What to Say in French When You Don’t Know What to Say

Speaking French is exciting, but let’s be real—it can also be intimidating! You might find yourself in a conversation where your mind goes completely blank. 😳 Maybe you don’t understand what was said, need time to think, or just don’t know how to respond.

Don’t worry! French has plenty of handy phrases that will help you buy time, ask for clarification, or smoothly keep the conversation flowing. Here are some essential expressions to use when you don’t know what to say!

1. When You Need a Moment to Think 🤔

Sometimes, you just need a second to gather your thoughts. Instead of panicking in silence, use these phrases to pause naturally:

Euh… – The classic French hesitation sound (equivalent to “uh” or “um” in English).
Alors… – “So…” (great for transitioning into a response).
Voyons voir… – “Let’s see…”
Comment dire… – “How should I say…” (when searching for the right word).
Bonne question ! – “Good question!” (buys you extra thinking time!).

→ Voyons voir… je pense que c’est une bonne idée. (“Let’s see… I think that’s a good idea.”)

2. When You Don’t Understand 😵

Did someone just speak too fast? Use these phrases to ask for clarification without breaking the flow:

Je ne comprends pas. – “I don’t understand.” (Simple and direct!)
Désolé(e), je n’ai pas bien compris. – “Sorry, I didn’t quite understand.”
Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? – “Can you repeat that, please?”
Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ? – “What does that mean?”
Parlez-vous un peu plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? – “Can you speak a little slower, please?”

→ Désolé, je ne comprends pas. Pouvez-vous répéter ? (“Sorry, I don’t understand. Can you repeat that?”)

3. When You Want to Keep the Conversation Going 🗣️

Want to sound natural and engaged? Use these conversational fillers to show interest and encourage the other person to keep talking:

Ah bon ? – “Oh really?” (Shows surprise or curiosity).
C’est intéressant ! – “That’s interesting!”
Tu crois ? – “You think so?”
Et toi/vous ? – “And you?” (A simple way to keep the conversation going!).
Raconte ! – “Tell me more!” (Casual and friendly).

→ Ah bon ? C’est intéressant ! Et toi, qu’est-ce que tu en penses ? (“Oh really? That’s interesting! And you, what do you think?”)

4. When You Need to Fill Awkward Silence 😅

Don’t know what to say next? Try one of these safe conversation starters:

Ça fait longtemps que tu es ici ? – “Have you been here long?”
Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? – “What do you do for a living?”
Il fait beau aujourd’hui, non ? – “The weather is nice today, isn’t it?”
Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire pendant ton temps libre ? – “What do you like to do in your free time?”

→ Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? (“What do you do for a living?”)

5. When You’re Not Sure About Your French 😬

If you’re not confident in your French skills yet, these phrases can help ease communication:

Je parle un peu français. – “I speak a little French.”
Désolé(e) pour mon français ! – “Sorry for my French!” (A polite disclaimer!).
Comment dit-on … en français ? – “How do you say … in French?”
Si je fais une erreur, n’hésitez pas à me corriger ! – “If I make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct me!”

→ Désolé pour mon français ! Comment dit-on ‘challenge’ en français ? (“Sorry for my French! How do you say ‘challenge’ in French?”)

6. When You Don’t Have an Answer 🤷

Sometimes, you just don’t know what to say—and that’s okay! Here’s how to handle it smoothly:

Je ne sais pas. – “I don’t know.”
Je n’en ai aucune idée ! – “I have no idea!”
Ça dépend. – “It depends.”
C’est difficile à dire… – “That’s hard to say…”
Bonne question ! – “Good question!”

→ C’est difficile à dire… ça dépend de la situation. (“That’s hard to say… it depends on the situation.”)

7. When You Want to End the Conversation Gracefully 🚪

Need a polite exit strategy? Here’s how to wrap things up smoothly:

Bon, je dois y aller… – “Well, I have to go…”
C’était sympa de parler avec toi ! – “It was nice talking to you!”
On se reparle bientôt ? – “Shall we talk again soon?”
Bonne journée / Bonne soirée ! – “Have a good day/evening!”

→ Bon, je dois y aller. C’était sympa de parler avec toi ! (“Well, I have to go. It was nice talking to you!”)

Conversations in French don’t have to be stressful—even when you don’t know what to say! With these handy expressions, you can buy time, ask for clarification, and keep the conversation flowing naturally.

So, next time you’re chatting in French and feel stuck, just take a deep breath and use one of these phrases. You’ve got this! 💪