Fifty French phrases for your trip to France, as a five-day plan of ten a day: greetings and manners, café and restaurant, paying and shops, getting around and signs, hotel and help. Every card has a pronunciation respelling, a real example exchange and a tip on when to use it and what catches tourists out, plus a bonus group of numbers 1–10. About 10 minutes a day.
CEFR A1 — Beginner
At this level you can introduce yourself, order food, ask directions. Vocabulary: ~500 words (cumulative).
Phrases you'll learn
How do you say “Hello / Good morning” in French?
“Hello / Good morning” is “Bonjour” in French. For example: Bonjour ! Un croissant, s'il vous plaît. – Bonjour, et avec ceci ? — Hello! A croissant, please. – Hello, anything else?
How do you say “Good evening” in French?
“Good evening” is “Bonsoir” in French. For example: Bonsoir, vous avez une table pour deux ? – Bonsoir, vous avez réservé ? — Good evening, do you have a table for two? – Good evening, do you have a reservation?
How do you say “Please” in French?
“Please” is “S'il vous plaît” in French. For example: Un café, s'il vous plaît. – Tout de suite. — A coffee, please. – Right away.
How do you say “Thank you” in French?
“Thank you” is “Merci” in French. For example: Merci beaucoup ! – Je vous en prie. — Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
French → English60 words~6 days at 10 words/day1 downloadA1A2
No ratingsNo ratingsby admin@wordsonrepeat.comSep 6, 2026
Salutation à dire en entrant dans un magasin ou en s'adressant à quelqu'un, du matin jusqu'au soir.
Hello / Good morning
Bonjour ! Un croissant, s'il vous plaît. – Bonjour, et avec ceci ?
Hello! A croissant, please. – Hello, anything else?
The single most important word in France: say it to the shopkeeper, waiter or bus driver before anything else, or the service turns cold. It works until about six in the evening, and only once per person per day; a second 'bonjour' to the same person gets a joking 'rebonjour'. 'Salut' is for friends; 'bonjour madame' or 'bonjour monsieur' is the polished version.
BonsoirA1
bohn-SWAHR
Salutation du soir, à partir de 18 heures environ ; en partant on dit 'bonne soirée'.
Good evening
Bonsoir, vous avez une table pour deux ? – Bonsoir, vous avez réservé ?
Good evening, do you have a table for two? – Good evening, do you have a reservation?
Switch from 'bonjour' to 'bonsoir' from about six in the evening, or once it is dark, and always when arriving for dinner. 'Bonne soirée' (have a good evening) is what you say on leaving; 'bonne nuit' is only for someone going to bed, never for leaving a restaurant.
S'il vous plaîtA1
seel voo PLEH
Formule de politesse ajoutée à la fin d'une demande.
Please
Un café, s'il vous plaît. – Tout de suite.
A coffee, please. – Right away.
Goes at the end of the request, after a comma; a bare 'un café' without it sounds like an order to a servant. Written 'SVP' on signs and messages. Between friends it becomes 's'il te plaît', the informal 'you', which you will hear but should not use with strangers.
MerciA1
mehr-SEE
Mot pour remercier ; on répond 'je vous en prie' ou 'de rien'.
Thank you
Merci beaucoup ! – Je vous en prie.
Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
The reply is 'je vous en prie' in shops and restaurants, or the casual 'de rien' (it's nothing); in the south-west you may hear 'avec plaisir'. Trap: when someone offers you more (wine, bread), a plain 'merci' means 'no, thank you'; to accept say 'oui, merci' or 'volontiers'. 'Merci beaucoup' is thanks a lot.
Excusez-moiA1formal
ex-kew-zay-MWAH
Formule pour attirer l'attention de quelqu'un ou s'excuser poliment ; forme de vouvoiement.
Excuse me / Sorry
Excusez-moi, on peut commander ? – Oui, j'arrive.
Excuse me, can we order? – Yes, coming.
For catching a waiter's eye, stopping a stranger for directions, or apologising for a small bump; it is the formal 'vous' form, right for anyone you don't know. When starting a conversation put 'bonjour' first: 'bonjour, excusez-moi…'. For a real apology say 'je suis désolé' ('désolée' if you are a woman).
