French Trip Kit50 French phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. Bonjour bohn-ZHOOR
   Hello / Good morning
   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.
   Bonjour ! Un croissant, s'il vous plaît. – Bonjour, et avec ceci ? — Hello! A croissant, please. – Hello, anything else?
2. Bonsoir bohn-SWAHR
   Good evening
   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.
   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?
3. S'il vous plaît seel voo PLEH
   Please
   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.
   Un café, s'il vous plaît. – Tout de suite. — A coffee, please. – Right away.
4. Merci mehr-SEE
   Thank you
   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.
   Merci beaucoup ! – Je vous en prie. — Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
5. Excusez-moi ex-kew-zay-MWAH formal
   Excuse me / Sorry
   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).
   Excusez-moi, on peut commander ? – Oui, j'arrive. — Excuse me, can we order? – Yes, coming.
6. Pardon par-DOHN
   Excuse me (to get past) / Sorry
   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.
   Pardon ! Je descends ici. — Excuse me! I'm getting off here.
7. Oui / Non wee / nohn
   Yes / No
   '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').
   Un bracelet, madame ? – Non merci. — A bracelet, madam? – No, thanks.
8. Vous parlez anglais ? voo par-lay ahn-GLEH formal
   Do you speak English?
   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.
   Bonjour, excusez-moi, vous parlez anglais ? – Un peu. — Hello, excuse me, do you speak English? – A little.
9. Je ne comprends pas zhuh nuh kohn-prahn PAH
   I don't understand
   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'.
   Je ne comprends pas. Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît. — I don't understand. More slowly, please.
10. Au revoir oh ruh-VWAHR
    Goodbye
    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'.
    Merci, au revoir ! – Au revoir, bonne journée ! — Thanks, goodbye! – Goodbye, have a good day!

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît ewn TAHBL poor DUH, seel voo PLEH
   A table for two, please
   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.
   Bonsoir, une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. – Vous avez réservé ? — Good evening, a table for two, please. – Do you have a reservation?
2. Je voudrais… zhuh voo-DREH frame
   I'd like…
   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?).
   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.
3. La carte, s'il vous plaît lah KART, seel voo PLEH
   The menu, please
   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.
   La carte, s'il vous plaît. Vous avez une carte en anglais ? — The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
4. Un café, s'il vous plaît uhn kah-FAY, seel voo PLEH
   A coffee (= an espresso), please
   '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.
   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?
5. Plate ou gazeuse ? PLAHT oo gah-ZUHZ
   Still or sparkling?
   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'.
   De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ? – Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît. — Still or sparkling water? – A jug of tap water, please.
6. L'addition, s'il vous plaît lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH
   The bill, please
   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.
   Excusez-moi, l'addition, s'il vous plaît. – Je vous l'apporte. — Excuse me, the bill, please. – I'll bring it over.
7. Je peux payer par carte ? zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART
   Can I pay by card?
   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.
   Je peux payer par carte ? – Oui, sans contact si vous voulez. — Can I pay by card? – Yes, contactless if you like.
8. Santé ! sahn-TAY
   Cheers!
   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.
   Santé ! – À la vôtre ! — Cheers! – To your health!
9. Bon appétit ! bohn ah-pay-TEE
   Enjoy your meal!
   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.
   Bon appétit ! – Merci, vous aussi. — Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
10. Service compris sehr-VEESS kohn-PREE sign
    Service included (on the bill)
    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.
    Prix nets, service compris. — Net prices, service included.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. C'est combien… ? seh kohn-BYEHN frame
   How much is…?
   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 combien, ça ? C'est combien, un billet ? — How much is this? How much is a ticket?
2. C'est trop cher seh troh SHEHR
   That's too expensive
   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.
   C'est trop cher pour moi. Merci quand même. — That's too expensive for me. Thanks anyway.
3. En espèces ou par carte ? ahn nes-PESS oo par KART
   Cash or 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.
   Vous payez comment, en espèces ou par carte ? – Par carte. — How are you paying, cash or card? – By card.
4. Le ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît luh tee-KEH duh KESS, seel voo PLEH
   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.
   Vous voulez le ticket ? – Oui, le ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît. — Do you want the receipt? – Yes, the receipt, please.
5. Je regarde, merci zhuh ruh-GARD, mehr-SEE
   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.
   Je peux vous aider ? – Je regarde, merci. — Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. Ce sera tout, merci suh suh-rah TOO, mehr-SEE
   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').
   Et avec ceci ? – Ce sera tout, merci. — Anything else? – That's all, thanks.
