack; to be lacking in; to be short of |
| 699 | envoyé | to send |
| 700 | début | start, beginning |
| 701 | puisse | can, to be able to |
| 702 | écoutez | to listen |
| 703 | bonsoir | good evening |
| 704 | content | content, satisfied, pleased |
| 705 | secret | secret |
| 706 | venue | feminine singular of venu |
| 707 | cher | dearly |
| 708 | effet | effect |
| 709 | voyons | to see |
| 710 | sac | bag, sack |
| 711 | continue | to continue |
| 712 | acheter | to purchase; buy |
| 713 | voix | voice |
| 714 | certains | certain, guaranteed |
| 715 | occuper | to occupy, to take up |
| 716 | noël | A Christmas gift |
| 717 | gagner | to win |
| 718 | grâce | grace, charm |
| 719 | maître | master |
| 720 | prix | prize |
| 721 | mauvaise | bad |
| 722 | général | general |
| 723 | âge | age |
| 724 | long | long |
| 725 | rue | street, road |
| 726 | tirer | to draw, drag, pull |
| 727 | apprendre | to learn |
| 728 | cheveux | a headhair |
| 729 | noir | black in colour |
| 730 | promis | to promise |
| 731 | avaient | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 732 | patron | a boss, employer |
| 733 | avocat | lawyer, attorney |
| 734 | force | force |
| 735 | accident | accident |
| 736 | dix | ten |
| 737 | probablement | probably |
| 738 | laissez | to leave, to leave behind |
| 739 | bout | end, extremity, tip |
| 740 | ordre | order |
| 741 | armes | weapon |
| 742 | cru | to believe |
| 743 | déteste | to hate, to detest |
| 744 | retrouver | to find; to rediscover |
| 745 | millions | million |
| 746 | incroyable | incredible |
| 747 | voyage | trip, journey, voyage |
| 748 | ailleurs | elsewhere; somewhere else |
| 749 | oublie | to forget |
| 750 | ressemble | to resemble |
| 751 | bienvenue | welcome |
| 752 | disparu | to disappear |
| 753 | protéger | to protect |
| 754 | utiliser | to use, to utilize |
| 755 | situation | situation |
| 756 | petits | small one |
| 757 | aurai | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 758 | connaissez | to know, to be familiar with |
| 759 | simplement | simply |
| 760 | scène | stage |
| 761 | sœur | sister |
| 762 | prête | ready |
| 763 | oncle | uncle |
| 764 | devriez | must, to have to, should |
| 765 | liste | list |
| 766 | soeur | nonstandard spelling of sœur |
| 767 | complètement | completely |
| 768 | dos | back |
| 769 | armée | army |
| 770 | paix | peace |
| 771 | battre | to beat; to defeat |
| 772 | crime | a category of severe offences within French law, comparable… |
| 773 | anniversaire | birthday |
| 774 | finir | to finish, end, complete |
| 775 | réussi | to manage to do something |
| 776 | agit | to act, to do |
| 777 | retourner | to turn over; to turn upside-down |
| 778 | sale | dirty |
| 779 | libre | free, at liberty |
| 780 | bouge | to move |
| 781 | contrôle | to check or examine |
| 782 | rappelle | to call again; to call back |
| 783 | arrêté | to stop, to come to a standstill; to halt, to stop from… |
| 784 | hôtel | mansion, town house, hotel |
| 785 | idiot | idiotic; stupid |
| 786 | okay | alternative spelling of OK |
| 787 | rencontré | to meet |
| 788 | restez | to stay |
| 789 | absolument | absolutely; totally; completely |
| 790 | mots | word |
| 791 | victime | victim |
| 792 | impression | an impression, the overall effect of something |
| 793 | décidé | to decide |
| 794 | sympa | nice; likeable |
| 795 | pars | to go away, leave, depart |
| 796 | fasse | to do |
| 797 | avion | aeroplane |
| 798 | bordel | brothel |
| 799 | habitude | habit |
| 800 | table | table |