PardonA1
par-DOHN
Mot pour demander à passer dans la foule ou s'excuser d'une petite gêne.
Excuse me (to get past) / Sorry
Pardon ! Je descends ici.
Excuse me! I'm getting off here.
The word for squeezing through the métro at rush hour, a crowd or a market: say it as you move and people step aside. It also covers a light apology for a bump and, with rising intonation, 'sorry, what did you say?'. Keep the nasal ending; the English 'pardon' with a hard 'n' sounds odd.
Oui / NonA1
wee / nohn
Les deux réponses de base ; 'non merci' refuse poliment.
Yes / No
Un bracelet, madame ? – Non merci.
A bracelet, madam? – No, thanks.
'Non merci' is the polite full stop for street sellers, rose vendors and the 'friendship bracelet' hustlers around Montmartre; keep walking as you say it. You will hear 'ouais' (yeah) from locals, but say 'oui'. 'Si' is yes when contradicting a negative question ('vous ne restez pas ?' – 'si').
Vous parlez anglais ?A1formal
voo par-lay ahn-GLEH
Question pour savoir si quelqu'un parle anglais ; forme polie avec 'vous'.
Synonyms:parlez-vous anglais ?
Do you speak English?
Bonjour, excusez-moi, vous parlez anglais ? – Un peu.
Hello, excuse me, do you speak English? – A little.
Ask in French, after 'bonjour', and most people switch happily; opening in English without 'bonjour' is what earns Paris its reputation. 'Vous parlez' is the formal form; 'parlez-vous anglais ?' is the textbook version and equally fine. 'Un peu' means a little.
Je ne comprends pasA1
zhuh nuh kohn-prahn PAH
Phrase pour dire qu'on n'a pas compris ce qui a été dit.
Synonyms:je comprends pas
I don't understand
Je ne comprends pas. Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.
I don't understand. More slowly, please.
Add 'plus lentement, s'il vous plaît' (more slowly) and people slow down and simplify; in speech the 'ne' usually drops, so you will hear 'je comprends pas'. 'Je ne parle pas français' says you don't speak French at all. The 's' of 'plus' is silent here: 'plew'.
Au revoirA1
oh ruh-VWAHR
Formule pour prendre congé de quelqu'un qu'on ne connaît pas bien.
Synonyms:bonne journée, bonne soirée
Goodbye
Merci, au revoir ! – Au revoir, bonne journée !
Thanks, goodbye! – Goodbye, have a good day!
The farewell for shops, cafés and anyone you don't know; say it on the way out even if you bought nothing, as the closing half of the 'bonjour' rule. 'Bonne journée' (have a good day) or 'bonne soirée' is the friendly extra you will hear back; reply 'merci, vous aussi'. In fast speech it shrinks to 'or-vwahr'.
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaîtA1
ewn TAHBL poor DUH, seel voo PLEH
Phrase pour demander une table au restaurant en indiquant le nombre de personnes.
A table for two, please
Bonsoir, une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. – Vous avez réservé ?
Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
Wait at the door of a restaurant to be seated; on a café terrace you may simply sit down. Swap 'deux' for your number (trois, quatre), or say 'on est deux' (there are two of us). Kitchens keep set hours, roughly 12–14 and 19:30–22, and popular places will ask whether you booked.
Je voudrais…A1
zhuh voo-DREH
Forme polie de 'vouloir' pour commander ou demander quelque chose.
Synonyms:je vais prendre…
I'd like…
Je voudrais le poulet rôti. Je voudrais un verre de vin rouge.
I'd like the roast chicken. I'd like a glass of red wine.
The polite frame for ordering anything: 'je voudrais' plus the item, 's'il vous plaît' at the end. Never 'je veux' (I want), which sounds like a child. French diners themselves say 'je vais prendre…' (I'll have) or 'pour moi, …'; the waiter may then ask 'et comme boisson ?' (and to drink?).
La carte, s'il vous plaîtA1
lah KART, seel voo PLEH
Demande de la liste des plats ; attention, 'le menu' désigne une formule à prix fixe.
