You’ve mastered the difference between passé composé and imparfait. You know your subjonctif triggers. You’ve practiced for hours. So why is it that when you speak French, you still feel... well, like you’re reading from a script?

This is a feeling almost every language learner has. The truth is, fluency isn't just about perfect grammar or a huge vocabulary.

It’s about the "in-between" words.

The real, everyday, "filler" expressions that native speakers use without thinking. These are the words that glue conversations together, and they are almost never the focus of a textbook.

When you start using them, something magical happens. Your conversations feel smoother, you sound more relaxed, and native speakers see you as a "real" speaker.

Here are 7 of those game-changing French phrases to add to your vocabulary today.

1. Bah oui / Bah non

This is perhaps the single most common and most "French" filler word you will hear.

• Literal Translation: "Well yes / Well no"
• What it really means: "Well, yeah, obviously!" or "Of course not!"
• When to use it: Use "bah oui" (pronounced "ba-whee") when you want to agree with something emphatically, as if the answer is obvious. It’s the French equivalent of "Duh!" or "Well, of course!"

Example:

• "Tu viens à la fête ce soir ?" (Are you coming to the party tonight?)
• "Bah oui !" (Well, yeah!)

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2. C'est pas grave

If "bah oui" is the most common filler, "c'est pas grave" is the most common philosophy. It captures the relaxed, shrugging-it-off attitude perfectly.

• Literal Translation: "It’s not serious."
• What it really means: "No worries," "It's not a big deal," or "Nevermind."
• When to use it: You will hear and use this constantly. Did you make a small mistake? Did someone bump into you? Did you forget something? C'est pas grave.

Example:

• "Oh non, j'ai oublié d'acheter du pain !" (Oh no, I forgot to buy bread!)
• "C'est pas grave, on mangera des pâtes." (No worries, we'll eat pasta.)

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3. Du coup

If you spend even one day in France, you will hear "du coup" at least 50 times. It has become the quintessential spoken-French connector word.

• Literal Translation: "Of the blow" (doesn't make sense, ignore this)
• What it really means: "So..." or "As a result..." or "So, like..."
• When to use it: Use it to connect a cause with a result. It's often used as a slightly more casual (and overused) version of donc (so, therefore).

Example:

• "Il a commencé à pleuvoir, du coup on est rentrés." (It started to rain, so we went home.)

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4. Bref...

This is your secret weapon for summarizing a long story or cutting an awkward conversation short.

• Literal Translation: "Brief..."
• What it really means: "Anyway..." "In short..." or "Long story short..."
• When to use it: When you've been telling a long, rambling story and want to get to the point, just say "Bref..." and give the conclusion. It signals to your listener that you're wrapping up.

Example:

• "...et le chien a mangé mon gâteau, et j'ai raté le bus... bref, c'était une journée terrible." (...and the dog ate my cake, and I missed the bus... in short, it was a terrible day.)

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5. Laisse tomber

This is the perfect, native-sounding phrase for "just forget it."

• Literal Translation: "Let fall"
• What it really means: "Nevermind," "Just drop it," or "Let it go."
• When to use it: Use this when you're trying to explain something and the other person isn't understanding, and you finally just want to give up. It’s much more natural than saying "Oublie-le."

Example:

• "Tu ne comprends vraiment rien ! Laisse tomber..." (You really don't understand anything! Just... nevermind.)

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6. Quand même

This phrase is a bit more advanced, but it's incredibly versatile and will make you sound very fluent. It’s hard to translate directly because it depends entirely on context.

• Literal Translation: "When even" (again, makes no sense)
• What it really means: "anyway," "still," "all the same," or "wow, really!"
• When to use it:
  • As "still" or "anyway": "Il pleut, mais je sors quand même." (It's raining, but I'm going out anyway.)
  • As "really": "C'est cher, quand même !" (That's really expensive, wow!)

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7. En fait

This is the direct equivalent of the English "actually" or "in fact." We use "actually" all the time in English to correct ourselves or add a clarifying thought, and French speakers do the same with "en fait."

• Literal Translation: "In fact"
• What it really means: "Actually," "In fact," or "As a matter of fact"
• When to use it: Use it just like you would in English, to add a new piece of information or to correct a previous statement.

Example:

• "Je pensais qu'il était médecin. En fait, il est infirmier." (I thought he was a doctor. Actually, he's a nurse.)

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How to Find and Learn These Phrases

So, where do you learn these magical phrases? You won't find them in a grammar drill.

You have to go where the natives are.

1. Watch Native Media: This is the number one trick. But don't just watch anything. Watch French-language dramas, reality TV, and content from French YouTubers. This is where you'll hear the real, unscripted (or lightly scripted) language.
2. Listen Actively: Don't just follow the subtitles. Listen for the filler words. Listen for the bah, the du coup, the en fait. When you hear one, pause and think about how it was used.
3. Practice: The next time you're speaking or writing in French, try to slot one of these in. It might feel unnatural at first, but "bah oui" will soon become a natural part of your own French.

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