French - Lesson 84 of 159: Fillers (Social Glue)

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Laisse-moi réfléchir.

Let me think.

Meaning: Let me think.

When to use: Use this informal phrase when you need a little time to think before answering.

Tip: Use « Laissez-moi réfléchir » in polite/formal contexts with 'vous'.

Laisse-moi réfléchir, je te dis dans une minute.

Let me think, I'll tell you in a minute.

Laisse-moi réfléchir… c'était où, déjà ?

Let me think… where was it again?

Un instant.

Just a moment.

Meaning: Just a moment.

When to use: Say this to ask for a very short pause in neutral or polite situations.

Un instant, je finis cet e-mail.

Just a moment, I'm finishing this email.

Tu peux attendre un instant ? Je reviens tout de suite.

Can you wait a moment? I'll be right back.

Deux secondes.

One second.

Meaning: One second.

When to use: A very casual way to ask someone to wait for a very short time.

Tip: Don't translate literally; in French 'Deux secondes' is idiomatic for 'just a sec.'

Deux secondes, je cherche mon portefeuille.

One second, I'm looking for my wallet.

Attends deux secondes, je note ton numéro.

Wait a second, I'm writing down your number.

Comment dire ça ?

How can I say this?

Meaning: How can I say this?

When to use: Use this filler when you are searching for the right words or phrasing.

Comment dire ça ? C'était… très surprenant.

How can I say this? It was… very surprising.

Comment dire ça ? Ce n'était pas mal, mais différent.

How can I say this? It wasn't bad, but different.

Je veux dire, ___.

I mean, ___.

Meaning: I mean, ___.

When to use: Start a clarification or rephrase something you just said.

Je veux dire, ce n'est pas grave si tu arrives en retard.

I mean, it's not a problem if you arrive late.

Je veux dire, on pourrait essayer une autre route.

I mean, we could try another route.

Ben, ___.

Well, ___.

Meaning: Well, ___.

When to use: A casual starter to buy time when you begin an answer.

Ben, je pense que c'est une bonne idée.

Well, I think that's a good idea.

Ben, on peut demander aux voisins.

Well, we can ask the neighbours.

En fait, ___.

Actually, ___.

Meaning: Actually, ___.

When to use: Use to make a small correction or add a contrast to what you said before.

En fait, je préfère y aller demain.

Actually, I prefer to go tomorrow.

En fait, il était déjà parti quand je suis arrivé.

Actually, he had already left when I arrived.

Donc, ___.

So, ___.

Meaning: So, ___.

When to use: Use this to organize your next point or continue the story.

Donc, on se retrouve à 18h ?

So, shall we meet at 6 pm?

Donc, tu as aimé le film ?

So, did you like the movie?

Le truc, c'est que ___.

The thing is, ___.

Meaning: The thing is, ___.

When to use: Start a main point gently or introduce a key reason.

Le truc, c'est que je n'ai pas assez de temps cette semaine.

The thing is, I don't have enough time this week.

Le truc, c'est que le train est en retard.

The thing is, the train is delayed.

Je suis pas sûr, mais ___.

I'm not sure, but ___.

Meaning: I'm not sure, but ___.

When to use: Offer an uncertain answer while keeping the conversation going.

Tip: Note: spoken French often drops 'ne' — this is natural in conversation.

Je suis pas sûr, mais il devrait arriver vers midi.

I'm not sure, but he should arrive around noon.

Je suis pas sûr, mais je crois que la boutique est fermée le lundi.

I'm not sure, but I think the shop is closed on Monday.

C'est une bonne question.

That's a good question.

Meaning: That's a good question.

When to use: Use this to buy time before answering or to acknowledge a thoughtful question.

C'est une bonne question — je dois y réfléchir.

That's a good question — I need to think about it.

C'est une bonne question, on devrait demander au professeur.

That's a good question; we should ask the teacher.

Je disais quoi, déjà ?

What was I saying?

Meaning: What was I saying?

When to use: Use this casual phrase when you lose your train of thought and want to get back to your point.

Je disais quoi, déjà ? Ah oui, la pizza était délicieuse.

What was I saying? Ah yes, the pizza was delicious.

Je disais quoi, déjà ? On parlait des vacances.

What was I saying? We were talking about holidays.

J'en étais où ?

Where was I?

Meaning: Where was I?

When to use: Use to return to a previous point after an interruption or pause.

J'en étais où ? Ah oui, je voulais parler du projet.

Where was I? Oh yes, I wanted to talk about the project.

J'en étais où ? On disait que la réunion commence à neuf.

Where was I? We were saying the meeting starts at nine.

French - Fillers (Social Glue)

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which French phrase means "Just a moment"?

Which phrase would you use to gently introduce the main point?

How would you start when you want to correct or contrast something you said?

Which filler is a casual way to start answering while you think?

When someone asks for a short pause before answering, you can say 'Let me think.'

To introduce a small correction you might say 'Actually, ...'.

If you lost your train of thought, you can recover by saying 'What was I saying?'.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice