How to Say “My French Is Not Very Good” in French

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mon français n'est pas très bon
In French, "my french is not very good" is expressed as mon français n'est pas très bon.
This phrase is used to admit that you have a limited ability to speak or understand the French language. While mon français n'est pas très bon is a direct way to state this, it is often more natural in conversation to say Je ne parle pas très bien français (I don't speak French very well).

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase mon français n'est pas très bon is a literal translation where mon means "my", français means "French", n'est pas means "is not" and très bon means "very good".

Which one should you use?

Depending on your level of formality and how much you want to emphasize your struggle, you might choose different expressions. Je m'excuse, mais mon français n'est pas très bon and Je suis désolé(e), mais je ne parle pas très bien français are formal options. For a more casual setting, you can use Désolé(e), mais mon français est pas top (my French is not great), Je suis vraiment nul(le) en français (I'm really bad at French) or J'ai du mal avec le français, je suis pas doué(e) (I struggle with French, I'm not talented at it).

Is it said differently in some regions?

In France, you may also hear the phrase Je m'excuse, mais je suis pas très fort(e) en français to mean "I apologize, but I'm not very strong in French".

How does it change in a sentence?

Avoid saying mon français est mauvais (my French is bad) to describe your skill level. While grammatically correct, it sounds much more harsh and self-deprecating in French than the more common mon français n'est pas très bon.

Did you know?

  • The word pas in the phrase n'est pas très bon originally meant 'a step'. The negative construction literally meant 'not… a step', implying that one is not moving forward at all.
  • In casual French, instead of saying your skills are 'not good', you might say your French is pas top. This uses the English loanword 'top' to mean 'great' or 'excellent'.

Examples in context

  • Désolé, mon français n'est pas très bon.
    Sorry, my French is not very good.
  • Je m'excuse, mais mon français n'est pas très bon.
    I apologize, but my French is not very good.

Example conversation

Hugo is trying to order food in a French cafe.

  1. Hugo

    Bonjour, un croissant s'il vous plaît.
    Hello, one croissant please.
  2. Léa

    D'accord. Vous parlez français ?
    Okay. Do you speak French?
  3. Hugo

    Un peu, mais mon français n'est pas très bon.
    A little, but my French is not very good.
  4. Léa

    Ne vous inquiétez pas, Hugo.
    Don't worry, Hugo.

Sources

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Stephanie Rachel
Stephanie RachelHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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