How to Compliment a Host on Food or Hospitality in French
Learn beginner French phrases to compliment a host on food or hospitality, including 'This is delicious' and 'Thank you for having me.'
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you are invited to a French-speaking home, a sincere compliment about the food or hospitality is expected and appreciated. This lesson teaches you beginner-level phrases such as 'C'est délicieux' (This is delicious) and 'Merci de m'avoir invité' (Thank you for having me). You will learn when to use each phrase, how to pronounce it, and how to avoid common mistakes. The focus is on giving compliments, not on hosting duties.
By the end, you can…
- compliment a host on the food using phrases like 'C'est délicieux.'
- thank a host for their hospitality using phrases like 'Merci de m'avoir invité.'
- use appropriate politeness levels when speaking to a host.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
C'est délicieux.
This is delicious.
say day-lee-syuh
Use during the meal after tasting the food. It is a general compliment for any dish.
Merci de m'avoir invité.
Thank you for having me.
mair-see duh ma-vwahr an-vee-tay
Say when arriving or leaving. Use 'invitée' if you are female.
C'est très bon.
This is very good.
say tray bohn
A simple, friendly compliment. Use it for any food or drink.
J'aime beaucoup ce plat.
I really like this dish.
zhem boh-koo suh plah
Use for a specific dish you especially enjoy. 'Plat' means a prepared dish.
Vous êtes très hospitalier.
You are very hospitable.
voo zet tray os-pee-tah-lyay
A formal compliment for a host. Use 'hospitalière' for a female host.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To compliment food, use 'C'est' + adjective. For example, 'C'est délicieux' (This is delicious) or 'C'est très bon' (This is very good). To thank a host, use 'Merci de' + infinitive. For example, 'Merci de m'avoir invité' (Thank you for having me) or 'Merci pour ce repas' (Thank you for this meal). Note that 'délicieux' changes to 'délicieuse' for feminine nouns, but with 'C'est' it stays masculine because it refers to something general.
When to use it
Compliment the food during the meal, after the first bite. Say 'C'est délicieux' or 'C'est très bon' with a smile. Thank your host for the invitation when you arrive and again when you leave. Use 'Merci de m'avoir invité' if you are male and 'Merci de m'avoir invitée' if you are female. For a more formal situation, use 'Vous êtes très hospitalier' (male host) or 'Vous êtes très hospitalière' (female host). Avoid complimenting the host's cooking skills directly unless you know them well; focus on the food itself.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, merci de m'avoir invité.
Hello, thank you for having me.bohn-zhoor, mair-see duh ma-vwahr an-vee-tayJe t'en prie, entre. Tu veux boire quelque chose ?
You're welcome, come in. Do you want something to drink?zhuh tahn pree, ahn-truh. tew vuh bwahr kel-kuh shozC'est délicieux ! J'aime beaucoup ce plat.
This is delicious! I really like this dish.say day-lee-syuh! zhem boh-koo suh plahMerci, je suis content que ça te plaise.
Thank you, I'm glad you like it.mair-see, zhuh swee kohn-tahn kuh sah tuh plezA little context goes a long way
In France, compliments about food are usually brief and sincere. Saying 'C'est délicieux' once or twice is enough; over-complimenting may seem insincere. In more formal settings, use 'vous' and 'Merci de m'avoir invité(e).' In Quebec, you might hear 'C'est bon en s'il-vous-plaît' as an enthusiastic compliment, but standard French uses 'C'est vraiment délicieux.' Always thank your host when leaving, even if you already thanked them on arrival.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je suis délicieux' to mean 'I am delicious' when trying to compliment the food.
Try this instead: Use 'C'est délicieux' for the food. 'Je suis délicieux' means you are delicious, which is wrong. For example, say 'C'est délicieux' after tasting the dish.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This is delicious' in French?
Show a sample answer
C'est délicieux.
This is the standard phrase. You could also say 'C'est très bon' for a simpler compliment.
2What is the correct phrase to thank a male host for having you?
Show a sample answer
Merci de m'avoir invité.
Use 'invité' for a male speaker. A female speaker would say 'invitée'.
3How would you compliment a female host on her hospitality formally?
Show a sample answer
Vous êtes très hospitalière.
This uses the feminine form 'hospitalière' and the formal 'vous'. For a male host, use 'hospitalier'.
Compliment the food with 'C'est délicieux' and thank your host with 'Merci de m'avoir invité(e).' Keep compliments sincere and brief.
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