The menu, please
La carte, s'il vous plaît. Vous avez une carte en anglais ?
The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
Trap: in French 'le menu' is a fixed-price set meal, not the list of dishes; the list is 'la carte'. 'Le menu du jour' or 'la formule' (starter + main, or main + dessert) is the lunchtime bargain, and 'le plat du jour' is the dish of the day. Tourist-area places usually have an English menu; ask rather than assume.
Un café, s'il vous plaîtA1
uhn kah-FAY, seel voo PLEH
Au café, 'un café' est un expresso ; avec du lait, on demande 'un crème'.
A coffee (= an espresso), please
Un café et un crème, s'il vous plaît. – Au comptoir ou en salle ?
An espresso and a milky coffee, please. – At the counter or at a table?
'Un café' is a small espresso. For milk say 'un café crème' or just 'un crème' (espresso with steamed milk, the closest thing to a latte); 'un café au lait' is understood but is really the breakfast bowl at home. 'Un allongé' is a long black, 'un noisette' an espresso with a dash of milk, 'un déca' decaf; the same coffee costs more at a table ('en salle') or on the terrace than standing at the counter.
Plate ou gazeuse ?A1
PLAHT oo gah-ZUHZ
Question sur l'eau au restaurant ; 'une carafe d'eau' (eau du robinet) est gratuite.
Synonyms:pétillante
Still or sparkling?
De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ? – Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
Still or sparkling water? – A jug of tap water, please.
This question means the waiter is selling bottled water (Evian, Badoit), which is paid for. Tap water is free and every restaurant must serve it: ask for 'une carafe d'eau', the phrase every French diner uses. 'Pétillante' is another word for sparkling; answer with the one word and 's'il vous plaît'.
L'addition, s'il vous plaîtA1
lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH
Phrase pour demander à payer au restaurant ; l'addition n'arrive pas toute seule.
The bill, please
Excusez-moi, l'addition, s'il vous plaît. – Je vous l'apporte.
Excuse me, the bill, please. – I'll bring it over.
The bill will not come until you ask; being left alone at the table is politeness, not neglect. Catch the waiter's eye and say this, or mime signing in the air; they bring a card terminal to the table. In a café you can also ask 'je vous dois combien ?' (what do I owe you?) and pay the server directly; 'la note' is a hotel bill.
Je peux payer par carte ?A2
zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART
Question pour savoir si on peut payer par carte bancaire.
Can I pay by card?
Je peux payer par carte ? – Oui, sans contact si vous voulez.
Can I pay by card? – Yes, contactless if you like.
Cards ('carte bancaire', 'CB') are taken almost everywhere, and contactless ('sans contact') works even at bakeries and market stalls, up to 50 euros a tap. Some small places post a minimum ('CB à partir de 10 €') and American Express is often refused, so carry a little cash ('des espèces'). If it matters, ask before you order.
Santé !A1
sahn-TAY
Formule pour trinquer ; on se regarde dans les yeux en choquant les verres.
Synonyms:tchin-tchin, à la vôtre
Cheers!
Santé ! – À la vôtre !
Cheers! – To your health!
Clink glasses and look each person in the eye as you do it; skipping the eye contact is said to bring seven years of bad luck, and crossing arms with another pair of clinking glasses is avoided too. 'Tchin-tchin' is the playful version and 'à la vôtre' the reply. 'À vos souhaits' is what you say after a sneeze.
Bon appétit !A1
bohn ah-pay-TEE
Souhait adressé à quelqu'un qui va manger ; on répond 'merci, vous aussi'.
Enjoy your meal!
Bon appétit ! – Merci, vous aussi.
Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
Said by the waiter as the plates land and by strangers walking past your picnic bench; reply 'merci, vous aussi' or 'également'. Old-school etiquette books call it vulgar, but everyone says it. If you leave a table where others are still eating, say it too.
Service comprisA2
sehr-VEESS kohn-PREE
Mention sur l'addition : le service est déjà inclus dans les prix, le pourboire est facultatif.
Service included (on the bill)
Prix nets, service compris.
