Expats in France: How to Build Your Social Life & Make Friends

As someone who teaches many expatriates living in France, I know how important social integration is. Moving abroad is exciting, but it also means leaving behind your social life — friends, family, and regular routines in clubs or local gatherings. Once you’re in France, how can you connect with locals and create a meaningful social life? Here are practical tips and insights into French social life for expats, plus some useful vocabulary to help you get started.

1. Neighborhoods in France: How Expats Can Connect Locally

Unlike in the United States, people in France don’t live in “communities.” In fact, the word communauté can have a negative connotation (communautariste), suggesting a closed-off group. Integration works differently here.

Instead, locals talk about voisinage (neighborhood) and quartier (district). Even if they aren’t extremely close to their neighbors, French people usually know them well enough to rely on them if needed.

For example, in the countryside, neighbors often help each other: borrowing tools, picking up children from school, or sharing harvests. In cities, the strength of neighborhood ties varies, but it’s customary to introduce yourself when moving in.

Useful vocab:

• un voisin (a neighbor) – Mes voisins sont très sympathiques. / My neighbors are very friendly.

• un quartier (district, neighborhood) – Je vis dans un quartier calme. / I live in a quiet neighborhood.

• se présenter (to introduce oneself) – Bonjour ! Je vais me présenter. / Hi! I will introduce myself.

2. Everyday Opportunities for Social Interaction

To integrate socially, take every opportunity to interact with locals. Frequent markets and small shops — boulangeries (bakeries), boucheries (butcher shops), or fromageries (cheese shops) — to meet the same people regularly. Over time, simple greetings and questions like “Comment vont les enfants ?” or “Vos vacances se sont bien passées ?” become natural conversation.

Useful vocab:

• le marché (market) – J’achète mes légumes au marché chaque semaine. / I buy my vegetables at the market every week.

• un petit commerce (shop, small business) – Les petits commerces sont accueillants. / Local shops are welcoming.

• faire la conversation (chat) – Je fais la conversation avec mon boulanger chaque matin. / I chat with my baker every morning.

3. How Expats Can Make Friends: Clubs, MJC, and Associations

Daily interactions are useful, but they don’t always lead to friendships. To expand your social circle, explore clubs, associations, and organized activities:

• Centres sociaux (social centers): Open to all residents, these centers host workshops, cultural events, and group outings. Activities are affordable and include choir, painting, children’s workshops, or local excursions. Example in Dijon: MJC-Centre Social Bourroches
  

• MJC (Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture): Offer activities for all ages — knitting, yoga, choir, chess, film clubs, or wine tasting. Example in Dijon: Accueil Montchapet MJC
  

• Associations sportives (sports clubs): France has over 360,000 sports associations. Annual forums des associations help residents discover local clubs in one place. Popular sports include handball, football, yoga, basketball, tennis, and horse riding. Top 10 sports in France
  

• Écoles de musique ou de danse (music or dance schools): Structured courses for artistic learning, such as orchestras, bands, instruments, or dance classes for all ages.
  

Useful vocab:

• une association (association, club) – Je fais partie d’une association culturelle. / I am part of a cultural club.

• une activité (leisure activity, sport or cultural practice) – Les enfants ont leurs activités le mercredi après-midi.

• faire un cours (to take to a class, a course) – Je fais des cours de danse chaque semaine. / I take dance classes every week.

4. Getting Started: How to Find Clubs and Social Activities

Start by using Google with the right keywords: MJC, centre social, école de musique, club de sport, associations sportives + your city or department.

Then contact your mairie (town hall), which knows about local social activities and can guide newcomers. Social life in France is independent of schools or workplaces, but town halls play a key role in connecting people to local associations.

Useful vocab:

• la mairie (town hall) – La mairie organise des activités pour les habitants. / The town hall organizes activities for residents.

• un(e) habitant(e) (a resident) – Les habitants participent aux événements locaux. / The residents participate in local events.

• une initiative (initiative) – Il faut prendre l’initiative de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes. / You need to take the initiative to meet new people.

Conclusion: Navigating the Ups and Downs of Expat Life in France

Integrating into social life in France takes curiosity, initiative, and patience. I know that moving abroad comes with ups and downs. I’ve lived abroad myself for several years — in Canada and England — and I have family members who are expatriates in the United States. There’s the initial fascination, the excitement of discovering a new culture… and then the routines start to settle in. With these routines often comes the awareness of social isolation.

But don’t worry — these phases are both normal and necessary. They are naturally followed by a rebound and deeper social integration, because they push you to take steps to connect and engage with others.

To help you on this journey:

• Check out Struggling to Speak French? Here’s Why (and What to Do About It) for practical tips on speaking French confidently.

• Read Essential French School Vocabulary Every Expat Parent Should Know to get your kids integrated and understand the school system.

• For practical advice about daily life in France, see What Expats Need to Know About France Weather.

• Don’t forget to download my free vocabulary list of 1,500 useful French words here: 1500 Useful Words in French – Free Download.

And if you want to go further, I offer online conversation classes for expatriates, designed to help you integrate socially, make friends, and speak French without pressure.