Politeness in French: The Right Expressions

Politeness in French is less about being extra polite and more about using the right formula at the right time. A simple bonjour before any question can change how you are perceived. This article introduces the key expressions and how register affects them.

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Why politeness expressions are the first thing to master

French interactions start with a greeting. Walking into a shop without saying bonjour can feel abrupt. Politeness expressions are the social glue in French. They signal respect and awareness of your relationship with the listener.

At A2, you already know a few. This article shows you how to use them in different situations and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

The core polite expressions at A2

Here are the essentials, grouped by function.

Greetings and goodbyes

• Bonjour – hello / good morning (any time of day)
• Bonsoir – good evening (after around 6 p.m.)
• Salut – hi / bye (informal)
• Au revoir – goodbye
• Bonne journée – have a good day
• Bonne soirée – have a good evening

Please and thank you

• S’il vous plaît – please (formal / plural)
• S’il te plaît – please (informal)
• Merci – thank you
• Merci beaucoup – thank you very much
• De rien – you’re welcome (informal / everyday)
• Je vous en prie – you’re welcome (formal)

Excusing yourself and apologising

• Pardon – sorry (for minor bumps or getting attention)
• Excusez-moi – excuse me (more formal)
• Je suis désolé(e) – I’m sorry

These expressions change depending on who you are talking to. That’s where register comes in.

Register: how formality changes the words

French has a clear formal–informal split. The choice between tu and vous affects every politeness expression. With someone you call vous, use the full formal versions. With a friend, switch to the informal ones.

For example:

• Excusez-moi, je ne comprends pas. (Formal: Excuse me, I don’t understand.)
• Excuse-moi, je ne comprends pas. (Informal: same meaning)

Even merci can sound more or less formal depending on tone and addition. Merci is neutral, but merci beaucoup warms it a little. Je vous remercie is very formal and less common in daily life.

Understanding register helps you avoid sounding either too stiff or too casual. For a full breakdown, see our guide on what French register is.

The golden rule: always greet first

In France, any interaction – buying a baguette, asking for directions – starts with bonjour. Skipping it is a quick way to seem impolite. Then, add your question or request, followed by s’il vous plaît or merci.

Example at a café:

• Bonjour, je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît.
• Merci, bonne journée !

Notice the order: greet → polite request with s’il vous plaît → thank/wish.

Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Forgetting to switch register

English speakers often stick to vous forms even with friends. But using s’il te plaît among peers is normal and warmer. The safest path at first is to default to vous with adults you don’t know, then adjust when invited to use tu.

Overusing pardon

Pardon is for small things. If you need someone to repeat themselves, pardon ? works casually. But if you bump into someone more formally, excusez-moi is better. Je suis désolé(e) carries real regret; don’t use it lightly.

Mixing up de rien and je vous en prie

De rien is the everyday “you’re welcome.” Je vous en prie is for formal situations – after holding the door, after being thanked by someone you address as vous. Using de rien with a boss isn’t wrong, but it can feel a touch informal.

For more on navigating formal and informal choices, see our article on formal vs informal French.

A memory trick: build a mental script

For each common situation, learn a short polite script. This keeps you from freezing up.

Example script for asking directions:

• Bonjour, excusez-moi, pour aller à la gare, s’il vous plaît ?
• Merci, au revoir !

By learning these as chunks, you internalise the rhythm of polite French. Tools that reinforce vocabulary with context, like building a richer French vocabulary, can help these patterns stick.

Quick practice: choose the right expression

Which expression fits each situation?

1. You enter a small shop at 2 p.m.
2. You accidentally step on someone’s foot in the metro.
3. A colleague thanks you for a coffee.
4. You want a friend to pass the salt.

Answers:

1. Bonjour !
2. Oh, pardon !
3. De rien ! (or Je vous en prie if formal)
4. S’il te plaît.

Practising scenarios like these makes polite French feel more automatic.

When in doubt, stay formal

If you’re unsure whether to use tu or vous, choose vous. It’s always acceptable when speaking to an adult you don’t know. The other person will often invite you to switch: On peut se tutoyer ? (Can we use ‘tu’?). Until then, the formal expressions keep you on safe ground.

A2 learners who master these polite building blocks sound more natural and respectful long before they handle complex grammar. Start with bonjour, merci, s’il vous plaît – and let register guide the form.