Photo: Miguel Mendez from Malahide, Ireland, CC BY 2.0
Flirting in French
A fun, live hour of French for anyone who would like to chat to someone they like, on a trip or at home. You will learn easy openers for a café or bar, compliments that land well (and the false friends to avoid), how to suggest "boire un verre", when to switch from vous to tu, how to swap numbers or Instagram, the bise, and how to say no politely or take a no with style. Respectful, beginner-friendly and fun.
After this hour you can
- Start a conversation at a café or bar and ask the first few questions
- Give warm, natural compliments and avoid the embarrassing false friends
- Invite someone for a drink, a coffee or a dance
- Know when to use vous and when to suggest tu
- Swap numbers or Instagram, and handle the bise
- Say yes, say a polite no, and take a no gracefully
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and the ground rules for flirting respectfully.
- 5′–11′
Warm-up: sounds that charm
Say the key flirting words with the French R, the "u" sound, nasal vowels and silent endings.
Salut !
say sah-LÜ
Hi! / Bye! (informal)
tu / vous
say tü / voo
you (friendly) / you (polite)
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 11′–18′
Starting a conversation
Open a friendly chat at a café or bar and ask the first few questions.
Salut, ça va ?
say sah-LÜ, sah VAH
Hi, how's it going?
Excusez-moi, cette place est libre ?
say ex-kü-zay MWAH, set plahs eh LEEBR
Excuse me, is this seat free?
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 18′–26′
Compliments (and the false friends)
Give a few warm compliments and avoid the classic embarrassing mistakes.
J'adore ton sourire.
say zhah-DOR tohn soo-REER
I love your smile.
Tu es très drôle.
say tü eh treh DROHL
You're really funny.
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 26′–33′
Asking someone out
Invite someone for a drink, a coffee or a dance, and ask about meeting again.
Je t'offre un verre ?
say zhuh TOFR uhn VEHR
Can I buy you a drink?
On boit un verre ?
say ohn BWAH uhn VEHR
Shall we have a drink?
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 33′–40′
Numbers and Instagram
Ask for and give a number or Instagram, and spell it.
Je peux avoir ton numéro ?
say zhuh puh ah-VWAHR tohn nü-may-ROH
Can I have your number?
Tu as Insta ?
say tü ah an-STAH ("an" nasal)
Are you on Instagram?
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 40′–47′
Yes, no, and the bise
Accept warmly, decline politely, take a no gracefully and handle the bise.
Avec plaisir !
say ah-vek pleh-ZEER
With pleasure! / I'd love to!
Oui, carrément !
say wee, kah-ray-MAHN
Yes, totally!
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: au café
Have a short, friendly flirting conversation in French, including a yes and a graceful no.
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key phrases and know what to practise this week.
French shares thousands of words with English, so a lot will look familiar, but the sound is different: many final letters are silent, some vowels go through the nose, and the R comes from the back of the throat. Socially, French has two words for "you": vous (polite) and tu (friendly). In flirting, the moment you move from vous to tu is part of the game. A little effort in French is noticed and appreciated.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No French needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
