A small set of French phrases covers most everyday interaction, and — as with several other European languages — the formal/informal distinction shapes how they're actually used day to day.
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello / good day |
| Merci | Thank you |
| S'il vous plaît | Please (formal) |
| S'il te plaît | Please (informal) |
"Please" itself changes depending on formality — s'il vous plaît (formal, using vous) versus s'il te plaît (informal, using tu) — a small, concrete example of how the tu/vous distinction (see French Grammar) reaches into even the most basic everyday phrases.
Bonjour works broadly across formal and informal daytime contexts, making it a safe default starting point.
Because "please" itself reflects the tu/vous formality distinction — s'il vous plaît is formal, s'il te plaît is informal — showing how deeply that distinction reaches into everyday phrases.
Yes, broadly — it's the standard, universally understood way to say thank you across formal and informal French.
That's the plan, matching the audio-based approach used for Tarc's existing courses.
See also: French Pronunciation · French Vocabulary · Learn French