10 Common French phrases: Explaining something

10 Common French phrases: Explaining something

Being able to explain something in French can be a valuable skill, whether you’re teaching a class, giving a presentation, or simply helping someone to understand a concept.

In this lesson, we’ll go over 10 common French phrases for explaining something.

1. Voici comment ___ fonctionne. (Here’s how ___ works.)

This phrase is used to explain how something operates or functions.

2. Permettez-moi de vous expliquer. (Allow me to explain.)

This phrase is used to indicate that you are going to provide an explanation.

3. En d’autres termes, ___. (In other words, ___ .)

This phrase is used to rephrase or clarify something that has already been said.

4. Pour que vous compreniez mieux, ___. (So that you understand better, ___ .)

This phrase is used to provide additional information or context to aid in understanding.

5. L’idée principale est que ___. (The main idea is that ___ .)

This phrase is used to summarize the most important point or concept.

6. Il est important de se rappeler que ___. (It’s important to remember that ___ .)

This phrase is used to highlight a key aspect or detail.

7. Le but de ___ est de ___. (The purpose of ___ is to ___.)

This phrase is used to explain the objective or goal of something.

8. Tout d’abord, ___. Ensuite, ___. (First, ___. Next, ___.)

This phrase is used to provide a step-by-step explanation or sequence.

9. Pour résumer, ___. (To summarize, ___ .)

This phrase is used to briefly sum up the key points or concepts.

10. N’hésitez pas à me poser des questions si vous ne comprenez pas. (Don’t hesitate to ask me questions if you don’t understand.)

This phrase is used to encourage the listener to ask questions or seek clarification.


Learning these common French phrases for explaining something will help you to communicate more effectively in a variety of contexts.

Additionally, it is helpful to learn basic French vocabulary and grammar rules to build your language skills.

With practice and persistence, you’ll soon be able to explain concepts with ease in French.

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