French phrases for travelers
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Simple French phrases to help travellers in France
Important and useful French phrases for travellers to France.
People do not expect tourists to be fluent in their language but a simple please or thank you is always appreciated and your dining options in France will be greatly enhanced if you can understand a menu written in French.
That said, the French have earned a reputation for being, shall we say, a little intolerant, of those that cannot understand them. In France, a happy tourist is surely one who has been wise enough to learn a few simple French phrases.
The iconic picture of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, is by Lukáš Patkañ (patkisha on SXC)
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Je ne parle pas français
I don't speak French
But you can quickly learn how to say:
PleaseS'il vous plaît
Thank YouMerci
Sorry, pardon or excuse meExcusez-moi
Note that a less formal 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry', is simply 'Pardon'.
I is Je in French and,
You is Vous; informally, between close friends, relatives or when addressing children, use Tu.
You will also need to learn:
Yes which in French is Oui (pronounced we)
Yes pleaseOui, s'il vous plaît
No which in French is Non
No thanksNon merci
You will also hear merci beaucoup which means thanks a lot, and
de rien which means don't mention it (you're welcome).
Note: vous êtes bienvenumeans welcome (as in welcome here, welcome to my home, etc.), commonly just bienvenu.
Est-ce que je peux ?May I?
PleaseS'il vous plaît
Thank YouMerci
Sorry, pardon or excuse meExcusez-moi
Note that a less formal 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry', is simply 'Pardon'.
I is Je in French and,
You is Vous; informally, between close friends, relatives or when addressing children, use Tu.
You will also need to learn:
Yes which in French is Oui (pronounced we)
Yes pleaseOui, s'il vous plaît
No which in French is Non
No thanksNon merci
You will also hear merci beaucoup which means thanks a lot, and
de rien which means don't mention it (you're welcome).
Note: vous êtes bienvenumeans welcome (as in welcome here, welcome to my home, etc.), commonly just bienvenu.
Est-ce que je peux ?May I?
Useful French phrases
to get you out of trouble
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais ?
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas
I don't speak FrenchJe ne parle pas français
Could you write it down, please?Pourriez-vous l'écrire, s'il vous plaît ?
It was himC'était lui
Only joking!
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas
I don't speak FrenchJe ne parle pas français
Could you write it down, please?Pourriez-vous l'écrire, s'il vous plaît ?
It was himC'était lui
Only joking!
In an Emergency
Help____________________A l'aide!
Please help meVeuillez m'aider
Can you help me?Pouvez-vous m'aider ?
FireLe feu
AccidentAccident
Look outRegardez dehors/span>
PolicePolice (also Gendarmerie)
Physician or DoctorMédecin
Photo by SXC user janismama
Can you help me?Pouvez-vous m'aider ?
FireLe feu
AccidentAccident
Look outRegardez dehors/span>
PolicePolice (also Gendarmerie)
Physician or DoctorMédecin
Photo by SXC user janismama
Hi is understood in French
good daybeau jour
common greeting during the daybonjour
good morningbonjour
good afternoonbonjour
good eveningbonsoir
morningmatin
eveningsoirée
common greeting during the daybonjour
good morningbonjour
good afternoonbonjour
good eveningbonsoir
morningmatin
eveningsoirée
Bye
Good byeAu revoir
Good nightBonne nuit
Good nightBonne nuit
Numbers are easy
Because 0, 1, 2, 3, etc means the same in French as English.
all you have to do is to ask for it to be written down.
Can you write it down please?
Pouvez-vous l'écrire avalez-vous, s'il vous plaît ?
0 or zero, is zéro in French; the word null, used in German, is nulle in French. You should also note that a comma is used rather than a period to denote a decimal, as in two point five (2,5)
all you have to do is to ask for it to be written down.
Can you write it down please?
Pouvez-vous l'écrire avalez-vous, s'il vous plaît ?
0 or zero, is zéro in French; the word null, used in German, is nulle in French. You should also note that a comma is used rather than a period to denote a decimal, as in two point five (2,5)
- Un
- Deux
- Trois
- Quatre
- Cinq
- Six
- Sept
- Huit
- Neuf
- Dix
French calendar
MondayLundi
TuesdayMardi
WednesdayMercredi
ThursdayJeudi
FridayVendredi
SaturdaySamedi
SundayDimanche
Januaryjanvier
Februaryfévrier
Marchmars
Aprilavril
Maymai
JuneJuin
Julyjuillet
Augustaoût
Septemberseptembre
Octoberoctobre
Novembernovembre
Decemberdécembre
springprintemps
summerété
autumnautomne
winterhiver
Photo by Bartek Ambrozik
TuesdayMardi
WednesdayMercredi
ThursdayJeudi
FridayVendredi
SaturdaySamedi
SundayDimanche
Januaryjanvier
Februaryfévrier
Marchmars
Aprilavril
Maymai
JuneJuin
Julyjuillet
Augustaoût
Septemberseptembre
Octoberoctobre
Novembernovembre
Decemberdécembre
springprintemps
summerété
autumnautomne
winterhiver
Photo by Bartek Ambrozik
When?
