These 100 essential French phrases, divided into various categories, can greatly assist someone on their next trip to France. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, having a grasp of these phrases will enhance your experience and make your journey smoother.
Basic Phrases will help you initiate conversations with locals, showing respect and politeness. Saying "Bonjour" and "Merci" goes a long way in creating a positive impression.
Basic Phrases:
Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) - Hello
Bonsoir (bohn-swahr) - Good evening
Bonne nuit (bohn nwee) - Good night
Salut (sa-loo) - Hi/Hello (informal)
Comment ça va ? (koh-mah sah vah ?) - How are you?
Ça va bien (sah vah byen) - I'm good
Oui (wee) - Yes
Non (noh) - No
S'il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) - Please
Merci (mehr-see) - Thank you
De rien (duh ryen) - You're welcome
Excusez-moi (ehk-skew-zay mwah) - Excuse me
Je m'appelle [Your Name] (zhuh mah-pehl [Your Name]) - My name is [Your Name]
Parlez-vous anglais ? (par-lei vooz ahn-gleh ?) - Do you speak English?
Je ne parle pas bien français (zhuh nuh parl pah byen frahn-sey) - I don't speak French well.
Greetings and Farewells will enable you to engage with people and wish them well. Whether you're meeting someone for the first time or saying goodbye, these phrases express warmth and friendliness.
Greetings and Farewells:
Au revoir (oh rev-wahr) - Goodbye
À bientôt (ah byen-toh) - See you soon
À plus tard (ah plew tahrd) - See you later
Enchanté(e) (ahn-shahn-tey) - Nice to meet you (for males/females)
Comment allez-vous ? (koh-mah ah-lay voo ?) - How are you?
Comment ça se passe ? (koh-mah sah se pass ?) - How's it going?
Common Courtesies demonstrate your consideration for the local culture and people. Expressing gratitude, apologizing, and wishing good luck are key aspects of polite interactions.
Common Courtesies:
S'il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) - Please
Merci beaucoup (mehr-see boh-koo) - Thank you very much
Excusez-moi (ehk-skew-zay mwah) - Excuse me
Pardon (pahr-dohn) - Sorry
Je vous en prie (zhuh vooz ahn pree) - You're welcome
Bon appétit (bohn ah-peh-tee) - Enjoy your meal
À votre santé ! (ah voh-truh sahn-tey) - Cheers!
Bon courage (bohn koo-rahzh) - Good luck
Félicitations (fay-lee-si-tah-syon) - Congratulations
Numbers are fundamental for transactions, whether you're shopping for souvenirs, ordering at a restaurant, or asking for directions. Understanding numbers will make your daily activities much smoother.
Numbers:
Un (uh) - One
Deux (duh) - Two
Trois (twah) - Three
Quatre (katr) - Four
Cinq (sank) - Five
Dix (dees) - Ten
Vingt (va(n)) - Twenty
Cent (sa(n)) - Hundred
Mille (meel) - Thousand
Basic Questions help you seek information and engage with locals. Knowing how to ask for directions, introduce yourself, and understand simple questions is invaluable.
Basic Questions:
Qui ? (kee) - Who?
Quoi ? (kwah) - What?
Où ? (oo) - Where?
Quand ? (kah(n)) - When?
Pourquoi ? (poor-kwah) - Why?
Comment ? (koh-mah(n)) - How?
Combien ? (kohm-byen) - How much/many?
Que faites-vous ? (kuh feht voo ?) - What are you doing?
Parlez-vous français ? (par-lei voo frahn-sey ?) - Do you speak French?
Où est la gare ? (oo eh lah gahr ?) - Where is the train station?
Quelle heure est-il ? (kell uhr eh-teel ?) - What time is it?
Travel and Directions phrases will guide you through navigating the country. Whether you're exploring the streets of Paris or wandering the countryside, you'll find these indispensable for finding your way around.
Travel and Directions:
Où est la toilette ? (oo eh lah twa-let ?) - Where is the restroom?
Combien ça coûte ? (kohm-byen sah koot ?) - How much does it cost?
Je voudrais un billet, s'il vous plaît (zhuh voo-dray uhn bee-yay, seel voo pleh) - I would like a ticket, please
Je cherche [place] (zhuh shairsh [place]) - I'm looking for [place]
À gauche (ah gohsh) - To the left
À droite (ah drwaht) - To the right
Tout droit (too dwah) - Straight ahead
À proximité (ah prok-see-mee-tey) - Nearby
Loin (lwah(n)) - Far
La carte (lah kart) - The map
Eating and Dining is a significant part of the French experience. Understanding menu items, asking for the bill, and ordering food and drinks will make your culinary adventures enjoyable.
Eating and Dining:
La carte (lah kart) - The menu
L'addition, s'il vous plaît (la-dee-syon, seel voo pleh) - The bill, please
L'eau (loh) - Water
Du vin rouge/blanc (doo vahn roozh/blahn) - Red/white wine
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît (uun tahbl poor duh, seel voo pleh) - A table for two, please
L'entrée (la(n)-tray) - Appetizer
Le plat principal (luh plah pra(n)-seepahl) - Main course
Le dessert (luh deh-sehr) - Dessert
L'addition (la-dee-syon) - The check
Servez-vous du café ? (sehr-vey voo doo ka-fey ?) - Do you serve coffee?
Shopping is another essential aspect of any trip. Bargaining and asking for assistance will help you get the best deals and navigate markets and shops.
Shopping:
Combien ça coûte ? (kohm-byen sah koot ?) - How much does it cost?
Je voudrais acheter ceci (zhuh voo-dray ah-sheh-tey suh-see) - I would like to buy this
Où est la boutique ? (oo eh lah boo-teek ?) - Where is the shop?
C'est trop cher (sey troh shehr) - It's too expensive
Pouvez-vous me faire une réduction ? (poo-veh voo muh fehr oon reh-doo-syon ?) - Can you give me a discount?
These phrases are your gateway to immersing yourself in the beautiful French culture. They'll not only make your trip more enjoyable but also show your appreciation for the local customs and language. Whether you're admiring the Eiffel Tower in Paris, exploring the vineyards in Bordeaux, or wandering the historic streets of Provence, knowing these phrases will enhance your connection with the people and places you encounter in France.
Bon voyage!
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