Most people are happy to speak more slowly in French when they know that you are learning – all you have to do is ask!
How to pronounce Parlez-vous francais ?
Here are some of the most basic French phrases to get you started. Further on in this lesson we will look at the pronunciation of these and more French phrases.
- Parlez-vous français ? - Do you speak French? (polite form)
- Est-ce que vous parlez français ? - (Is it that) you speak French? (very polite form)
- Parlez plus lentement s'il vous plaît ! - Speak more slowly please!
- Parlez-vous anglais ? - Do you speak English? (polite form)
- Vous parlez français - You speak French (polite form)
- Vous ne parlez pas français - You don’t speak French (polite form)
- Vous parlez bien français - You speak French well
- Vous parlez français couramment - You speak French fluently
- Vous parlez mal le français - You speak French badly
Parlez-vous français ?
There are a couple of ways of asking "do you speak French?". We look at those here, and how you would say "You speak French" as a statement.
Important! Perfect Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Important! Remember What You Learn
Here is a short conversation about speaking French that may occur!
French Conversation
- Claire: Est-ce que vous parlez français?
- Paul: Oui, un peu.
- Claire: Est-ce que vous me comprenez?
- Paul: Oui, mais pouvez-vous parler un peu plus lentement?
- Claire: Bien sûr. Ça va mieux?
- Paul: Oui merci.
- Claire: Est-ce que vous parlez aussi verlan?
- Paul: Je ne sais pas. Qu’est-ce que c’est?
- Claire: Hahaha!
English Translation
- Claire: Do you speak French?
- Paul: Yes, a little.
- Claire: Can you understand me?
- Paul: Yes, but can you speak a little more slowly?
- Claire: Of course. Is that better?
- Paul: Yes, thank you.
- Claire: Do you also speak slang?
- Paul: I don't know. What's that?
- Claire: Hahaha!
So there you have the fundamentals of social interaction in French. After you accomplish that, you'll have a clear enough head to start thinking about what comes next.
If you want more on French questions then check these out: - Saying "How are you?" in French
- Ask "What is your name?" in French
- All about the interrogative word "When?" in French
- Asking "Where?" in French
- The different ways to ask questions in French
À bientôt !
Marie-Claire Rivière and the Rocket French Team