{"id":118672,"date":"2023-07-15T20:03:35","date_gmt":"2023-07-16T00:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/french-filler-words\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T02:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T07:11:29","slug":"french-filler-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/french-filler-words\/","title":{"rendered":"20 French Filler Words to Help You Sound Natural"},"content":{"rendered":"

Filler words are used in every language, such as “um,” “well” or “like” in English.\u00a0Using the French versions can help you sound more like a native speaker<\/a> and make your speech flow more naturally.<\/p>\n

With these 20 indispensable French filler words, you’ll be able to take pauses while speaking without leaving awkward silences.\u00a0Some will also help you emphasize what you’re saying, contradict or affirm, summarize your thoughts or transition to another topic.<\/p>\n

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Essential French Filler Words<\/h2>\n

If you enjoy video lessons, check out this FluentU French YouTube video<\/a> to learn 12 phrases that will help you sound more natural when speaking French:\u00a0<\/p>\n

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And here are even more French filler words and phrases<\/a> that are commonly used by native speakers:<\/p>\n

1. Alors<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

A<\/em>lors <\/em>is probably the most common filler word and translates to “so” or “well” in English.\u00a0<\/em>It’s often not regarded as an “informal” filler word. This word\u00a0<\/i>can be heard in classrooms (by both students and teachers), speeches, business presentations and even in political proceedings. In fact, you can even use it in formal writing<\/a>!<\/p>\n

It’s often used as a transition word at the beginning of a sentence to draw attention to a topic or a change of topic, like in this example:<\/p>\n

Alors<\/strong>, comment \u00e7a va ? <\/em>(So, how’s it going?)<\/p>\n

\u00c7a va bien, merci. Et toi ? <\/em>(It’s going well, thanks. And you?)<\/p>\n

Alors<\/em> can also be used in place of the English expression “So what?” In this sense, it asks for clarification of a previous statement, often in a rude or sarcastic way.<\/p>\n

J’ai d\u00e9j\u00e0 lu ce livre.<\/em> (I already read that book.)<\/p>\n

Et alors<\/strong> ? <\/em>(So what?)<\/p>\n

2. Euh<\/em><\/h3>\n

Euh<\/em> is another extremely common filler word. It’s the French equivalent of the English word “uh” or “um,” and it’s used pretty much the same way. Like in English, euh<\/em> is generally used as a pause or a moment to think. Unlike alors<\/em>,\u00a0it’s very informal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Est-ce que je peux avoir, euh<\/strong>… un stylo ? <\/em>(Can I have, uh… a pen?)<\/p>\n

Euh<\/strong>, oui. <\/em>(Uh, yes.)<\/p>\n

3. Quoi<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

Quoi<\/em> is perhaps the most confusing filler word for beginner French learners. Technically, it translates to “what” in English, and it’s used to ask questions.<\/p>\n

Tu as fait quoi<\/strong> ?<\/em> (You did what?)<\/p>\n

As a filler word, quoi<\/em> better translates as “you know?” or the British “innit?” It’s used to give weight or highlight what you’re saying.<\/p>\n

C’est une belle tour, quoi<\/strong> ?<\/em> (It’s a beautiful tower, you know?)<\/p>\n

4. Hein<\/em><\/h3>\n

Related to quoi,<\/em>\u00a0hein<\/em>\u00a0is another popular French filler word.\u00a0Hein<\/em> translates to the English word “huh,” and it can be used in many ways. Firstly, it can be used to indicate that you don’t understand something that has been said. However, be aware that this isn’t very polite.<\/p>\n

D\u00e9p\u00eache-toi ! Tu vas rater le train !<\/em> (Hurry up! You’re going to miss the train!)<\/p>\n

Hein<\/strong> ?<\/em> (Huh?)<\/p>\n

J’ai dit que tu vas rater le train ! <\/em>(I said that you’re going to miss the train!)<\/p>\n

Secondly, you can use hein<\/em> to mean “right?” or in place of the French n’est-ce\u00a0 pas ?<\/em>\u00a0(Isn’t that right?).<\/p>\n

C’est un bon livre, hein<\/strong> ? <\/em>(It’s a good book, right?)<\/p>\n

Euh, oui. <\/em>(Uh, yes.)<\/p>\n

5. Bref<\/em><\/h3>\n

Bref<\/em> translates to “brief” in English, and its function as a filler word is pretty self-explanatory. It’s the English equivalent of “basically” or “long story short,” and it’s generally used to sum up a long explanation and give the “low-down” on a particular topic.<\/p>\n

Bref<\/strong>, j’ai rat\u00e9 l’interro de chimie<\/em>. (Basically, I failed the chemistry test.)<\/p>\n