Net prices, service included.
Printed on most French menus and bills ('prix nets, service compris'): by law the price you see already includes service (traditionally counted as 15%), and there is no cover charge. A tip ('pourboire') is optional; rounding up or leaving a euro or two in coins for good service is plenty, and skipping a tip screen on a card terminal is normal. 'Couvert' on a menu means a place setting, not a fee.
C'est combien… ?A1
seh kohn-BYEHN
Question pour demander le prix de quelque chose.
Synonyms:combien ça coûte ?, ça fait combien ?
How much is…?
C'est combien, ça ? C'est combien, un billet ?
How much is this? How much is a ticket?
Frame: point and say 'c'est combien ?' on its own, or add the item after a comma. 'Combien ça coûte ?' is the same question; at the till, 'ça fait combien ?' asks for the total, and the answer comes back as 'ça fait…' plus the amount. Prices must be displayed by law, so in shops you rarely need to ask.
C'est trop cherA1
seh troh SHEHR
Phrase pour dire que le prix est trop élevé.
That's too expensive
C'est trop cher pour moi. Merci quand même.
That's too expensive for me. Thanks anyway.
Fine at flea markets ('brocantes', 'vide-greniers', the Paris 'Puces'), where a little bargaining is expected; rude in shops and at food markets, where prices are fixed and posted. 'Merci quand même' (thanks anyway) lets you walk away politely. 'Cher' also means 'dear' at the top of a letter.
En espèces ou par carte ?A1
ahn nes-PESS oo par KART
Question à la caisse : payer en liquide ou par carte bancaire.
Cash or card?
Vous payez comment, en espèces ou par carte ? – Par carte.
How are you paying, cash or card? – By card.
The till question, often shortened to 'par carte ?' or 'vous payez comment ?'. Answer with 'par carte' or 'en espèces'; 'en liquide' also means cash, and a card is 'la CB' in speech and on signs. Shops must take cash but may refuse a 100 or 200 euro note, so keep small notes.
Le ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaîtA2
luh tee-KEH duh KESS, seel voo PLEH
Le reçu imprimé à la caisse ; depuis 2023, il faut le demander.
The receipt, please
Vous voulez le ticket ? – Oui, le ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît.
Do you want the receipt? – Yes, the receipt, please.
Since 2023 French shops no longer print receipts automatically; the cashier asks 'vous voulez le ticket ?' and a 'non' means you leave without one. Say 'oui' if you might return the item or need it for expenses. Visitors who live outside the EU (UK residents included) can claim the VAT back ('la détaxe') on purchases over 100 euros in one shop on one day: ask for the 'bordereau de détaxe' and show your passport.
Je regarde, merciA1
zhuh ruh-GARD, mehr-SEE
Réponse polie au vendeur quand on ne veut rien acheter.
Synonyms:je regarde juste
I'm just looking, thanks
Je peux vous aider ? – Je regarde, merci.
Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
The answer to 'je peux vous aider ?' or 'vous cherchez quelque chose ?' in any shop; 'je regarde juste' adds 'just'. Say 'bonjour' on the way in and 'au revoir, merci' on the way out even if you buy nothing. At a market stall don't handle the fruit: point, and let the seller pick it for you.
Ce sera tout, merciA1
suh suh-rah TOO, mehr-SEE
Phrase pour dire qu'on ne veut rien d'autre.
Synonyms:c'est tout
That's all, thanks
Et avec ceci ? – Ce sera tout, merci.
Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
The answer to the bakery's eternal 'et avec ceci ?' or 'et avec ça ?' (anything else?), which comes after every single item. 'C'est tout' works too. At a cheese or deli counter you order by weight ('deux cents grammes') or by slices ('trois tranches').
Un comme ça, s'il vous plaîtA1
uhn kom SAH, seel voo PLEH
Phrase pour commander quelque chose en le montrant du doigt.
Synonyms:celui-là, celle-là
One of these, please
Un comme ça, s'il vous plaît. – Sur place ou à emporter ?
One of these, please. – Eat in or takeaway?
