Dialogue
French small talk at work: a coffee-machine dialogue
Practise an 18-line French workplace conversation about the weekend and future plans, with English cues and a polite shift from vous to tu.
- B1
- 18 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
Start with a shared moment: Vous prenez un café ? Answer a weekend question with one detail, then ask a question back. To suggest using tu, say On peut se tutoyer, si vous voulez. Wait for agreement before changing the pronoun.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
It is Monday morning. Inès meets Alex, a new colleague, by the coffee machine. Practise Alex’s part: accept a coffee, describe a walk, agree to use tu and talk about next weekend. The English cues stay visible when you hide the French lines.
- Inès
Bonjour, vous êtes Alex, de l’équipe communication ?
English
Hello, are you Alex from the communications team?
- Alex
Oui, c’est ça. Je viens d’arriver dans l’équipe. Et vous ?
Confirm your name, say you have just joined the team and ask about her.
English
Yes, that’s right. I’ve just joined the team. And you?
- Inès
Moi, c’est Inès. Je travaille à la comptabilité. Vous prenez un café ?
English
I’m Inès. I work in accounts. Would you like a coffee?
- Alex
Oui, volontiers. Vous avez passé un bon week-end ?
Accept the coffee and ask whether she had a good weekend.
English
Yes, I’d love one. Did you have a good weekend?
- Inès
Oui, j’ai vu des amis samedi. Et vous, vous avez fait quelque chose de sympa ?
English
Yes, I saw some friends on Saturday. And you, did you do anything nice?
- Alex
J’ai fait une grande balade dimanche. Il faisait beau, alors j’en ai profité.
Say you went for a long walk on Sunday and enjoyed the good weather.
English
I went for a long walk on Sunday. The weather was lovely, so I made the most of it.
- Inès
Vous êtes allé où ?
English
Where did you go?
- Alex
Au bord de la rivière. Je découvre encore le quartier.
Say you went along the river and are still discovering the neighbourhood.
English
Along the river. I’m still getting to know the neighbourhood.
- Inès
C’est un joli coin. Au fait, on peut se tutoyer, si vous voulez.
English
It’s a lovely spot. By the way, we can use tu, if you like.
- Alex
Oui, avec plaisir ! Tu connais d’autres endroits où se promener ?
Agree to use tu, then ask about other places to walk.
English
Yes, gladly! Do you know any other places for a walk?
- Inès
Le parc des Tilleuls est très agréable. Tu as déjà des projets pour le week-end prochain ?
English
Tilleuls Park is very pleasant. Have you already got plans for next weekend?
- Alex
Pas encore pour samedi, mais dimanche, je vais au cinéma. Et toi ?
Say Saturday is still free, mention Sunday’s cinema plan and ask her plans.
English
Not for Saturday yet, but I’m going to the cinema on Sunday. What about you?
- Inès
Je vais déjeuner chez ma sœur. Tu vas voir quel film ?
English
I’m having lunch at my sister’s. What film are you going to see?
- Alex
Je n’ai pas encore choisi. Tu as un film à me conseiller ?
Say you have not chosen yet and ask for a recommendation.
English
I haven’t chosen yet. Can you recommend a film?
- Inès
Oui, je t’en parlerai après la réunion. Elle commence dans cinq minutes.
English
Yes, I’ll tell you about one after the meeting. It starts in five minutes.
- Alex
Ah oui, je vais chercher mon carnet. Merci pour le café !
Say you will get your notebook and thank her for the coffee.
English
Oh yes, I’ll go and get my notebook. Thanks for the coffee!
- Inès
Avec plaisir. À tout à l’heure !
English
You’re welcome. See you shortly!
- Alex
À tout à l’heure, Inès !
Say you will see her shortly, using her name.
English
See you shortly, Inès!
How do you make small talk at work in French?
| Move | French | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Answer with one detail | J’ai vu des amis samedi. | A concrete activity to ask about. |
| Return the question | Et toi ? Tu as fait quoi ? | Room for the other person to speak. |
| End with the next action | Je vais chercher mon carnet. À tout à l’heure ! | A friendly way back to work. |
The invitation to use tu is explicit here. After Alex accepts, both speakers use tu, te or toi when addressing each other. You can also suggest the change with On se tutoie ? A workplace may use either form between colleagues; follow the exchange you are actually having.