How to talk about your day in French
J'ai travaillé ce matin
“I worked this morning”
When: Answering how was your day
The moment
It is six in the evening in the kitchen of your Paris co-working space, and a woman you have met before asks how your day went. Say what you did in a few words, react to her news, and keep her talking.
A1 · Unit 4 · People
The lines
Saying what you did
Start with « J'ai » and add the action: « J'ai travaillé ce matin » means I worked this morning. Only the last part changes — j'ai mangé, j'ai dormi, j'ai marché.
J'ai travaillé ce matin
“I worked this morning”
When to use it: Answering how was your day
What you’ll hear back: Ah bon ? Et cet après-midi ? (Oh really? And this afternoon?)
Handing the question back
The moment you have answered, say « Et vous, votre journée ? » — and your day? In France, skipping that question makes you sound uninterested.
Et vous, votre journée ?
“And you, how was your day?”
When to use it: Right after you talk about yourself
What you’ll hear back: Tranquille, merci. J'ai travaillé à la maison. (Quiet, thanks. I worked from home.)
Words for this scene
| French | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Rien de spécial | ryan duh spay-SYAL | Nothing special |
Ma journée ? Rien de spécial, et vous ? My day? Nothing special, and you? Tip: The normal answer here; nobody oversells an ordinary day. | ||
| Ah bon ? | ah BOHN | Oh really? |
Ah bon ? Racontez ! Oh really? Do tell! Tip: Let your voice rise; said flat it sounds like doubt. | ||
| C'était sympa | say-teh sam-PAH | It was nice |
J'ai dîné avec des amis, c'était sympa. I had dinner with friends, it was nice. Tip: Sympa covers nice, fun and friendly — people and evenings alike. | ||
Your objective
Tell them two things you did today, then ask how their day is going.
- one thing you did
- a second thing you did
- a question about their day
Lines that get it done
- J'ai travaillé ce matin
- J'ai dîné avec des amis, c'était sympa. · I had dinner with friends, it was nice.
- Et vous, votre journée ?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You spent the morning at work and want to say so. What do you say?
- J'ai travaillé ce matin
- Je vais travailler ce matin
- J'aime travailler le matin
- Je travaille tous les matins
Show the answer
J'ai travaillé ce matin
« J'ai » plus the action reports something you already did today.
2. You have just described your day. How do you turn the question back to her?
- Et vous, votre journée ?
- Et vous, votre matin ?
- Et vous, votre heure ?
- Et vous, votre jour ?
Show the answer
Et vous, votre journée ?
« Votre journée ? » asks about the day she has just lived; the others are not said.
3. She tells you she just got back from Rome. What is the natural little reaction?
- Ah bon ?
- Rien de spécial
- Bonne journée !
- Je ne sais pas
Show the answer
Ah bon ?
« Ah bon ? » shows interest and invites her to tell you more.