Quand?
Today Aujourd'hui
TomorrowDemain
Next week La semaine prochaine
Next month Le mois prochain
Next year l'année prochaine
Five minutes Cinq minutes
Fifteen Minutes Quinze minutes
Half an hour Une demi-heure
One hourUne heure
Photo by SXC user RAWKU5
NoonMidi
This morningCe matin
This afternoonCet après-midi
This eveningCe soir
Be aware that the phrase "Ce soir", is also used to mean "tonight"
TonightCe soir
Note that for half-past the hour, the French say moitié-après,
so moitié-après deux means half-past two.
five minutes agoil y a cinq minutes
fifteen minutes agoil y a quinze minutes
one hour agoil y a une heure
yesterdayhier
last weekla semaine dernière
last monthle mois dernier
last yearl'année dernière
Where?
Où?
Hereici
Therelà
Please show me.
Veuillez me montrer.
Please show me on the map.
Veuillez me montrer sur la carte.
street mapplan de ville
Veuillez me montrer sur le plan de ville.
Therelà
Please show me.
Veuillez me montrer.
Please show me on the map.
Veuillez me montrer sur la carte.
street mapplan de ville
Veuillez me montrer sur le plan de ville.
French wine and other drinks
Is this table free? Cette table est-elle libre?
or,
Are these seats free?Ces sièges sont-ils libres?
What would you like?Que voulez-vous?
I would likeJe voudrais?
WineVin
remember, in French this is pronounced van
Red wineVin rouge
White wineVin blanc
Beer Bière
A beer, please Une bière, s'il vous plaît
A lagerUne bière blonde allemande
Mineral waterL'eau minérale
Drinking waterEau potable
Note water NOT for drinkingL'eau non-Potable
Photo by Trish Hughes
eau pétillante means sparkling water.
Juice jus
Orange juiceJus d'orange
Apple juiceJus de pomme
Grape juiceJus de raisins
LemonadeCitronnade
CokeCoca
coffee café
TeaThé
MilkLait
CreamCrème
sugarsucre
sweetener édulcorant
Note Café crème means coffee with cream, strictly 'café avec de la crème'
Café is assumed to mean coffee without cream. or black.
or,
Are these seats free?Ces sièges sont-ils libres?
What would you like?Que voulez-vous?
I would likeJe voudrais?
WineVin
remember, in French this is pronounced van
Red wineVin rouge
White wineVin blanc
Beer Bière
A beer, please Une bière, s'il vous plaît
A lagerUne bière blonde allemande
Mineral waterL'eau minérale
Drinking waterEau potable
Note water NOT for drinkingL'eau non-Potable
Photo by Trish Hughes
eau pétillante means sparkling water.
Juice jus
Orange juiceJus d'orange
Apple juiceJus de pomme
Grape juiceJus de raisins
LemonadeCitronnade
CokeCoca
coffee café
TeaThé
MilkLait
CreamCrème
sugarsucre
sweetener édulcorant
Note Café crème means coffee with cream, strictly 'café avec de la crème'
Café is assumed to mean coffee without cream. or black.
French food
foodnourriture
A table for one person, pleaseUne table pour une personne, s'il vous plaît
A table for two persons, pleaseUne table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît
A table for three persons, pleaseUne table pour trois personnes, s'il vous plaît
A table for four persons, pleaseUne table pour quatre personnes, s'il vous plaît
Can I look at the menu, please?Est-ce que je peux regarder le menu, s'il vous plaît?
But you could say:
May I see the menu, please?Est-ce que je peux voir le menu, s'il vous plaît?
I am a vegetarianJe suis végétarien
You can point to things on the menu, but it helps to know these foods
Apéritifs Appetizers or Hors-d'oeuvres
Potage Soup
Poulet Chicken
Porc Pork
Boeuf Beef
Saucisse Sausage
Be warned: steak in French might signify hamburger, because the French often refer to minced meat as steak
PoissonFish
And Note
Fruits de mer Shell Fish
moulesmussels
Salade (habituellement un plat d'accompagnement) Salad (usually a side dish)
Salade mixte Mixed salad
Photo by ilker
Grande salade variée (plat principal)Large mixed color salad
(main course)
sauce saladesalad dressing
pomme de terrepotato
Frites or Pommes-FritesFrench fries or chips
chou cabbage
haricots beans
carottes carrots
Pain Bread (often free with a meal)
dessert dessert
Gâteau ou pâtisserieCake or pastry
fruitfruit
salade de fruits fruit salad
pomme apple
orange orange
poire pear
cassisBlackcurrant
mûre blackberry
fraises strawberries
melon melon
banane banana
A table for one person, pleaseUne table pour une personne, s'il vous plaît
A table for two persons, pleaseUne table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît
A table for three persons, pleaseUne table pour trois personnes, s'il vous plaît
A table for four persons, pleaseUne table pour quatre personnes, s'il vous plaît
Can I look at the menu, please?Est-ce que je peux regarder le menu, s'il vous plaît?
