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With stars in your eyes and few French words and phrases up your sleeve as a beginner, you have just arrived in a French speaking country. You are excited a bit confused and anxious. Words are swirling around your head or you just can’t for the life of you remember one. It is time to kick off your French language learning journey. Here are 61 French Phrases For Travelers that can get you out of any situation.

Ditch your big and not-so-practical phrase book because these French phrases are all you need to survive and keep yourself out of trouble in a French speaking country.

Want to Survive In a French-Speaking Country?61 French Phrases For Travelers

Grab your pdf file (in our Free Library) and follow along.

Bonjour, comment vous appelez-vous ?

(Hello, what’s your name?)

Je m’appelle ….

(My name is …..)

Enchanté !

(Pleased to meet you!)

Ça va ?

(How’re you doing?)

Comment allez-vous ?

(How are you?)

Très bien, merci et vous ?

(Well thanks and you?)

D’où venez-vous ?

(Where are you from?)

Pardon ? Je n’ai pas bien compris.

(I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that.)

Vous parlez anglais ?

(Do you speak English ?)

Un peu.

(A little bit.)

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Au revoir !

(Goodbye.)





First and foremost, know the difference between tu and vous.

Vous = when you don’t know someone well or you just met them or/and they are older than you.

Tu is often used for friends, family and people who have given the permission to use tu when referring to them.

When someone tells you “ on peut se tutoier” then you can go ahead and say tu even if you just met them.



Here are a few phrase to charm you way in and break the ice with the French



Pardon, Excusez-moi or Desolé(e)

3 shades of Sorry in French 🙂



You have a question but the only person in sight is in the middle of something and you have no other choice than to interrupt.



Excusez-moi de vous déranger.

(Sorry for disturbing you).





When you want to thank someone for giving you directions to the closest metro



Merci

(Thank you.)



Merci beaucoup

(Thanks a lot.)



When someone thanks you for something.

Je vous en prie or De rien

(You’re welcome/It’s nothing.)

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Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous me dire où se trouve la Tour Eiffel , s’il vous plaît ?

(Excuse me, can you tell me where the Eiffel Tower is?)

An easier and shorter alternative

Excusez-moi, où est …?

(Excuse me, where is …?)

Expect simple answers like these:

C’est à gauche

(It’s to the left…)

C’est à droite

(It’s to the right…)

C’est à côté de

(It’s next to…)

C’est près de

(It’s close to…)

C’est loin de

(It’s far from…)

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Or more complicated ones like these:

Prenez la deuxième rue à gauche, allez jusqu’aux feux puis tournez à droite.

(Take the second road on the left.Then turn right at the traffic light.)

Bien sûr. Allez tout droit jusqu’au bout de la rue puis, tournez à gauche.

(Certainly. Go straight on until you reach the end of the road…)

Transportation

Excusez-moi, quel bus puis- je prendre pour aller à … ?

(Excuse me, what bus should I take to get to …?)

Où se trouve la station de métro la plus proche?

(Where is the closest metro station?)

Quelle ligne va à …?

(Which line goes to…?)

Un billet, s’il vous plaît.

(One ticket, please.)

À quel arrêt dois je descendre? Où dois-je descendre?

(Where should I get off ?)

Je dois aller à …

(I need to go to…)

If you would rather walk

J’en ai pour combien de temps à pieds ?

(How long does it take on foot?)

….More French Phrases for Travelers

Now you have found that restaurant your BFF raved about and you are pretty hungry. Let’s place your order and try some French cuisine.



Here are some key phrases to remember.

-If you have to make a reservation

Je voudrais réserver une table pour ….. combien de personne .

(I would like to reserve a table for…how many people.)

You will most likely be asked this question at some point.

Sur place ou à emporter?

(For here or to go?).



Une table pour (combien de personne), s’il vous plaît.

(A table for how many people please.)

