#154 Creating a Library Card｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi Curious French
#179 Greeting Your Neighbors｜Everyday French Phrases
Izumi
When starting a new life in a new place, there are many occasions when you may encounter your neighbors—in elevators, in hallways, or near the mailbox.
In such situations, whether or not you are able to exchange a simple greeting can greatly influence the first impression and the future relationship.
In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for greeting your neighbors naturally, based on a realistic conversation example.
Contents
Dialogue
Ah, je crois que nous sommes voisins. Enchanté, je m’appelle Tanaka.
（Ah, I believe we are neighbors. Nice to meet you, my name is Tanaka.）
Enchantée. Moi, c’est Marie.
（Nice to meet you. I’m Marie.）
Ravi de faire votre connaissance. Je viens d’emménager dans l’appartement à côté.
（I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve just moved into the apartment next door.）
Bienvenue dans l’immeuble. Moi, j’habite ici depuis deux ans.
（Welcome to the building. I’ve been living here for two years.）
Le quartier a l’air très calme.
（The neighborhood seems very quiet.）
Oui, c’est assez agréable.
（Yes, it’s quite pleasant.）
Parfait, je suis rassuré. À bientôt !
（That’s great, I’m relieved to hear that. See you soon!）
1. Starting a Conversation with Your Neighbor
At the beginning of the conversation, the following sentence is used:
Example
- Je crois que nous sommes voisins.
（I believe we are neighbors.）
The key point here is the use of “je crois que …” (I believe that …).
If you simply say “Nous sommes voisins.” (We are neighbors.), the statement may sound a little too direct or abrupt, especially when speaking to someone for the first time.
By using “je crois que …”, you soften the statement and add a sense of politeness, which makes it more appropriate for an initial interaction.
2. Keeping Your Self-Introduction Simple
When greeting a neighbor for the first time, a short and simple self-introduction is more than sufficient.
Example
- Enchanté, je m’appelle Tanaka.
（Nice to meet you, my name is Tanaka.）
“Enchanté” is a standard expression used when meeting someone for the first time. It corresponds to “Nice to meet you” in English.
One important feature of French is that the adjective “Enchanté” agrees with the speaker’s gender:
Points
- Male speaker → Enchanté
- Female speaker → Enchantée (with an added -e)
To introduce your name, “Je m’appelle …” (My name is …) is the most natural expression.
The reply “Moi, c’est Marie.” (I’m Marie.) also has a casual and friendly tone, which suits conversations between neighbors very well.
3. Saying That You Have Just Moved In
After introducing yourself, it is natural to explain why you decided to speak to the person.
Example
- Je viens d’emménager dans l’appartement à côté.
（I’ve just moved into the apartment next door.）
The structure “venir de + verb” is known as the recent past in French. It is used to describe something that has just happened.
Related Expressions
- Je viens de rentrer.
（I’ve just come back.） - Je viens de commencer.
（I’ve just started.）
The verb “emménager” means “to move into a new place,” and focuses specifically on entering a new residence. Compared to “déménager” (to move), it emphasizes the idea of settling into a new home.
4. Commenting on the Neighborhood
When meeting someone for the first time, making a comment about the surrounding environment is an easy way to continue the conversation.
Example
- Le quartier a l’air très calme.
（The neighborhood seems very quiet.）
The expression “avoir l’air …” (to seem / to look …) is useful for expressing your impression in a gentle and non-assertive way.
Related Expressions
- Le quartier est sympa.
（The neighborhood seems nice.） - C’est un bon endroit pour vivre.
（It seems like a good place to live.）
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Je crois que nous sommes voisins.
→ A natural way to start a conversation with a neighbor. - Je viens d’emménager …
→ Used to explain that you have just moved in. - Enchanté. / Moi, c’est …
→ Natural expressions for self-introduction. - Le quartier a l’air …
→ A polite way to share your impression of the surroundings.
¥1,320 （2026/01/29 13:27時点 | Amazon調べ）
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¥1,320 （2026/01/29 13:27時点 | Amazon調べ）
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