English-French Dictionary

Comprehensive English-French and French-English dictionary with common phrases, verb conjugations, grammar tips, and pronunciation guides. Use when translating words and phrases between English and French, learning French vocabulary, checking verb conjugations, or needing grammar and pronunciation help.

Comprehensive bilingual dictionary for English-French and French-English translations with verb conjugations, common phrases, and grammar guidance.

Core Translation Patterns

English to French

Greetings & Politeness:

• Hello → Bonjour / Salut
• Goodbye → Au revoir
• Please → S'il vous plaît (formal) / S'il te plaît (informal)
• Thank you → Merci
• You're welcome → De rien / Je vous en prie
• Excuse me → Excusez-moi / Pardon

Common Verbs:

• Be → Être
• Have → Avoir
• Go → Aller
• Do/Make → Faire
• Say → Dire
• See → Voir
• Know → Savoir / Connaître
• Want → Vouloir
• Can → Pouvoir
• Take → Prendre

Common Nouns:

• House → Maison
• Food → Nourriture
• Water → Eau
• Friend → Ami(e)
• Family → Famille
• Work → Travail
• Time → Temps
• Day → Jour
• Night → Nuit

French to English

Greetings:

• Bonjour → Hello / Good day
• Bonsoir → Good evening
• Bonne nuit → Good night
• Merci beaucoup → Thank you very much
• Enchanté → Nice to meet you

Common Expressions:

• C'est la vie → That's life
• Je ne sais pas → I don't know
• D'accord → OK / Alright
• À bientôt → See you soon
• Comment ça va? → How are you?
• Je t'aime → I love you

Verb Conjugation Essentials

Être (To Be) - Present Tense

• Je suis → I am
• Tu es → You are (singular informal)
• Il/Elle est → He/She is
• Nous sommes → We are
• Vous êtes → You are (plural/formal)
• Ils/Elles sont → They are

Avoir (To Have) - Present Tense

• J'ai → I have
• Tu as → You have
• Il/Elle a → He/She has
• Nous avons → We have
• Vous avez → You have
• Ils/Elles ont → They have

Aller (To Go) - Present Tense

• Je vais → I go
• Tu vas → You go
• Il/Elle va → He/She goes
• Nous allons → We go
• Vous allez → You go
• Ils/Elles vont → They go

Grammar Tips

Gender of Nouns

Most French nouns are masculine (-le) or feminine (-la):

• Masculine: le chat, le livre, le jour
• Feminine: la maison, la table, la nuit
• Plural: les + noun (les chats, les maisons)

Articles

• Definite: le (m), la (f), l' (vowel), les (plural)
• Indefinite: un (m), une (f), des (plural)

Useful Phrases by Category

Travel:

• Where is...? → Où est...?
• I need... → J'ai besoin de...
• How much? → Combien?
• I'm lost → Je suis perdu(e)
• Airport → Aéroport
• Hotel → Hôtel
• Restaurant → Restaurant

Food & Dining:

• I'm hungry → J'ai faim
• I'm thirsty → J'ai soif
• The bill, please → L'addition, s'il vous plaît
• Delicious → Délicieux / Délicieuse
• Water → Eau
• Coffee → Café
• Wine → Vin

Time & Dates:

• What time is it? → Quelle heure est-il?
• Today → Aujourd'hui
• Tomorrow → Demain
• Yesterday → Hier
• Monday → Lundi
• January → Janvier

Pronunciation Guide

Key Sounds:

• Silent final consonants (often): chat (shah), temps (tahn)
• Nasal vowels: an, en, in, on, un
• "R" is guttural, produced in the back of the throat
• "U" is pronounced with rounded lips (like "ew" but tighter)
• "EU" is like "uh" with rounded lips

Numbers 1-20

1. un/une
2. deux
3. trois
4. quatre
5. cinq
6. six
7. sept
8. huit
9. neuf
10. dix
11. onze
12. douze
13. treize
14. quatorze
15. quinze
16. seize
17. dix-sept
18. dix-huit
19. dix-neuf
20. vingt

Usage Tips

1. Context matters: Many words have multiple translations depending on context
2. Formality: Use "vous" for strangers, elders, groups; "tu" for friends and family
3. Agreement: Adjectives must agree in gender and number with nouns
4. False friends: Watch out for faux-amis (e.g., "librairie" = bookstore, not library)