But you could say:
May I see the menu, please?Est-ce que je peux voir le menu, s'il vous plaît?
I am a vegetarianJe suis végétarien
You can point to things on the menu, but it helps to know these foods
Apéritifs Appetizers or Hors-d'oeuvres
Potage Soup
Poulet Chicken
Porc Pork
Boeuf Beef
Saucisse Sausage
Be warned: steak in French might signify hamburger, because the French often refer to minced meat as steak
PoissonFish
And Note
Fruits de mer Shell Fish
moulesmussels
Salade (habituellement un plat d'accompagnement) Salad (usually a side dish)
Salade mixte Mixed salad
Photo by ilker
Grande salade variée (plat principal)Large mixed color salad
(main course)
sauce saladesalad dressing
pomme de terrepotato
Frites or Pommes-FritesFrench fries or chips
chou cabbage
haricots beans
carottes carrots
Pain Bread (often free with a meal)
dessert dessert
Gâteau ou pâtisserieCake or pastry
fruitfruit
salade de fruits fruit salad
pomme apple
orange orange
poire pear
cassisBlackcurrant
mûre blackberry
fraises strawberries
melon melon
banane banana
And how to tell the time in French
powered by Youtube
The toilet
La toilette
Excuse me, where is the toilet please?
Excusez-moi, où se trouvent la toilette, s'il-vous-plaît?
ToiletsToilettes
GentlemenMessieurs
LadiesDames
VacantVide
EngagedOccupé
Out of orderEn panne
Excusez-moi, où se trouvent la toilette, s'il-vous-plaît?
ToiletsToilettes
GentlemenMessieurs
LadiesDames
VacantVide
EngagedOccupé
Out of orderEn panne
Other important signs
Emergency Exit __________Sortie de secours
No smokingNon-fumeurs
Getting in and out
EntranceEntrée
ExitSortie
PushPousser
PullTirer
No entryAucune entrée
PrivatePrivé
ExitSortie
PushPousser
PullTirer
No entryAucune entrée
PrivatePrivé
Directions
leftgauche
rightdroite
straight ontout droit
upvers le haut de
downvers le bas
rightdroite
straight ontout droit
upvers le haut de
downvers le bas
Transport
AirportAéroport
DeparturesDéparts
ArrivalsArrivées
Rail or train StationGare or station (trains)
Main Rail StationGare principale or station principale (but the French often just use "gare")
Platform NumberQuai numéro
Subway or UndergroundSouterrain
Paris Subway or UndergroundMétro
DeparturesDéparts
ArrivalsArrivées
Rail or train StationGare or station (trains)
Main Rail StationGare principale or station principale (but the French often just use "gare")
Platform NumberQuai numéro
Subway or UndergroundSouterrain
Paris Subway or UndergroundMétro
French Humor
Phrase of the Day
A very special thank you
to Squidoo lensmaster Prosperity66, who is a native French speaker, and who kindly copy-read this page, advising me of any incorrect French phrases.
Faites-vous des amis prompts à vous censurer.
Make friends with those who would be quick to criticize you. Boileau
Be a friend, and leave some feedback about this page on 'French phrases for travelers'. Was it helpful? What would you like to see included?
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prosperity66 Aug 1, 2010 @ 1:46 pm | delete
- What a pleasure to read my native language on a lens! Did you learn French at school?
Dom.
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- There are a few misspellings, if you want to get help, just hit my contact me button :)
Delete this comment if you want, I'll make another one for the pleasure I got to read my native language :)
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Geeve
Aug 1, 2010 @ 3:59 pm | delete
- No problem Dom, thanks for taking the time to comment; it's bad enough spotting typos in English and that's my native language. I take it that you are referring to problems that you have spotted in the French :)
I'll take you up on your offer to contact you and make the corrections,
Thanks again,
Geeve
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triathlontraining
Jul 30, 2010 @ 4:35 pm | delete
- Next, I need to buy a ticket to France.
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Geeve
Jul 30, 2010 @ 5:33 pm | delete
- Just don't try doing it in French :)
Thanks for dropping by.
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by Geeve
Hello world. What can I say? Been to lots of places, done lots of things, Still got lots to do. I earn money writing, designing and editing web pages.... more »
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