Vital French Words for Tourists

Important phrases for your vacation.

Roberto and I leave Thursday for a five month stay in Montpellier, so we’re a little frantic at chez Cohagan/Cipriano. Today I am sharing a simple list of phrases that I prepared for friends who have visited us in France (if your French is better than mine - which let’s face it, is not a real high bar - please suggest corrections in the comments.)

• Hello Bonjour. You probably know this one but did you know it is considered very rude to not say bonjour at the start to any conversation? So say hello to your waiter before you order. Say hello when you walk into a shop. Say hello before you ask for directions. You get the idea.

• I’m sorry. I don’t speak French: Je suis desolé mais je ne parle pas francais. (Zhe swee dez-oh-lay, may zhe nuh parl paw fron-say)

• Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais? (Par-lay voo awn-glay)

• Excuse me: Pardon (par-done.

• Thank you: Merci

• Please: S’il vous plait (see voo play)

This made me laugh.

For restaurants

• Pitcher of water: Carafe d’eau (ka-raff (raff like laugh) doh (like Homer Simpson). You need to ask for water. They won’t bring it automatically. This is for asking for a pitcher of tap water so you don’t have to keep asking for refills.

• If you want ice, tough shit (kidding). A Coke with ice: un Coca (Coh-ka) avec des glacons. (gla-son). If you are like me you will want beaucoup de glacons (boe-coo) otherwise they will only bring you two cubes.

  To order

• I would like (kind of formal): Je voudrais (zhe-voo-dray)

• I will take (common, not rude) je prend (zhe and then it’s like your saying prawn with no n and rolling the r). Example: Je prends un steak frites. I will have the steak and fries.

• Where is the bathroom?: Ou sont les toilettes (ew sawn lay twa-lets)

• Do you want a receipt?: Voulez-vous un ticket?  (Voo-lay voo uh tik-ay) They will ask you this in every shop and restaurant. Just say Oui or Non. (Wee or No)

• Are you open? Êtes-vous ouvert? (Et (rhymes with pet) voo oh-vare?)

• What kind of milk do you want? Quel genre de lait voulez-vous? Most cafes will ask what kind of milk you want after you order a coffee, like oat or almond or cow’s. You can say normale (nor-mall) for cow’s milk or du lait de vache (do lay duh vosh).

  

Want more? Here are some others you might like: https://blog.duolingo.com/french-phrases-for-travel/

We look forward to posting again from France!

Jusqu’à la prochaine fois (until next time),

Carolyn & Roberto

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