Pronunciation tip:<\/strong> While you might be tempted to not pronounce the “f” at the end of the word\u00a0bref<\/em>, it actually is pronounced. In theory, the French word\u00a0bref<\/em> should rhyme with the English name “Steph.”<\/p>\n

6. Ben oui<\/em>, ben non<\/em><\/h3>\n

Ben oui<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0ben non <\/em>are a bit confusing and there’s some debate as to their exact meaning and function<\/a>.\u00a0We know the word oui<\/i>\u00a0means “yes,”and\u00a0non<\/em> means “no,” but the word ben<\/em> can be seen as an informal version of the French word bien<\/em> (well).<\/p>\n

Together, these two expressions translate to “well, yes” or “well, no.” Basically, they’re used as an affirmation or negation of a previous statement or question.<\/p>\n

Est-ce que tu veux un boisson ? <\/em>(Do you want a drink?)<\/p>\n

Ben, oui<\/strong>.<\/em> (Well, yes.)<\/p>\n

Et un croissant ?<\/em> (And a croissant?)<\/p>\n

Ben, non<\/em><\/strong>. (Well, no.)<\/p>\n

7. En fait<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

En fait<\/em> literally translates to the English “in fact,” but it should only be used to contradict something. If you want to use the French phrase for “in fact” in order to confirm something, then you should say en effect<\/em> instead.<\/em><\/p>\n

J’ai conduit pendant\u00a0cinq heures. En fait<\/strong>, c’\u00e9tait six !<\/em> (I drove for five hours. Actually, it was six!)<\/p>\n

Pronunciation tip:<\/strong> Like\u00a0bref,<\/em> the “t” at the end of the expression\u00a0en fait<\/em>\u00a0is pronounced to rhyme with the other French word\u00a0f\u00eate<\/em> (party).<\/p>\n

8. Genre<\/em><\/h3>\n

Genre<\/em> is perhaps the filler word that’s most often confused by beginners.\u00a0<\/em>It technically means “type” or “gender,” but in informal French, it translates more to the English filler word “like” and is used in the same way as “uh” or “like.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Je voudrais, genre<\/strong>, un autre crayon. <\/em>(I want, like, another pencil.)<\/p>\n

You can also see it being used in French media, like in this video below:<\/p>\n

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Pronunciation tip:<\/strong>\u00a0Keep in mind that this filler word is often pronounced very quickly in informal situations, so it can sound like\u00a0jor<\/em> instead of what we’d expect:\u00a0jen-ruh<\/em>.<\/p>\n

9. Quand m\u00eame<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

The expression quand m\u00eame <\/em>has two meanings in French. It has a formal meaning of “even though” or “still,” but as a filler word, it can translate as “Wow!” or “No way!” In this sense, it’s used to show surprise or excitement about a given topic or revelation.<\/p>\n

J’ai eu l’examen !<\/em> (I passed the exam!)<\/p>\n

Quand m\u00eame<\/strong> !<\/em> (Wow!)<\/p>\n

10. Voil\u00e0<\/em><\/h3>\n

Voil\u00e0 <\/em>is used to conclude a statement or to present something. It adds a sense of finality and indicates that the speaker has finished their thought or finished providing the necessary information. It’s similar to saying “That\u2019s it” or “There it is.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Com’\u00e8 il tuo nuovo appartamento ? <\/span><\/em>(How’s your new apartment?)<\/span><\/p>\n

Il est spacieux, lumineux et il a une belle vue sur la ville. Voil\u00e0<\/strong>, c’est \u00e7a. <\/em>(It’s spacious, bright and it has a beautiful view of the city. Well, that’s it.)<\/p>\n

11. Bon<\/em><\/h3>\n

Bon<\/em> is an adjective that means “good” or “delicious,” but it’s also used as a versatile filler word similar to “well” or “OK” in English. It can be used to speed up a story, to begin or end a thought or even to express frustration or annoyance.<\/p>\n

Bon<\/strong>, je vais y r\u00e9fl\u00e9chir.<\/em> (Well, I’ll think about it).<\/p>\n

When used to wrap up a thought or conversation, bon<\/em> is often used together with ben. <\/em>For example:<\/p>\n

Bon<\/strong>, ben, je vais te laisser travailler alors.<\/em> (Alright, well, I’ll let you work then.)<\/p>\n

12. Enfin<\/em><\/h3>\n

Enfin<\/em> is used to express relief, satisfaction or the conclusion of a thought or situation. It can also be used to introduce a final point or to transition to a new topic. It adds emphasis and provides a sense of closure.<\/p>\n