7. Un comme ça, s'il vous plaît uhn kom SAH, seel voo PLEH
   One of these, please
   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).
   Un comme ça, s'il vous plaît. – Sur place ou à emporter ? — One of these, please. – Eat in or takeaway?
8. Vous avez… ? voo zah-VAY frame
   Do you have…?
   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'.
   Vous avez une taille au-dessus ? Vous avez le Wi-Fi ? — Do you have a size up? Do you have Wi-Fi?
9. Ouvert / Fermé oo-VEHR / fehr-MAY sign
   Open / Closed
   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.
   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.
10. Soldes / Caisse SOLD / KESS sign
    Sale / 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.
    Soldes : jusqu'à -50 %. Caisse. — Sale: up to 50% off. Checkout.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. Où est… ? oo EH frame
   Where is…?
   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 est la gare ? Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the station? Where is the bathroom?
2. Où sont les toilettes ? oo sohn lay twah-LET
   Where is the bathroom?
   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.
   Excusez-moi, où sont les toilettes ? – Au sous-sol, à droite. — Excuse me, where is the bathroom? – In the basement, on the right.
3. Où est la gare ? oo eh lah GAR
   Where is the station?
   '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.
   Où est la gare ? – Tout droit, puis à gauche. Dix minutes. — Where is the station? – Straight on, then left. Ten minutes.
4. Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît uhn bee-YEH poor lee-OHN, seel voo PLEH
   A ticket to Lyon, please
   '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.
   Un billet pour Lyon, s'il vous plaît. – Aller simple ou aller-retour ? — A ticket to Lyon, please. – One way or return?
5. Quelle voie ? kel VWAH
   Which platform (track)?
   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.
   Le train pour Lille, c'est quelle voie ? – Voie 7. — The train to Lille, which platform? – Track 7.
6. À gauche / à droite / tout droit ah GOHSH / ah DRWAHT / too DRWAH
   Left / right / straight on
   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.
   Tout droit, puis la deuxième à droite. — Straight on, then the second on the right.
7. Entrée / Sortie ahn-TRAY / sor-TEE sign
   Entrance / Exit
   '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'.
   Sortie de secours. Entrée libre. — Emergency exit. Free admission.
8. Poussez / Tirez poo-SAY / tee-RAY sign
   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.
   Poussez. – Tirez. — Push. – Pull.
9. Validez votre billet vah-lee-DAY votr bee-YEH sign
   Validate your ticket
   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.
   Validez votre titre de transport à chaque montée. — Validate your ticket every time you board.
10. Arrêt ah-REH sign
    Stop (bus / tram)
    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.
    Prochain arrêt : Hôtel de Ville. Arrêt demandé. — Next stop: Hôtel de Ville. Stop requested.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. J'ai une réservation zhay ewn ray-zehr-vah-SYOHN
   I have a reservation
   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.
   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.
2. La clé, s'il vous plaît lah KLAY, seel voo PLEH
   The key, please
   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.
   La clé, s'il vous plaît. Chambre douze. – Voilà. — The key, please. Room twelve. – Here you are.
3. Quel est le code Wi-Fi ? kel eh luh KOD wee-FEE
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   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.
   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.
4. À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner ? ah kel UHR eh luh puh-tee-day-zhuh-NAY
   What time is breakfast?
   '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.
   À quelle heure est le petit-déjeuner ? – De sept heures à dix heures. — What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
5. Au secours ! oh suh-KOOR
   Help!
   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.
   Au secours ! Appelez une ambulance ! — Help! Call an ambulance!
6. J'ai besoin d'un médecin zhay buh-ZWAHN duhn mayd-SAHN
   I need a doctor
   '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.
   J'ai besoin d'un médecin. Je ne me sens pas bien. — I need a doctor. I don't feel well.
7. Où est la pharmacie ? oo eh lah far-mah-SEE
   Where is the 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.
   Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?
8. Appelez la police, s'il vous plaît ah-play lah po-LEESS, seel voo PLEH formal
   Call the police, please
   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.
   Appelez la police, s'il vous plaît. On m'a volé mon portefeuille. — Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
9. Je suis perdu / perdue zhuh swee pehr-DEW
   I'm lost
   '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.
   Je suis perdue. C'est par où, le Louvre ? — I'm lost. Which way to the Louvre?
10. Vous pouvez appeler un taxi, s'il vous plaît ? voo poo-vay ah-play uhn tak-SEE, seel voo PLEH formal
    Can you call a taxi, please?
    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.
    Vous pouvez appeler un taxi, s'il vous plaît ? – Bien sûr, pour aller où ? — Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?