| 801 | rouge | red |
| 802 | système | system |
| 803 | photos | photo |
| 804 | médecin | physician; doctor |
| 805 | seras | to be |
| 806 | bateau | a vessel of any size, a ship or boat |
| 807 | stupide | stupid |
| 808 | faim | hunger |
| 809 | autour | around |
| 810 | fond | back |
| 811 | surprise | surprised |
| 812 | croyez | to believe |
| 813 | devais | must, to have to, should |
| 814 | ligne | line |
| 815 | porter | to carry |
| 816 | imagine | to imagine |
| 817 | colère | anger, rage |
| 818 | clair | clearly |
| 819 | seront | to be |
| 820 | savait | to know |
| 821 | balle | ball |
| 822 | gagné | to win |
| 823 | or | yet, however, now, that said, as it happens |
| 824 | hors | outside |
| 825 | magnifique | magnificent, splendid, superb |
| 826 | risque | risk |
| 827 | terminé | to end; to finish; to terminate |
| 828 | su | sur |
| 829 | heureuse | happy |
| 830 | mission | mission |
| 831 | jolie | pretty; cute |
| 832 | parlez | second-person plural present indicative/imperative of parler |
| 833 | présent | present |
| 834 | sorti | to exit, go out, come out |
| 835 | cadeau | present, gift |
| 836 | expliquer | to explain |
| 837 | volé | to fly through the air |
| 838 | plusieurs | several, many, a lot |
| 839 | gauche | left |
| 840 | ferait | to do |
| 841 | neuf | nine |
| 842 | ouvre | to open |
| 843 | disais | to say, to tell |
| 844 | dedans | towards the inside; inwardly; internally |
| 845 | disent | to say, to tell |
| 846 | pouvons | can, to be able to |
| 847 | allez-y | go ahead; go on |
| 848 | suivre | to follow |
| 849 | pourra | can, to be able to |
| 850 | inspecteur | inspector |
| 851 | réponse | response, answer, reply |
| 852 | lumière | light |
| 853 | pieds | foot |
| 854 | pote | mate, buddy |
| 855 | montre | to show |
| 856 | pied | foot |
| 857 | marcher | to walk |
| 858 | auras | to have; to own; to possess; to get |
| 859 | envoyer | to send |
| 860 | vraie | true |
| 861 | espèce | type, sort, kind |
| 862 | doivent | must, to have to, should |
| 863 | allô | hello |
| 864 | pareil | the same; alike |
| 865 | soleil | sun |
| 866 | camp | camp |
| 867 | fallait | to need, have to, to be necessary |
| 868 | coin | wedge, cornerpiece |
| 869 | ignore | to ignore |
| 870 | moitié | half |
| 871 | selon | according to; whichever applies; depending on |
| 872 | tenir | to have; to hold |
| 873 | grosse | big, thick, fat |
| 874 | vouloir | to want, wish, desire |
| 875 | vieille | old |
| 876 | devenu | to become |
| 877 | continuer | to continue |
| 878 | rend | to return, to restore, to give back |
| 879 | sortie | feminine singular of sorti |
| 880 | recherche | research |
| 881 | arrière | far, far away |
| 882 | lire | to read |
| 883 | doucement | softly |
| 884 | joli | pretty; cute |
| 885 | avance | to advance, to go forward |
| 886 | exact | exact; precise |
| 887 | disait | to say, to tell |
| 888 | club | club |
| 889 | arrivée | arrival |
| 890 | tue | to kill |
| 891 | laquelle | which, that, whom |
| 892 | poser | to stop carrying, to put down |
| 893 | chaud | warm, hot |
| 894 | aimé | to love |
| 895 | tom | acronym of territoire d'outre-mer |
| 896 | professeur | teacher |
| 897 | quitter | to leave, to quit |
| 898 | loi | law |
| 899 | tueur | killer |
| 900 | flics | police officer; copper; pig; rozzer |
| 901 | connaître | to know, to be familiar with |
| 902 | lettre | letter |
| 903 | forme | shape |
| 904 | connaît | to know, to be familiar with |
| 905 | conseil | piece of advice |
| 906 | bar | bar |
| 907 | normal | normal |