Pointing plus this phrase orders any pastry, sandwich or ticket; for one specific item say 'celui-là' (that one), or 'celle-là' for feminine things like 'une tarte'. The reply 'sur place ou à emporter ?' is eat in or takeaway; eating in sometimes costs more. Before a feminine noun it is 'une comme ça' (une baguette).
Vous avez… ?A1
voo zah-VAY
Forme pour demander si un magasin ou un café a quelque chose.
Synonyms:est-ce que vous avez… ?, il y a… ?
Do you have…?
Vous avez une taille au-dessus ? Vous avez le Wi-Fi ?
Do you have a size up? Do you have Wi-Fi?
Frame: 'vous avez' plus the thing, said to the shop or café as a whole; 'est-ce que vous avez…?' is the fuller version and 'il y a…?' (is there…?) does the same job. 'Une taille' is a clothing size, 'une pointure' a shoe size, both on the EU scale. The 's' of 'vous' links into 'avez': 'voo-zah-vay'.
Ouvert / FerméA1
oo-VEHR / fehr-MAY
Les deux mots sur les portes des magasins : ouvert ou fermé.
Open / Closed
Fermé le dimanche et le lundi. Ouvert de 9h à 12h30 et de 15h à 19h.
Closed Sunday and Monday. Open 9 to 12:30 and 3 to 7.
The two door signs. Outside the big cities shops still close for lunch, roughly noon to two or three, and most are shut on Sunday and often Monday; bakeries open Sunday morning and close one weekday instead. 'Fermeture exceptionnelle' is an unplanned closure, 'congés annuels' the summer shutdown in August, 'horaires' the opening hours.
Soldes / CaisseA1
SOLD / KESS
'Soldes' : les réductions de saison ; 'caisse' : l'endroit où l'on paie.
Sale / Checkout
Soldes : jusqu'à -50 %. Caisse.
Sale: up to 50% off. Checkout.
'Soldes' are the twice-yearly sales fixed by law, four weeks from early January and four from late June, when the whole country shops; 'promotion' or 'promo' is any other discount. 'Caisse' is the till, where you pay after ordering at a bakery counter; in supermarkets 'caisses' points to the checkouts and 'caisse automatique' is self-checkout.
Où est… ?A1
oo EH
Question pour demander où se trouve un lieu.
Synonyms:où se trouve… ?
Where is…?
Où est la gare ? Où sont les toilettes ?
Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
Frame: 'où est' plus the place with its article, opened with 'bonjour, excusez-moi'. 'Les toilettes' is plural, so it takes 'où sont'. The answer will use 'à gauche', 'à droite', 'tout droit'; 'où se trouve…?' is the same question, a touch more formal.
Où sont les toilettes ?A1
oo sohn lay twah-LET
Question pour trouver les toilettes ; le mot est toujours au pluriel.
Synonyms:les WC
Where is the bathroom?
Excusez-moi, où sont les toilettes ? – Au sous-sol, à droite.
Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – In the basement, on the right.
Always plural in French. Public toilets are scarce; in a café buy a coffee first, and in Paris look for the free grey 'sanisette' cabins on the street. Doors say 'Dames' / 'Messieurs' or 'Femmes' / 'Hommes', and some café toilets open with a code printed on your receipt; 'les WC' (vay-say) is understood too.
Où est la gare ?A1
oo eh lah GAR
Question pour trouver la gare des trains.
Where is the station?
Où est la gare ? – Tout droit, puis à gauche. Dix minutes.
Where is the station? – Straight on, then left. Ten minutes.
'La gare' on its own is the train station ('gare SNCF' on road signs); 'la gare routière' is the bus station and 'la station de métro' the underground. Paris has several main stations named by direction (Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse), so check which one your train uses before you set off.
Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaîtA1
uhn bee-YEH poor lee-OHN, seel voo PLEH
Phrase pour acheter un billet de train vers une destination.
A ticket to Lyon, please
Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît. – Aller simple ou aller-retour ?
A ticket to Lyon, please. – One way or return?
