Did you know that nearly one in five people speak French? As a romance language, it’s easy to see why so many want to learn the language. If you’re heading off to France soon and don’t have time to learn French, here are a few useful travel phrases in French to get your travels off on a good start.
French phrases for travel
English | French | Phonetic
French greetings
Hello Bonjour (bohn-zhour)
Good evening Bonsoir (bohn-swahr)
Good night Bonne nuit (bohn-nwee)
Goodbye Au revoir (ohr-vwahr!)
How are you? Comment allez-vous? (kom-mohn tah-lay voo)
Fine, thanks Bien, merci (bee-en, mehr-see)
Nice to meet you Enchante (ahN-shahN-tey)
Polite phrases and expressions in French
Yes Oui (wee)
No Non (nohn)
Please S’il vous plait (see-voo play)
Thank you Merci (mehr-see)
You’re welcome . De rien (dah ree-ehn)
I’m sorry Je suis désolé (jhuh swee day-zo-lay)
Excuse me Pardon/Excusez-moi (pahr-dohN./eks-kew-zey-mwah)
I don’t understand . Je ne comprends pas (jhuhn kom-prohn pah)
I don’t speak French . Je ne parle pas français (jhuhn pahr-ley pah frahn-say)
Do you speak English? Parlez-vous anglais? (Pahr-ley ahN-gleh)
Questions and directions in French
Who? Qui? (kee)
What? Comment? (kom-mohn)
When? Quand? (kohn)
Why? Pourquoi? (poor-kwah)
Where is…? Ou est… (ooh eh…)
I’m looking for… Je cherche… (jhuh cher-shuh)
The bathroom La toilette (lar twah-leht)
The train station La gare (lar gaar)
A hotel Un hotel (uhn ohtell)
The airport l’aeroport (ah eh ro por)
Left Gauche (gawsh)
Right Droit (drwah)
Straight Tout droit (too drwah)
Entrance Entree (ohn-treh)
Exit Sortie (sor-tee)
Dining and shopping
I would like Je voudrais (zhuh vooh-dreh)
I want Je veux (zhuh-voo)
A ticket Un billet (uhn bee-yeht)
A glass of… Une verre de… (uhn vehr dey)
Wine Vin (vahn)
Beer Une biere (byair)
Water De l’eau (duh l’oh)
How much is… Combien coute… (kohN-byaN kooht…)
The bill, please L’addition s’il vous plait (lah-dee-syohN, seel vooh pleh)
Time & numbers in French
What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? (kehl uhr eh-teel?)
One Un (uhn)
Two Deux (duh)
Three Trois (trwah)
Four Quatre (kah-truh)
Five Cinq (saNk)
Six Six (sees)
Seven Sept (seht)
Eight Huit (weet)
Nine Neuf (nuhf)
Ten Dix (dees)
Want a bit of help in your back pocket? Besides Google Translate, you can always bring a copy of a French phrase book, like Rick Steves’ French Phrase Book and Dictionary, or even get one of his city guides that include useful phrases at the back.
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