French Conversation Transitions: Politely Changing the Subject
Learn to shift topics politely in French with phrases like 'À propos' and 'En parlant de ça', and keep conversations flowing naturally.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In any conversation, there comes a moment when you want to move from one topic to another without seeming abrupt or rude. In French, as in English, there are set phrases that signal a change of direction. This lesson focuses on polite transitions such as 'À propos...' (Speaking of which...) and 'En parlant de ça...' (Talking of which...). You'll learn how to introduce a new topic smoothly, acknowledge the previous one, and maintain a friendly tone. We'll cover the most common expressions, their register, and when to use them. By the end, you'll be able to steer a conversation politely in French.
By the end, you can…
- use 'À propos' and 'En parlant de ça' to change the subject politely.
- recognize and respond to common French topic-shift signals.
- choose the right transition phrase for formal and informal situations.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
À propos...
Speaking of which... / By the way...
ah pro-POH
Very common in both formal and informal speech. Often followed by a comma and a new topic. Can also mean 'by the way' when introducing a related point.
En parlant de ça...
Talking of which...
ahn par-LAHN duh SAH
Used when the new topic is directly related to what was just said. Slightly more informal than 'À propos'.
Ça me fait penser que...
That reminds me that...
sah muh feh pahn-SAY kuh
A natural way to introduce a related thought. Literally 'That makes me think that...'. Common in casual conversation.
Au fait...
By the way...
oh FET
Used to introduce a new topic or a piece of information that just came to mind. Very common in everyday speech.
Sinon...
Otherwise... / Apart from that...
see-NOHN
Often used to change the subject to something different, especially after a negative statement. Can also mean 'or else'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many French transition phrases are followed by a comma and then a complete sentence. For example: 'À propos, tu as des nouvelles de Marie ?' (Speaking of which, do you have news about Marie?). 'En parlant de ça, j'ai vu Paul hier.' (Talking of which, I saw Paul yesterday.) Notice that the phrase itself does not change the grammar of the following clause; it simply acts as a discourse marker. You can also use 'Ça me fait penser que...' followed by a clause: 'Ça me fait penser que nous devons réserver le restaurant.' (That reminds me that we need to book the restaurant.)
When to use it
Use 'À propos' or 'Au fait' when you want to introduce a new topic that is not necessarily related to the previous one. 'En parlant de ça' and 'Ça me fait penser que' work best when there is a clear link to what was just said. 'Sinon' is useful when you want to move away from a negative or completed topic: 'Sinon, comment va ton frère ?' (Apart from that, how is your brother?). In formal settings, 'À propos' is safe; 'Au fait' is more informal. In Quebec French, 'Au fait' is also common, but you might hear 'En passant' (by the way) more frequently in casual speech.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
J'ai adoré ce film, surtout la fin. Et toi, tu as aimé ?
I loved that movie, especially the ending. And you, did you like it?zhay ah-doh-RAY suh feelm, soo-TOO lah fan. ay twah, too ah ay-MAY?Oui, c'était génial. À propos, tu as des nouvelles de Sophie ?
Yes, it was great. Speaking of which, do you have news about Sophie?wee, say-TAY zhay-NYAL. ah pro-POH, too ah day noo-VEL duh so-FEE?Non, pas depuis longtemps. En parlant de ça, je dois l'appeler pour son anniversaire.
No, not for a long time. Talking of which, I need to call her for her birthday.nohn, pah duh-PWEE lohn-TAHN. ahn par-LAHN duh SAH, zhuh dwah lah-play poor sohn ah-nee-vair-SAIR.Ah oui, c'est bientôt ? Sinon, tu as fini ton projet ?
Oh yes, is it soon? Otherwise, have you finished your project?ah wee, say byan-TOH? see-NOHN, too ah fee-NEE tohn pro-ZHAY?A little context goes a long way
In French conversation, abrupt topic changes can seem impolite, so using a transition phrase is important. 'À propos' and 'Au fait' are widely understood across the Francophone world, but frequency varies: in France, 'Au fait' is extremely common in casual speech, while in Quebec, 'En passant' is often used for 'by the way'. In more formal contexts, such as business meetings, 'À propos' or 'Puisque nous parlons de...' (Since we're talking about...) may be preferred. Avoid using 'Sinon' to change to a completely unrelated topic in formal settings; it can sound dismissive. Also, note that 'À propos' can sometimes mean 'by the way' but is not used to introduce a contradictory point; for that, 'En revanche' (on the other hand) is better.
One thing to watch for
Using 'À propos' to mean 'about' as in 'I'm thinking about you' (Je pense à propos de toi).
Try this instead: 'À propos' is not a synonym for 'about'. To say 'about', use 'à propos de' or 'au sujet de'. For example, 'Je pense à toi' (I'm thinking of you) or 'Nous avons parlé de ce projet' (We talked about this project). 'À propos' as a transition means 'speaking of which' or 'by the way'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely change the subject to ask about someone's vacation after talking about work?
Show a sample answer
À propos, comment étaient tes vacances ?
'À propos' is a versatile transition that works in most contexts. You could also use 'Au fait, comment étaient tes vacances ?' in a more informal setting.
2Which phrase would you use if the new topic is directly related to what was just said?
Show a sample answer
En parlant de ça...
'En parlant de ça' explicitly links the new topic to the previous one. 'Ça me fait penser que...' is another option that emphasizes the connection.
3What is a more formal alternative to 'Au fait' for changing the subject?
Show a sample answer
À propos
'À propos' is slightly more formal and can be used in both formal and informal situations. In very formal contexts, you might say 'Puisque nous parlons de...' (Since we're talking about...).
Use 'À propos' or 'Au fait' for general topic shifts, 'En parlant de ça' for related topics, and 'Sinon' to move away from a topic. Always follow with a clear, complete sentence to keep the conversation flowing.
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