'Aller simple' is one way, 'aller-retour' return. TGV tickets are for a specific train with a reserved seat and are far cheaper booked ahead (SNCF Connect app or site); low-cost Ouigo trains are e-ticket only and close boarding a few minutes before departure, so arrive early. Regional TER tickets are fixed price and usually valid on any TER on that route that day.
Quelle voie ?A1
kel VWAH
Question pour savoir de quelle voie part le train.
Synonyms:quel quai ?
Which platform (track)?
Le train pour Lille, c'est quelle voie ? – Voie 7.
The train to Lille, which platform? – Track 7.
The departures board ('Départs') shows the track as 'Voie' plus a number or letter, often only 20 minutes before departure, which is why crowds stand staring at it; 'le quai' is the physical platform. Big Paris stations are split into 'Hall 1' and 'Hall 2' with different tracks, so check the hall too. 'Retardé' means delayed, 'supprimé' cancelled.
À gauche / à droite / tout droitA1
ah GOHSH / ah DRWAHT / too DRWAH
Les trois mots de direction : gauche, droite, tout droit.
Left / right / straight on
Tout droit, puis la deuxième à droite.
Straight on, then the second on the right.
What every answer to 'où est' contains. Trap: 'à droite' (right) and 'tout droit' (straight on) sound alike; the final 't' is heard in 'droite' and silent in 'droit'. 'Au bout' is at the end, 'en face' opposite, 'au coin' at the corner; 'c'est loin ?' asks whether it is far.
Entrée / SortieA1
ahn-TRAY / sor-TEE
Les panneaux pour entrer et sortir ; au restaurant, 'entrée' est le premier plat.
Entrance / Exit
Sortie de secours. Entrée libre.
Emergency exit. Free admission.
'Sortie' is also the motorway exit and the way out of the métro, where the signs are blue. 'Entrée libre' on a shop or museum door means free admission. Trap on menus: 'entrée' is the starter, not the main course, which is 'le plat'.
Poussez / TirezA1
poo-SAY / tee-RAY
Les mots sur les portes : poussez vers l'avant, tirez vers vous.
Synonyms:pousser / tirer
Push / Pull
Poussez. – Tirez.
Push. – Pull.
The door words, in the polite imperative; you will also see the infinitives 'pousser' / 'tirer'. 'Appuyez' (press) is on buttons and pedestrian crossings, and apartment buildings have a 'digicode' keypad and an 'interphone' at the street door.
Validez votre billetA2
vah-lee-DAY votr bee-YEH
Valider son billet dans la machine en montant dans le bus ou le tram ; sinon, amende.
Synonyms:compostez votre billet
Validate your ticket
Validez votre titre de transport à chaque montée.
Validate your ticket every time you board.
The fine that catches tourists is on buses and trams: tap or insert your ticket or pass in the machine every time you board, even on a transfer, or the inspector fines you on the spot (roughly 35 to 60 euros depending on the city, more if you do not pay immediately). On trains the old yellow 'composteur' stamping machines are disappearing since tickets went digital; e-tickets never need it, but a paper TER ticket from a station machine may still say 'à composter' where a validator exists, so follow the sign. 'Titre de transport' is the official word for any ticket or pass.
ArrêtA1
ah-REH
L'endroit où s'arrêtent bus et tram ; 'prochain arrêt' est l'annonce à bord.
Stop (bus / tram)
Prochain arrêt : Hôtel de Ville. Arrêt demandé.
Next stop: Hôtel de Ville. Stop requested.
The word on bus-stop signs ('Arrêt' plus the stop name) and in the on-board announcement 'prochain arrêt'. Buses in France do not stop automatically: raise a hand at the stop to be picked up, and press the red button to light up 'arrêt demandé' before yours. Métro stops are 'stations'; 'terminus' is the end of the line.
J'ai une réservationA1
zhay ewn ray-zehr-vah-SYOHN
Phrase pour dire à la réception qu'on a déjà réservé.
I have a reservation
Bonjour, j'ai une réservation au nom de Smith. – Une pièce d'identité, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I have a reservation under Smith. – An ID, please.