| 908 | danger | danger |
| 909 | dangereux | dangerous |
| 910 | folle | mad, crazy |
| 911 | jure | to swear |
| 912 | tiré | to draw, drag, pull |
| 913 | essaye | to test, to try on |
| 914 | bonnes | good |
| 915 | offre | to offer; to provide |
| 916 | but | to drink |
| 917 | froid | cold |
| 918 | prêts | ready |
| 919 | tranquille | calm, quiet, tranquil, still, peaceful, serene |
| 920 | gamin | kid |
| 921 | classe | class, type, group |
| 922 | joué | to play |
| 923 | poste | post office |
| 924 | con | cunt, pussy |
| 925 | attaque | to attack |
| 926 | boîte | box |
| 927 | enquête | inquest, investigation, examination |
| 928 | visite | visit |
| 929 | juge | judge |
| 930 | moi-même | myself |
| 931 | bord | border, edge, limit; boundary |
| 932 | debout | standing, stood up, upright |
| 933 | envoie | to send |
| 934 | preuve | evidence, proof |
| 935 | oublier | to forget |
| 936 | bons | good |
| 937 | vivant | to live |
| 938 | ciel | sky |
| 939 | lu | to read |
| 940 | touche | to touch |
| 941 | aimer | to love |
| 942 | télé | TV, telly |
| 943 | met | to put; to place |
| 944 | écouter | to listen |
| 945 | serez | to be |
| 946 | pourtant | however, yet |
| 947 | change | to exchange |
| 948 | triste | sad |
| 949 | droite | right |
| 950 | gueule | gullet, snout, face |
| 951 | tombe | to fall |
| 952 | sentir | to smell |
| 953 | ouvrir | to open |
| 954 | travers | outside |
| 955 | santé | health |
| 956 | dossier | back of furniture, to rest the sitter's back on |
| 957 | jeunes | young |
| 958 | coucher | to lay, to lay down |
| 959 | cuisine | kitchen |
| 960 | monte | to go up, to climb |
| 961 | signifie | to signify, mean |
| 962 | entrez | to enter |
| 963 | relation | relation |
| 964 | centre | centre, center |
| 965 | dame | lady |
| 966 | chacun | each, each one |
| 967 | chanson | song |
| 968 | foutre | to do, to fuck around with, to dick around, to fritter, to… |
| 969 | voler | to fly through the air |
| 970 | blanc | white color |
| 971 | certain | certain: a determined but unspecified amount of; some |
| 972 | don | gift, talent, knack |
| 973 | âme | soul |
| 974 | manière | somewhat, kinda, sorta, a bit, a little |
| 975 | flic | police officer; copper; pig; rozzer |
| 976 | décision | decision |
| 977 | mange | to eat |
| 978 | vit | to see |
| 979 | compagnie | company |
| 980 | déjeuner | to lunch, to eat lunch, to have lunch |
| 981 | différent | different |
| 982 | tire | to draw, drag, pull |
| 983 | ordres | order |
| 984 | clé | key |
| 985 | vaisseau | ship, vessel |
| 986 | secondes | second |
| 987 | enfer | Hell |
| 988 | sortez | to exit, go out, come out |
| 989 | vendre | to sell |
| 990 | faisais | to do |
| 991 | responsable | responsible |
| 992 | mecs | guy, fellow, bloke, chap, dude, boyfriend |
| 993 | nulle | of poor quality, lousy, rubbish |
| 994 | signe | to sign |
| 995 | lieutenant | lieutenant |
| 996 | aille | to go |
| 997 | acheté | to purchase; buy |
| 998 | étrange | strange |
| 999 | diable | the hell, on earth, intensifies interrogatives |
| 1,000 | viennent | to come |
Take the list with you
The whole list as a tab-separated file — rank, word, meaning — about 275 KB. It opens in any spreadsheet.
Download all 10,000 French words
Frequencies come from the OpenSubtitles corpus via hermitdave/FrequencyWords; English meanings from Wiktextract. Both are CC BY-SA 4.0, and so is this list.
Words stick once you use them
A list gets you the first few hundred. Saying them to someone who speaks French is what makes them stay.