French - Hésitation

Lesson 90 of 159

Learner thinking and speaking softly in French; lesson about hesitation phrases for social conversations.

Goal: Small pauses and softening your answers in casual French

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

A quick, friendly lesson to make your French sound natural when you need a moment to think. We'll practice short hesitations and softening phrases you can use in conversations.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll learn common spoken hesitation phrases (e.g., Euh, attends..., Deux secondes) and softeners (e.g., Je pense que..., Peut-être...) that keep conversations smooth. You'll listen, repeat, and practice choosing the right phrase in short dialogues — a little social glue for everyday chat.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use common hesitation phrases in casual French.
  • Practice softening opinions and asking for a short pause.
  • Build confidence speaking short, natural responses (Level A2).
Two friends pause and search for words in French; practicing short hesitation phrases.

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.

Euh, attends, je réfléchis.

Um, let me think.

Meaning: Um, let me think.

When to use: Use to pause briefly and show you are thinking before answering.

Euh, attends, je réfléchis.
Um, wait, I'm thinking.
Euh, attends, c'est sur le bout de la langue.
Um, wait, it's on the tip of my tongue.

Ben, je suis pas sûr.

Well, I'm not sure.

Meaning: Well, I’m not sure.

When to use: Use to show uncertainty before giving an answer or opinion.

Tip: Avoid forcing the full "ne" in casual speech; in oral French "je suis pas" is normal.

Ben, je suis pas sûr, peut-être demain.
Well, I'm not sure, maybe tomorrow.
Ben, je suis pas sûr de l'heure exacte.
Well, I'm not sure of the exact time.

Deux secondes.

Just a second.

Meaning: Just a second.

When to use: Ask for a very short pause to think or act.

Deux secondes, je prends mon téléphone.
Just a second, I'm getting my phone.
Deux secondes, je note ton idée.
One sec, I'll write down your idea.

Laisse-moi un instant.

Give me a moment.

Meaning: Give me a moment.

When to use: Politely ask for a short moment to think or prepare before continuing.

Laisse-moi un instant, je dois vérifier.
Give me a moment, I need to check.
Laisse-moi un instant, je finis ce message.
Give me a moment, I'm finishing this message.

Comment on dit déjà ?

What's the word?

Meaning: What's the word?

When to use: Use when you are searching for a specific word and want a little thinking time.

Comment on dit déjà ? Je cherche le mot pour 'meeting'.
What's the word again? I'm looking for the word for 'meeting'.
Comment on dit déjà ? C'était important pour le projet.
What's the word again? It was important for the project.

C’est un peu ___.

It's kind of ___.

Meaning: It’s kind of ___.

When to use: Give an approximate description when you can't find the exact word.

Tip: Remember agreement if you change form: with a specific noun you may need "il/elle est un peu ___".

C’est un peu compliqué à expliquer.
It's kind of complicated to explain.
C’est un peu bizarre, mais sympa.
It's kind of strange, but nice.

Je pense que ___, peut-être.

I think maybe ___.

Meaning: I think maybe ___.

When to use: Offer a tentative idea without sounding too direct.

Je pense que c'est la bonne date, peut-être.
I think that might be the right date, maybe.
Je pense que tu devrais appeler, peut-être.
I think maybe you should call.

Peut-être ___, mais ___.

Maybe ___, but ___.

Meaning: Maybe ___, but ___.

When to use: Introduce a hesitant contrast or partial disagreement politely.

Peut-être qu'on y va à pied, mais il risque de pleuvoir.
Maybe we walk there, but it might rain.
Peut-être intéressant, mais pas pour tout le monde.
Maybe interesting, but not for everyone.

Voyons

Let me see.

Meaning: Let me see.

When to use: Use to buy a short moment while you think of an answer.

Voyons... où ai-je mis les clés ?
Let me see... where did I put the keys?
Voyons... ça pourrait marcher si on change ça.
Let me see... it could work if we change that.

Comment dire ?

How can I say it?

Meaning: How can I say it?

When to use: Signal that you are searching for how to express an idea.

Comment dire ? Ce n'est pas exactement ça.
How can I say it? It's not exactly that.
Comment dire ? C'est plus formel que d'habitude.
How can I say it? It's more formal than usual.

J'essaie de me rappeler.

I'm trying to remember.

Meaning: I'm trying to remember.

When to use: Use to explain that you are attempting to recall information.

J'essaie de me rappeler le nom du restaurant.
I'm trying to remember the name of the restaurant.
J'essaie de me rappeler quand c'était.
I'm trying to remember when it was.

C'est difficile à expliquer.

It's hard to explain.

Meaning: It's hard to explain.

When to use: Use when an idea is difficult to put into words and you need time.

C'est difficile à expliquer en quelques mots.
It's hard to explain in a few words.
C'est difficile à expliquer, mais je vais essayer.
It's hard to explain, but I'll try.

Je ne me souviens plus exactement.

I can't remember exactly.

Meaning: I can't remember exactly.

When to use: Use to hedge when you don't recall details with confidence.

Tip: Don't confuse spoken contractions; in casual talk people may say "Je me souviens plus exactement."

Je ne me souviens plus exactement de la date.
I can't remember the exact date anymore.
Je ne me souviens plus exactement comment c'était organisé.
I can't remember exactly how it was organized.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna asks David about a movie title they both forgot.

Anna and David use gentle hesitations in a short French dialogue while trying to remember a word.

What are Anna and David doing?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Comment on dit déjà ? Le film avec cette actrice...

What's the word again? The film with that actress...

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Voyons... euh, attends, je réfléchis.

Let me see... um, wait, I'm thinking.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Deux secondes, je regarde sur mon téléphone.

One second, I'll look on my phone.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Ben, je suis pas sûr... Je pense que c'est sorti en 2018, peut-être.

Well, I'm not sure... I think maybe it came out in 2018.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means "Just a second"?

Which phrase would you use to soften an opinion: "I think maybe"?

Which phrase best shows you are searching for a word?

Which phrase would you say to politely ask for a short moment?

Anna: Let me see..., I need to find the exact word.

Anna: ___, je dois trouver le mot exact.

David: Just a second. I'll check my calendar.

David: ___. Je vérifie mon agenda.

Anna: Do you remember the name? David: I'm trying to remember.

Anna: Tu te souviens du nom ? David: ___.

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:

Euh, attends, je réfléchis.

Um, let me think.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ben, je suis pas sûr.

Well, I'm not sure.

Say this phrase out loud:

Deux secondes.

Just a second.

Say this phrase out loud:

Laisse-moi un instant.

Give me a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

Comment on dit déjà ?

What's the word?

Say this phrase out loud:

C’est un peu ___.

It's kind of ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je pense que ___, peut-être.

I think maybe ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Peut-être ___, mais ___.

Maybe ___, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Voyons

Let me see.

Say this phrase out loud:

Comment dire ?

How can I say it?

Say this phrase out loud:

J'essaie de me rappeler.

I'm trying to remember.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est difficile à expliquer.

It's hard to explain.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je ne me souviens plus exactement.

I can't remember exactly.