Traveling to France is a grand adventure where you’ll get to explore the local culture, including all the beautiful artwork and delicious cuisine! Getting around France however, isn’t always so glamorous.
As you prepare for your vacation, it’s important that you attempt to learn some basic French. There are a handful of phrases that you’ll find especially useful as you travel, such as the ones in this video-
50 French Phrases to Know
For even more essential French phrases for travelers, keep reading. These important French phrases will help you navigate your way throughout France with ease!
Common French Phrases for Conversation
1. Bonjour! (Good morning, hello)
2. Bienvenue. (Welcome.)
3. Madame/Monsieur/Mademoiselle (Mrs. /Mr. /Miss)
4. Pardon, excusez-moi. (Pardon, excuse me.)
5. Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?)
6. Je ne parle pas français. (I do not speak French.)
7. À tout à l’heure! (See you later!)
8. Merci/Merci beaucoup. (Thank you/Thank you very much.)
9. Au revoir! (Goodbye!)
10. De rien. (You’re welcome.)
Common French Phrases for Getting Information
11. Pourriez-vous m’aider? (Can you help me?)
12. Je ne comprends pas. (I do not understand.)
13. Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît. (Speak slowly, please.)
14. Répétez, s’il vous plait. (Repeat, please.)
15. Où sont des toilettes? (Where are the toilets?)
16. Où est un bon restaurant/un bon café? (Where is a good restaurant/a good café?)
17. Où est la plage/le centre-ville? (Where is the beach/city center?)
18. Je cherche le métro/le gare/l’aéroport. (I am searching for the metro/train station/airport.)
19. Je cherche l’hôtel/l’hôpital/la banque. (I am searching for the hotel/hospital/bank.)
20. Pourriez-vous prendre ma photo/notre photo? (Are you able to take my photo/our photo?)
Useful French Phrases for Directions
21. Où sommes-nous? (Where are we?)
22. C’est à gauche. (It’s to the left.)
23. C’est à droite. (It’s to the right.)
24. C’est tout droit. (It’s straight ahead.)
25. Est-ce que c’est loin/proche? (Is it far/close?)
Useful French Phrases for Transportation
26. Où est le guichet? (Where is the ticket window?)
27. Je voudrais regarder l’horaire. (I would like to look at the schedule.)
28. Je voudrais réserver un billet. (I would like to reserve a ticket.)
29. Je voudrais acheter un billet aller simple/aller-retour pour Paris. (I would like to purchase a one-way ticket/a round-trip ticket.)
30. À quelle heure faut-il arriver? (What time should it arrive?)
Useful French Phrases for Accommodations
31. Quelles chambres avez-vous de disponible? (What rooms do you have available?)
32. Est-ce qu’il y a de climatisation? (Is there air conditioning?)
33. Je voudrais une chambre pour deux. (I would like a double room.)
34. Je voudrais annuler ma réservation. (I would like to cancel my reservation.)
35. À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? (At what time should we check out?)
Common French Phrases for Shopping
36. Où sont les magasins? (Where are the shops?)
37. Où est le centre-commercial? (Where is the mall?)
38. Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit? (Can I pay with a credit card?)
39. À quelle heure est-ce que s’est ouvert? (At what time is it open?)
40. À quelle heure est-ce que s’est fermé? (At what time is it closed?)
41. Je cherche un sac/une carte postale/un livre. (I am searching for a bag/a postcard/a book.)
42. Combien ça coûte? (How much does it cost?)
43. C’est trop cher! (It’s too expensive!)
44. C’est bon marché! (It’s a great deal!)
45. C’est bon/mal/terrible. (It’s good/bad/terrible.)
Useful French Phrases for Dining
46. La carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît. (The menu/fixed-price menu, please.)
47. Je voudrais un café. (I would like a coffee.)
48. Je voudrais un verre. (I would like a glass*.) *usually refers to a glass of beer
49. Je voudrais de l’eau. (I would like some water.)
50. L’addition, s’il vous plaît. (The bill, please.)
Familiarize yourself with these important French phrases before your next big trip to France.
The best way to experience all that France has to offer is to fully immerse yourself in conversation with the locals. Experienced travelers may even prefer to try an independent driving tour of France, while staying at B&B accommodations with friendly French hosts.
These options will give you plenty of opportunities to practice your French! Want to refine your accent and learn even more? Consider taking group classes, or lessons from a private French tutor.
Brooke Neuman