Course 01
How are you?
A first encounter built around greetings, introductions, and the difference between formal and familiar ways of asking how someone is doing.
Dialogue
Read first, then play a line only when you need the model.
Bonjour Jeanne, comment allez-vous ?
IPA/bɔ̃ʒuʁ ʒan kɔmɑ̃.t‿a.le vu/
Bonjour
Literally 'good day'. It works as both 'good morning' and a formal 'hello' until around 6pm.
allez-vous
French uses the verb `aller` ('to go') to ask how someone is doing: `Comment allez-vous ?`
Pronunciation
The final consonant in `comment` links into `allez`, so the phrase is heard as one smooth unit instead of two fully separated words.
Bien, et vous ?
IPA/bjɛ̃ e vu/
Pronunciation
The written `s` in `vous` is silent here, so the word closes on the `ou` sound you hear in both the IPA and the guide.
Ça va très bien, merci.
IPA/sa va tʁɛ bjɛ̃ mɛʁsi/
Ça va
The phrase literally means 'it goes' and works as a compact way to say both 'I'm fine' and 'How's it going?' depending on context.
Je vous présente ma fille, Chloé.
IPA/ʒə vu pʁezɑ̃t ma fij klo.e/
Je vous présente
In this context `présenter` means 'to introduce', not just 'to present'.
Bonjour, Chloé. Comment ça va ?
IPA/bɔ̃ʒuʁ klo.e kɔmɑ̃ sa va/
ça va
`Comment ça va ?` is slightly more familiar than `Comment allez-vous ?`, which is why Jeanne uses it with Chloé.
Pronunciation
This familiar version lands more compactly than `Comment allez-vous ?`, which is part of why it sounds lighter and less formal in conversation.
bonjour
hello / good morning
comment allez-vous ?
how are you? (formal)
bien
well / fine
merci
thank you
je vous présente
let me introduce
ma fille
my daughter
comment ça va ?
how are you doing? (familiar)
Exercise 1
Translate from audio.
Prompt 1
Hello, how are you?
Hint: Start with `Bonjour`, then use the formal `Comment allez-vous ?`.
Prompt 2
I'm very well.
Hint: Use the same reply pattern as line 3, without `merci`.
Prompt 3
How are you, Jean?
Hint: This one uses the more familiar `ça va` form.
Prompt 4
Let me introduce my daughter.
Hint: Use `Je vous présente ...` from the dialogue.
Prompt 5
Chloé is very well.
Hint: Reuse `va très bien` from the dialogue.
Exercise 2
Fill in the missing words.
Prompt 1
How are you?
Hint: Use the formal question from the opening line.
Prompt 2
Very well, thank you.
Hint: Reuse the compact reply from line 3.
Prompt 3
Let me introduce Jeanne and Chloé.
Hint: Use the introduction verb from the dialogue, then join the names.
Prompt 4
Well, and you?
Hint: This is the short reply from line 2.
Prompt 5
My first lesson.
Hint: Use the feminine form of `first` to agree with `leçon`.
French has two forms of address: formal and familiar. We'll start by learning the honorific, or formal, mode, marked by the pronoun vous, because this is the one you are most likely to encounter when visiting France and interacting with people you don't know. In other French-speaking countries, such as Canada, the informal address, marked by tu, is used more frequently. Which form to use in which circumstances is a much-debated issue, but we've adopted the rule of thumb that tu is strictly for family and friends.
Congratulations! In a short space of time, and without too much effort, you've learned some important and useful words and phrases. Remember that the best way to make progress is to learn a little every day. That's the secret of the Assimil method!