COLORS - LES COULEURS

Learn the French words for colors.

	masc sing.	fem sing.	masc plural	fem plural
purple	violet	violette	violets	violettes
blue	bleu	bleue	bleus	bleues
green	vert	verte	verts	vertes
yellow	jaune	jaune	jaunes	jaunes
orange	orange	orange	orange	orange
red	rouge	rouge	rouges	rouges
black	noir	noire	noirs	noires
white	blanc	blanche	blancs	blanches
grey	gris	grise	gris	grises
brown	marron	marron	marron	marron
pink	rose	rose	roses	roses
light blue	bleu clair	bleu clair	bleu clair	bleu clair
dark blue	bleu foncé	bleu foncé	bleu foncé	bleu foncé

The plurals of French colors are pronounced exactly like the singular ones. The sound files include the pronunciation of the masculine singular/plural adjective followed by the feminine singular/plural adjective. If there is only one word pronounced, it is because that color is pronounced exactly the same whether it is masculine or feminine, singular or plural.

Note that using the modifiers light (clair) or dark (foncé) makes the color invariable - it does not change to agree in gender or number: une chemise vert clair - light green shirt

Source:  http://french.about.com/library/begin/bl_colors.htm

French Introductions - Les Présentations

Learn how to introduce yourself and others in French

 When you meet French speakers, you need to know how to introduce yourself and what to say when you are introduced. Here are some useful expressions related to French introductions - click the links to listen to each expression in French.

Introducing yourself

   Je me présente.
   Let me introduce myself.

   Je m'appelle...
   My name is...

   Je suis...
   I am...

   Mon prénom est...
   My (first) name is...


Introducing others

   Je vous présente... (formal and/or plural)
   Je te présente... (informal)
   I'd like to introduce...

   Voici...
   This is...

   Il s'appelle...
   His name is...

   Elle s'appelle...
   Her name is...


Meeting people

   Comment vous appelez-vous ? (formal and/or plural)
   Comment t'appelles-tu ? (informal)
   What is your name?

   Enchanté / Enchantée.
   It's nice to meet you.


Practice!

   Quiz on introductions

   Listening exercise: Greetings and introductions


French words to watch out for

   prénom - first name, given name

   nom - last name, family name, surname

   surnom - nickname

   introduire - to insert. Don't use this French verb when talking about introducing one person to another - it's a false cognate. The correct verb when making introductions in French is présenter.

 Source:  http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/introductions.htm

Politeness - French Phrases

When traveling in France, being polite is absolutely essential - be sure you know how to say "please" and "thank you" at the very least. Click any link to hear that word pronounced.

please
   s'il vous plaît (plural or formal)
   s'il te plaît (singular and familiar)*

please + verb (for example, "please excuse me")
   veuillez + infinitive (veuillez m'excuser)

thank you
   merci

thank you very much
   merci beaucoup
   merci bien

bless you! (thank you so much)
   mille fois merci

More ways to express gratitude


you're welcome
   de rien

it was my pleasure
   je vous en prie (plural or formal)
   je t'en prie (singular and familiar)*

don't mention it
   pas de quoi


pardon me, I beg your pardon
   pardon

excuse me
   excusez-moi

I'm sorry to disturb/bother you
   Excusez-moi de vous déranger

I'm sorry
   je suis désolé(e)


cheers
   à votre santé (plural or formal)
   à ta santé (singular and familiar)*

enjoy your meal
   bon appétit !


bless you (after a sneeze - learn more)
   à vos souhaits (plural or formal)
   à tes souhaits (singular and familiar)*


Sir, Mr.
   Monsieur

Ma'am, Mrs.
   Madame

Miss
   Mademoiselle   (learn more)


*Not sure which one to use? See my lesson on tu vs vous

Source: http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/politeness.htm