Your top French words to learn

ENGLAND football boss Fabio Capello said he manages with 100 words to coach the team, so we asked you what your top French words would be.

They ranged from Mon ami va payer and Enlève ta robe from Hayward Blashill to, literally, "I'm not on my plate".

Anni Minhas Farror put Vérifier, profiter, municipale, incroyable, and dedans as top useful words.

Roy Hubbard went with the P's and Q's of merci, aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît, Voulez-vous and the always endearing vive la France. On a more practical side there is trop cher à quelle heure? and éventuellement.

Susan Mortimer writes: I like this phrase "Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette which means "I'm not well", but literally, "I am not in my plate".

Fern Powell-Samman writes: May I suggest the expression "Tant pis" which one translates as "nevermind" or "that's just too bad". I find it concludes a train of thought, a regret, and enables you to change the subject and get on with life.

Tom Hunn also had some practical suggestions: Since my last French lesson at Bungay Grammar School in Suffolk in 1959, I have not had to use French until we arrived here from Australia in June last year. French is essential but by God, it takes a lot of effort, especially at 66 years of age but as the first sentence says, I keep trying.
Today my French is just as bad - but I keep trying.
Aujourd'hui, mon français est tout aussi mauvais - mais je continue d'essayer.
If you speak slowly, simply and clearly, I shall probably understand.
Si vous parlez lentement, clairement et simplement, je vais sans doute comprendre.
By the way, you don't have to shout, there is nothing wrong with my hearing
Soit dit en passant, vous n'avez pas besoin de crier, il n'y a rien de mal à mes oreilles

[Connexion's resident Française Nathalie Nicolas says: "Better to use 'Au fait, vous n'avez pas besoin de crier, mes oreilles entendent bien or je vous entends bien."