Dr Suzanne Kobeisse
Every summer I get messages from students who are about to head to France and want to feel a little more prepared than they did last year. This post is for them, and for anyone else who is packing bags and wondering whether their French is up to the trip.
I have organised these twenty phrases into the situations where you are most likely to need them. Learn them in order if you like, or skip straight to the section that worries you most.
Greetings and first impressions
1. Bonjour, madame / monsieur ("Good morning / Good day, madam / sir")
Always say this when you walk into a shop, a boulangerie, or any space where a staff member is present. Not saying it is considered rude, even if no one explains that to you directly. The greeting is a social contract. It signals that you see the other person. Skipping it marks you immediately as someone who does not understand the culture.
2. Bonsoir ("Good evening")
Used from around 6pm onwards. Swap bonjour for bonsoir in the evening and you will sound considerably more natural.
3. Excusez-moi ("Excuse me")
Use this to get someone's attention politely, before asking a question, or when squeezing past someone on a busy street. Not pardon, which is more for bumping into someone or asking someone to repeat themselves.
4. Je ne parle pas très bien français, mais j'essaie ("I don't speak French very well, but I'm trying")
Say this with a smile and most French people will meet you more than halfway. It opens the door. Attempting French, even imperfectly, changes the entire dynamic of the interaction.
Ordering in restaurants and cafes
5. Je voudrais... ("I would like...")
More polished than je veux ("I want"), which can sound blunt. Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît is exactly the register you want in any French establishment.
6. L'addition, s'il vous plaît ("The bill, please")
In French restaurants, the bill will not arrive unless you ask for it. This is considered respectful: the assumption is that you are not being hurried. Ask clearly when you are ready.
7. C'est délicieux ("It's delicious")
Use this. French people take their food seriously, and a genuine compliment to a server or a chef will always land well. Even one syllable of appreciation goes a long way.
8. Sans gluten, s'il vous plaît ("Gluten-free, please") / Je suis allergique à... ("I am allergic to...")
Useful and potentially important. If you have dietary requirements, practise these before you go.
Getting around
9. Où se trouve...? ("Where is...?")
More natural than où est in a slightly formal context. Où se trouve la gare, s'il vous plaît? ("Where is the train station, please?") works anywhere.
10. Tournez à gauche / à droite ("Turn left / right")
You will hear these. Knowing them means you can follow directions rather than nodding blankly and then stopping to check your phone around the corner.
11. C'est loin d'ici? ("Is it far from here?")
A simple, practical question that often saves twenty minutes of walking in the wrong direction.
At the market
12. C'est combien? ("How much is it?")
Essential at any marché. Short, clear, direct. French market vendors appreciate customers who engage rather than point mutely.
13. Je peux goûter? ("Can I taste?")
At a cheese stall, an olive seller, or anywhere with samples on display, this phrase opens up a small but genuinely lovely interaction. Most stallholders are delighted to offer a taste to someone who asks properly.
14. Je prends celui-ci / celle-ci ("I'll take this one")
Masculine or feminine depending on what you are pointing at. When in doubt, je prends ça ("I'll take that") always works.
Expressing gratitude and social niceties
15. Merci beaucoup ("Thank you very much")
Use it generously. The French are not effusive by nature, but warmth is always received well from visitors.
16. De rien ("You're welcome")
Or the slightly warmer avec plaisir ("with pleasure"), which is more common in the south and in more formal contexts.
17. Au revoir, bonne journée ("Goodbye, have a good day")
Always say goodbye when leaving a shop or interaction. Bonne journée is a small gesture that people notice.
In an emergency
18. Appelez la police, s'il vous plaît ("Please call the police")
19. J'ai besoin d'un médecin ("I need a doctor")
20. Où est l'hôpital le plus proche? ("Where is the nearest hospital?")
I hope you will not need these. But knowing them, and practising them aloud at least once before you travel, is worth doing. Panic and unfamiliar language do not mix well. Having the words already in your mouth means you can use them when it counts.
One last thought before you go
Twenty phrases will not make you fluent. They will make you a more considered traveller, someone who walks into French spaces with a little more confidence and a little more courtesy. That matters more than most people realise.
If you want to build on these properly, a few lessons before your trip can do a great deal in a short time. I have helped many students go from bonjour and a vague wave to genuine, confident interactions in the space of three or four sessions. Message me on WhatsApp if you would like to talk about what is possible before your holiday.