Lesson 5: Yes, No, Please and Thank You in French

Welcome back!

So far you’ve learned:

✓ Greetings

✓ Introductions

✓ How to ask someone’s name

✓ How to ask “How are you?”

✓ Numbers 1 to 10

Today we’re going to learn four of the most important words in any language.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

  • Say yes and no
  • Ask politely for things
  • Thank people
  • Respond politely in everyday situations

Let’s begin!

Here is the video for this lesson with the full lesson below and FREE downloadable PDF!

VIDEO PLACE


1. Yes

The French word for yes is:

Oui

Pronunciation:

Wee

Meaning:

Yes

Examples:

Oui.

Yes.

Oui, merci.

Yes, thank you.


2. No

The French word for no is:

Non

Pronunciation:

Nohn

Meaning:

No

Examples:

Non.

No.

Non, merci.

No, thank you.


3. Please

The most common way to say please in French is:

S’il vous plaît

Pronunciation:

Seel voo play

Meaning:

Please

Examples:

Un café, s’il vous plaît.

One coffee, please.

Deux croissants, s’il vous plaît.

Two croissants, please.


4. Thank You

The French word for thank you is:

Merci

Pronunciation:

Mair-see

Meaning:

Thank you

Examples:

Merci.

Thank you.

Merci beaucoup.

Thank you very much.


5. Thank You Very Much

A useful phrase you’ll hear often is:

Merci beaucoup

Pronunciation:

Mair-see boh-koo

Meaning:

Thank you very much

Example:

Merci beaucoup !

Thank you very much!


6. You’re Welcome

When someone says thank you, you can reply:

De rien

Pronunciation:

Duh ree-en

Meaning:

You’re welcome

Example:

Merci.

De rien.


7. A Simple Conversation

Person 1:

Bonjour.

Person 2:

Bonjour.

Person 1:

Un café, s’il vous plaît.

Person 2:

Oui.

Person 1:

Merci.

Person 2:

De rien.


8. Real-Life Situation

Imagine you’re in a bakery in France.

You say:

Bonjour.

Bonjour.

Deux croissants, s’il vous plaît.

Oui.

Merci.

De rien.

Congratulations!

You’ve just completed a real French conversation.


9. Practice Time

Read these aloud three times:

Oui

Non

Merci

Merci beaucoup

S’il vous plaît

De rien

Remember:

Speaking aloud is the fastest way to improve your confidence.


Quick Practice

Translate these into French:

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Please
  4. Thank you
  5. Thank you very much
  6. You’re welcome

Answers:

  1. Oui
  2. Non
  3. S’il vous plaît
  4. Merci
  5. Merci beaucoup
  6. De rien

Mini Challenge

Complete the conversation:

Bonjour.

Bonjour.

Un café, __________.

Merci.

__________.

Answers:

S’il vous plaît

De rien


Lesson Summary

Today you learned:

Oui = Yes

Non = No

S’il vous plaît = Please

Merci = Thank you

Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much

De rien = You’re welcome

These simple phrases will help you sound polite and confident in almost every situation in France.

In Lesson 6, we’ll learn how to say where you’re from and talk about your nationality.

Once again, here is your FREE PDF download of this lesson, lesson 5.