You can also say enfin bref<\/em>\u00a0(“anyway” or “in short”) which is similar to just saying bref<\/em> and is used to transition to a new topic or summarize a conversation.<\/p>\n

J’ai finalement termin\u00e9 mon travail, enfin<\/strong> !<\/em> (I finally finished my work, at last!)<\/p>\n

13. Bah<\/em><\/h3>\n

Bah<\/em> is a versatile filler word commonly used in French conversations. It can convey a range of meanings depending on the context and intonation, but it normally translates to “well” in English.<\/p>\n

It can be used to express hesitation, disappointment or indifference. It can also be used as a way to fill a pause in conversation or express doubt or uncertainty. It’s often employed to express a casual or nonchalant attitude.<\/p>\n

Bah<\/strong>, je pense que je vais rester \u00e0 la maison ce soir.<\/em> (Well, I think I’ll stay home tonight.)<\/p>\n

D’accord, bah<\/strong> amuse-toi bien !<\/em> (Alright, well, have a good time!)<\/p>\n

14. Donc<\/em><\/h3>\n

Donc<\/em> is used to express a logical consequence or inference. It can be translated as “so,” “therefore” or “thus” in English and similarly adds coherence and clarity to the conversation by linking related thoughts or actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

J’ai oubli\u00e9 mes cl\u00e9s, donc<\/strong> je ne peux pas entrer.<\/em> (I forgot my keys, so I can’t get in.)<\/p>\n

15. Tu vois<\/em><\/h3>\n

Tu vois<\/em> translates to “you see” in English. It’s commonly used in conversations to seek confirmation or emphasize a point. It serves as a rhetorical question to engage the listener and ensure their understanding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

J’ai \u00e9tudi\u00e9 toute la nuit, tu vois<\/strong> ?<\/em> (I studied all night, you see?)<\/p>\n

16. Franchement<\/em><\/h3>\n

Franchement<\/em> translates to “frankly” or “honestly” in English. It’s used to express sincerity or convey a personal opinion. It adds emphasis and indicates that the speaker is speaking candidly or from their genuine perspective.<\/p>\n

Franchement<\/strong>, je pense que c’est une mauvaise id\u00e9e.<\/em> (Honestly, I think it’s a bad idea.)<\/p>\n

17. Bah oui<\/em><\/h3>\n

The phrase bah oui<\/em> is an expression of agreement or affirmation. It’s used to confirm or acknowledge something that’s obvious or known. It conveys a sense of certainty and agreement in a casual or colloquial manner.<\/p>\n

Tu viens \u00e0 la f\u00eate ce soir ?<\/em> (Are you coming to the party tonight?)<\/p>\n

Bah oui<\/strong>, bien s\u00fbr !<\/em> (Yes, of course!)<\/p>\n

18. Tiens<\/em><\/h3>\n

Tiens<\/em> is a versatile expression used to express surprise, draw attention or indicate a discovery. It can be translated as “look,” “hey” or “here.” It’s commonly used in situations where something unexpected or interesting is being pointed out or shared. It can add a sense of immediacy and intrigue to the conversation.<\/p>\n

Tiens<\/strong>, regarde ce que j’ai trouv\u00e9 !<\/em> (Hey, look what I found!)<\/p>\n

19. Eh bien<\/em><\/h3>\n

The phrase eh bien<\/em> is used to express hesitation or uncertainty, or to gather one’s thoughts before speaking. It can be translated as “well,” “um” or “so.” It’s often used at the beginning of a sentence or as a pause in conversation. It helps to add a reflective or contemplative tone to the speech.<\/p>\n

Eh bien<\/strong>, je ne suis pas s\u00fbr de ce que je vais faire.<\/em> (Well, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.)<\/p>\n

20.<\/span> Nan, mais\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

Nan, mais…<\/em> is an informal expression used to convey disagreement or to counter a statement. Nan<\/em> is a casual form of non<\/em> meaning “no,” and mais<\/em> means “but,” so it’s similar to saying “no, but…” in English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

J’ai entendu dire que ce film \u00e9tait g\u00e9nial.<\/em> (I heard that this movie was amazing.)<\/p>\n

Nan, mais…<\/strong> je l’ai trouv\u00e9 plut\u00f4t ennuyeux, en fait.<\/em> (No, but… I actually found it rather boring.)<\/p>\n

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Filler words are used by French people every day and they’re a big part of speaking like a native. You can see and hear them used in context by watching authentic videos, like the ones on FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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The use of en fait<\/em>\u00a0in different social contexts is quite flexible. It can be used in formal French speech<\/a> as well as in formal French writing. In the informal way, it means “actually.” It can be used when changing your mind, contradicting something that’s been said or clarifying what you’re trying to say.<\/p>\n