The check-in opener; 'au nom de' plus your surname gives the name. Hotels ask for a passport ('une pièce d'identité') and charge a small 'taxe de séjour' (tourist tax) per person per night, often not in the online price and sometimes cash only. Check-in is usually from 14:00 or 15:00; the phrase works for restaurants too.
La clé, s'il vous plaîtA1
lah KLAY, seel voo PLEH
Demande de la clé de la chambre à la réception.
The key, please
La clé, s'il vous plaît. Chambre douze. – Voilà.
The key, please. Room twelve. – Here you are.
Smaller hotels still keep keys at the desk: leave it when you go out and ask for it back with your room number. Also spelled 'clef', same sound. A key card is 'la carte' or 'le badge'; rentals usually give you a 'digicode' (door code) instead.
Quel est le code Wi-Fi ?A1
kel eh luh KOD wee-FEE
Question pour obtenir le mot de passe du réseau Wi-Fi.
Synonyms:le mot de passe du Wi-Fi
What's the Wi-Fi password?
Quel est le code Wi-Fi ? – Il est sur la carte, dans la chambre.
What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's on the card in the room.
French people say 'le code Wi-Fi' rather than 'le mot de passe' (password), and 'Wi-Fi' is pronounced 'wee-fee'. 'Vous avez le Wi-Fi ?' asks whether there is any; cafés often print it on the receipt or a card. When they spell it out, 'majuscule' is a capital letter and 'minuscule' lower case.
À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner ?A1
ah kel UHR eh luh puh-tee-day-zhuh-NAY
Question sur l'horaire du petit-déjeuner à l'hôtel.
What time is breakfast?
À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner ? – De sept heures à dix heures.
What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
'À quelle heure' is at what time; the answer 'de… à…' gives the range. French hotel breakfast is croissants, bread and coffee, and it is often not included and pricey, so ask 'le petit-déjeuner est compris ?'; the bakery next door is the local alternative. The other question you need is 'à quelle heure est le check-out ?', said just like that.
Au secours !A1
oh suh-KOOR
Cri pour demander de l'aide en cas d'urgence.
Synonyms:à l'aide !
Help!
Au secours ! Appelez une ambulance !
Help! Call an ambulance!
Shout it; everyone understands. The European emergency number 112 works in France with English-speaking operators, or dial 15 for medical, 17 for police, 18 for fire; 114 by text for the deaf. 'Au voleur !' (thief!) if someone grabs a bag; 'à l'aide !' is the other cry for help.
J'ai besoin d'un médecinA2
zhay buh-ZWAHN duhn mayd-SAHN
Phrase pour dire qu'il faut un docteur.
I need a doctor
J'ai besoin d'un médecin. Je ne me sens pas bien.
I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
'J'ai besoin de' is I need. For an emergency dial 15 (SAMU) or 112; 'les urgences' is the hospital emergency department. For anything less urgent the pharmacist will advise, and 'SOS Médecins' (3624) sends a doctor to your hotel for a fee; EU visitors use the EHIC card, others should have their insurance details ready.
Où est la pharmacie ?A1
oo eh lah far-mah-SEE
Question pour trouver la pharmacie ; l'enseigne est une croix verte.
Where is the pharmacy?
Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Look for the flashing green cross. Only pharmacies sell medicines in France, even paracetamol, and the pharmacist will advise and suggest a remedy without a prescription; a 'parapharmacie' sells cosmetics, not drugs. 'Pharmacie de garde' is the one open at night or on Sunday, listed on every pharmacy door or on the 3237 phone line.
Appelez la police, s'il vous plaîtA2formal
ah-play lah po-LEESS, seel voo PLEH
Demande d'appeler la police en cas d'urgence ou de vol.
Call the police, please
Appelez la police, s'il vous plaît. On m'a volé mon portefeuille.
Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
Formal 'vous' command. The police number is 17 or 112; in towns you go to the 'commissariat', in the countryside to the 'gendarmerie', and either will help. For a theft you need a 'dépôt de plainte' (police report) for insurance; you can start it online and bring your passport to sign it.
Je suis perdu / perdueA1
zhuh swee pehr-DEW
Phrase pour dire qu'on ne sait plus où l'on est.