You are seated and you can’t wait to get your hands on that Boeuf Bourgignon

Excusez-moi, on pourrait avoir le menu, s’il vous plaît ?

(Excuse me, can we have the menu?)

Too many choices for you? Have no fear just ask this question to get some input from the staff.

Qu’est-ce que vous conseillez?

(What do you recommend?)



You are ready to order

Nous voudrions commander maintenant.

(We would like to order now)

Je vais prendre le…(plat).

(I’ll have the …_meal)



Usually you will get asked

Et comme boisson ?/ Que voulez vous comme boison

(And what would you like to drink?)



Un verre de vin rouge, s’il vous plaît.

(A glass of red wine.)

If you have allergies or if you are just a picky eater don’t forget to let the staff know.

Je ne peux pas manger ….

(I can’t eat ….).



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Common Food Allergies In French

Le gluten -Gluten

Les produits laitiers -Dairy Products)

Le glutamate de sodium (MSG)

Le poisson – Fish

Les fruits de mer-Shell Fish)

La viande- Meat

Les œufs-Eggs

La viande rouge- Red Meat

Le soja – Soy

If you opt for a desert but can’t find anything you like on the menu

Qu’est-ce que vous avez comme dessert ?

What kind of desserts do you have?

You are fully stuffed with boeuf bourguignon, red wine and crème brûlée it is time to go for a short walk. Take care of you bill and get on your way to the Luxembourg gardens.



Vous pourriez nous apporter l’addition, s’il vous plaît ?

(Can we have the bill please?)



C’est pour moi !

(It’s on me!)

Paying cash.

Vous pouvez garder la monnaie.

(You can keep the change.)

Other means of payment.

Je peux payer par carte de crédit ?

(Can I pay by credit card?)



Merci, au revoir!

(Thanks, bye!)



You made it one more thing off your list.

….More French Phrases for Travelers

When you have a question or need assistance.

S’il vous plait pouvez vous m’aider?

(Can you help me?)

When you get asked if you need help and you don’t

Je regarde seulement, merci.

(I’m just browsing.)

When you have you mind set on something but can’t find the price tag

Elle est à combien cette chemise ?

How much is this shirt?

When you want to try it.

Je peux l’essayer ?

(Can I try it on?)

Excusez-moi, où sont les cabines d’essayage ?

(Excuse me, where’s the changing room?)

When it doesn’t fit you

C’est trop grand / petit / court / étroit / cher.

(It’s too big / small / short / tight / expensive.)

Vous avez la taille en dessous / au-dessus ?

(Do you have a smaller / bigger size?)

When you want to take a souvenir from France.

Je peux payer par carte de crédit ?

(Can I pay by credit card?)

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You have taken Instagram worthy pictures in Versailles, eaten a lavish meal and walked for hours in the Luxembourg gardens. So far your holiday is everything you ever imagined and more. Unfortunately the unexpected can happen and you catch a cold or worse and need assistance to get back on your feet. Hopefully it won’t happen to you cher ami but let’s just go over a few keys phrases to use if it does.





If you’re injured and unable to move at all.

Au secours!

(Help! Emergency!)



S’il vous plait, Appelez une ambulance.

Please, Call an Ambulance.



No one likes it but at some point, you will be asked to provide some kind of paperwork often a medical insurance.



J’ai une assurance médicale.

(I have medical insurance)



You are at the hospital and you don’t feel confident enough to describe your problem in French.



J’ai besoin d’un médecin qui parle anglais.

(I need a doctor who speaks English).



And if you are there reading this and thinking “hey I can describe what’s wrong in French thank you very much”( with a sassy voice) . Alright! d’accord! I will just leave some pointers here.

You can either point and say:

J’ai une douleur ici.

(I have a pain here).



You know the body parts in french. That’s perfect. Just say

J’ai une douleur à au …(partie du corps) .Ex: j’ai une douleur a la hanche.

(I have a pain on..)

I have a pain on…(part of body).



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