Before embarking on your next trip to Paris, it is a good idea to learn some very basic French words and expressions.
Even if speaking the language is not your strong suit and you are sure you can survive with English, learning some opening greetings and polite expressions in the ‘Gallic language’ will help facilitate your exchange with the locals, especially those of a generation. above that they are less used to English.
For those who are passionate about learning foreign languages, spending a few hours learning this French vocabulary and these helpful phrases will help you reinforce your French enough to feel confident navigating a variety of everyday situations in Paris and other Francophone places.
Basic greetings and polite questions in French
The first step to becoming comfortable in France is learning to politely address people in French, which will often significantly improve the quality of the service you receive and your exchanges with Parisians in general. There are several basic French words and expressions you can use to start a conversation:
- Hello: hola
- Do you speak English: ¿Hablas inglés?
- Please: por favor
- Thanks: gracias
- Señora, señor: señora, señor
- Excuse me: exonerate
- Goodbye: adiós
When interacting with French natives, especially those who are several years older than you, be sure to approach them with the proper titles of madam or monsieur , but younger locals rarely bother with such formalities. Additionally, being able to ask a French person if they speak English in their native language will also go a long way towards dissipating the stress of meeting a stranger.
Eating in restaurants: basic vocabulary and phrases
Eating and eating in Paris is no joke, and aside from restaurants that are generally (and obviously) tourist traps, most restaurants in the capital don’t offer English menus. While it is true that most waiters in Paris restaurants and bars speak at least basic English, knowing the basic vocabulary of Paris restaurants will help make your dining experience more enjoyable and relaxing.
- Hello, a table for one / two / three people, please: Hola, una mesa para una / dos / tres personas, por favor.
- Where are the toilets: ¿Dónde está el baño?
- Do you have UN MENÚ en Inglés: ¿Tiene un menú en Inglés?
- What are the dishes of the day: ¿Cuáles son los especiales de hoy?
- I will take: Me gustaría…
- I would like: me gustaría …
- Addition, please: Compruebe, por favor?
- But the addition is not correct: Este proyecto de ley no es correcto.
- Accept – you credit cards: ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito?
Remember that when dining out in Paris and the rest of France, tips are not expected in most establishments. However, you should still be courteous to your server and using a few French phrases will likely result in better service overall.
Getting around town: asking for and following directions
The Paris metro can be a bit overwhelming when you first arrive in the city, especially if you don’t know French. Before traveling to Paris, familiarize yourself with some of the signs you are likely to see around the metro and learn basic words and expressions for getting around the city:
- Comment aller à la station X: How do I get to X station?
- Est- ce le bon sens pour aller à X: Is this the correct direction to X?
- Où est la sortie: Where is the exit?
- La Sortie: Exit
- Correspondence / s: connection (transfer line)
- Interdit passage: Prohibited passage / Do not enter
- In Travaux: Under construction
- Plan du Quartier: map of the neighborhood
- Warning, danger of death: warning, danger of death
While many signs on the Paris metro have been translated into English and most metro workers also speak a little of the language, knowing how to find exits and transfers (connections) will make your transit easier. You will also need to buy tickets for your transit and of course how to thank you once you have paid for your trip.
Expand your French travel vocabulary even further
While knowing the correct French phrases for getting around, dining out, and meeting Parisians is important to getting the most out of your trip to Paris, you may also want to know how to interact with French culture in movies, songs, and other media, too.
Take a look at Sandrine de Paris: a resource for French language and culture for an engaging, entertaining and always informative site led by a talented Parisian writer of the same name. Their site is packed with fun and carefully curated resources and exercises including songs, movies, and other media in French that allow you to learn a lot about French culture while tightening your language skills.
