French - Politeness

Lesson 6 of 159

Smiling learners practicing polite French phrases like requests and thanks — beginner A1 French lesson on politeness.

Goal: Simple, friendly ways to ask, thank, and reassure (Level A1)

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back! In this short lesson we focus on polite phrases you can use right away. Have fun — say them out loud and imagine friendly everyday moments.

Level A1: This lesson teaches six core polite phrases in French so you can make simple requests, ask someone to wait, hand something over, thank someone, reassure a friend, and check if something is okay. You'll listen, practice short quizzes and matching, and then speak each phrase out loud. (CEFR-aligned and very practical.)

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn six A1 polite phrases for requests, thanks, and small social exchanges.
  • Recognize these phrases in a short conversation and choose the right phrase for common situations.
  • Practice saying each phrase aloud so you can use them naturally with friends or in shops.
Two friends at a table practicing polite French requests and handoffs in a short dialogue.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Je peux ___, s'il te plaît ?

Can I ___, please?

Meaning: Can I ___, please?

When to use: Use this informal phrase to ask permission or request something for yourself. Add an action or object where the blank is.

Tip: Remember this uses tu form. In formal situations or with strangers use 'Je peux ___, s'il vous plaît ?'.

Je peux emprunter ton livre, s'il te plaît ?
Can I borrow your book, please?
Je peux ouvrir la fenêtre, s'il te plaît ?
Can I open the window, please?

Merci pour ___.

Thanks for ___.

Meaning: Thanks for ___.

When to use: Say this after someone gives you something or helps you. Put the thing or action after 'pour'.

Merci pour ton aide.
Thanks for your help.
Merci pour le cadeau.
Thanks for the gift.

Un instant, s'il te plaît.

Just a moment, please.

Meaning: Just a moment, please.

When to use: Use this to ask someone to wait briefly—informal. In a shop or formal moment say 'Un instant, s'il vous plaît.'

Un instant, s'il te plaît, je finis ce message.
Just a moment, please, I'm finishing this message.
Un instant, s'il te plaît, je regarde pour vous.
Just a moment, please, I'll look for you.

Tiens

Here you go.

Meaning: Here you go.

When to use: Say this when you hand something to one person in an informal way. For more formal or plural use 'Tenez' or 'Voilà'.

Tip: Don't confuse 'Tiens' (informal) with 'Tenez' (formal/plural) when speaking to strangers or groups.

Tiens, ton stylo.
Here you go, your pen.
Tiens, le ticket.
Here you go, the ticket.

T'inquiète pas.

Don't worry.

Meaning: Don't worry.

When to use: Use this casual reassurance after a small problem or apology. For neutral or formal situations use 'Ne t'inquiète pas' or 'Ne vous inquiétez pas'.

Tip: The contracted 'T'inquiète pas' is casual; avoid it with people you should address formally.

T'inquiète pas, ce n'est pas grave.
Don't worry, it's not serious.
T'inquiète pas, je peux t'aider.
Don't worry, I can help you.

Ça va ?

Is that okay?

Meaning: Is that okay?

When to use: Use 'Ça va ?' to check if something is acceptable or to ask how someone is casually. Add context to make the meaning clear.

Ce plan, ça va ?
Is this plan okay?
La taille du manteau, ça va ?
Is the coat size okay?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna needs a charger while David is at a table.

Close-up of a friendly exchange: one person asks, the other replies 'Un instant' and then hands an item with 'Tiens.'

What does Anna ask for?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Je peux utiliser ton chargeur, s'il te plaît ?

Can I use your charger, please?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Un instant, s'il te plaît.

Just a moment, please.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Tiens

Here you go.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Merci pour le chargeur.

Thanks for the charger.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Ça va ?

Is that okay?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

T'inquiète pas.

Don't worry.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

How do you say 'Just a moment, please.' in French?

Which French phrase is used when you hand something to a friend informally?

How do you say 'Thanks for your help' in French?

Which phrase can mean 'Is that okay?' or 'Does that work?' in casual speech?

Je peux utiliser ton stylo, s'il te plaît ? — Can I use your pen, please?

I want to say 'Can I use your pen, please?' in French: ___

Un instant, s'il te plaît. — Just a moment, please.

You need someone to wait while you check something: how do you say 'Just a moment, please.' in French? ___

Tiens. — Here you go.

You hand a friend their keys: how do you say 'Here you go.' in French? ___

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux ___, s'il te plaît ?

Can I ___, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Merci pour ___.

Thanks for ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un instant, s'il te plaît.

Just a moment, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tiens

Here you go.

Say this phrase out loud:

T'inquiète pas.

Don't worry.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça va ?

Is that okay?