I'm lost
Je suis perdue. C'est par où, le Louvre ?
I'm lost. Which way to the Louvre?
'Perdu' if you are male, 'perdue' if female; the extra 'e' changes only the spelling, both sound the same. Follow it with 'où est…' or 'c'est par où ?' (which way?), or show the address on your phone. 'C'est loin ?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer.
Vous pouvez appeler un taxi, s'il vous plaît ?A2formal
voo poo-vay ah-play uhn tak-SEE, seel voo PLEH
Demande polie de faire appeler un taxi.
Can you call a taxi, please?
Vous pouvez appeler un taxi, s'il vous plaît ? – Bien sûr, pour aller où ?
Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?
Formal 'vous pouvez' (can you). Taxis wait at ranks ('station de taxis') and can be hailed when the roof light is green; hotels and restaurants will call one, and the G7 app works in Paris and many of the big cities. Fares are metered, with fixed flat rates between Paris and its airports; 'un VTC' is a ride-hail car such as Uber or Bolt.
un / uneA1
uhn / ewn
Le chiffre 1.
one
Un café et une bière, s'il vous plaît.
One coffee and one beer, please.
'Un' before masculine nouns, 'une' before feminine ones (un café, une bière); the same words also mean 'a'. Counting or answering on its own, it is 'un'. 'Un' is a nasal sound: say it through the nose without closing on the 'n'.
deuxA1
duh
Le chiffre 2.
two
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
A table for two, please.
The 'x' is silent before a consonant or a pause; before a vowel it links as 'z', so 'deux euros' is 'duh-zuh-ROH'. 'On est deux' means there are two of us.
troisA1
trwah
Le chiffre 3.
three
Voie trois.
Track three.
Silent 's', except linked as 'z' before a vowel: 'trois heures' is 'trwah-ZUHR'. Platform, room and bus numbers are read as plain numbers.
quatreA1
KAHTR
Le chiffre 4.
four
On est quatre.
There are four of us.
'On est' plus a number is how you tell a restaurant how many you are. The 'r' at the end is a soft throat sound, almost swallowed in fast speech, so it comes out close to 'kat'.
cinqA1
sank
Le chiffre 5.
five
Ça fait cinq euros.
That's five euros.
'Ça fait' plus a price is how the total is announced at the till. The 'q' is pronounced, and it links into 'cinq euros' as 'san-kuh-ROH'; 'euros' is 'uh-ROH' with the 's' silent.
sixA1
seess
Le chiffre 6.
six (6)
On se retrouve à six heures.
Let's meet at six.
Three sounds for one word: 'seess' on its own, 'see' before a consonant ('six personnes'), and 'seez' before a vowel ('six heures' is 'see-ZUHR'). Timetables use the 24-hour clock, so 18:00 is 'dix-huit heures' on the board; in speech people say either 'dix-huit heures' or 'six heures' ('six heures du soir' if it could be misread).
septA1
set
Le chiffre 7.
seven
Le petit-déjeuner est à sept heures.
Breakfast is at seven.
The 'p' is silent: 'set', linking into 'sept heures' as 'seh-TUHR'. Opening hours are given this way: 'de sept heures à dix heures'.
huitA1
weet
Le chiffre 8.
eight
Le train part à huit heures.
The train leaves at eight.
'Part à' plus the hour is 'leaves at'; 'huit heures' links as 'wee-TUHR'. On timetables 20:00 is 'vingt heures', in speech 'huit heures du soir'; French dinner bookings start around 19:30 or 20:00.
neufA1
nuhf
Le chiffre 9.
nine
Chambre neuf.
Room nine.
Also the word for 'new'. Before 'heures' and 'ans' the 'f' turns into a 'v' sound: 'neuf heures' is 'nuh-VUHR'.
dixA1
deess
Le chiffre 10.
ten
Dix minutes à pied.
Ten minutes on foot.
Like 'six': 'deess' alone, 'dee' before a consonant ('dix minutes'), 'deez' before a vowel ('dix euros' is 'dee-zuh-ROH'). 'À pied' is on foot; 'vingt' is twenty and 'cent' a hundred, for prices.