Traveler's French Cheat Sheet
Here are some phrases we found useful when traveling in France. It's not hard to get around France as an English speaker. In Paris, at least, a lot of people who work in restaurants, hotels or museums can speak English. But since you can't always count on it, it's always good to know a few helpful expressions!
By the way, most people will want to help you out, but don't assume people will speak English; to be polite, ask them first if they do.
Another helpful tip is to use the Google Translate camera feature to translate signs, menus and written text.
Bonjour
Hello / good morning / good afternoon
Pronounced: bohn zhour
Au revoir
Goodbye!
Pronounced: awr eh vwah
Bonsoir
Good evening (as a greeting)
Pronounced: bohn swah
Bonne soirée
Good evening (as a farewell)
Pronounced: bun swah ray
Ça va?
How's it going? / What's up? / Everything okay?
Pronounced: sah vah
Ça va.
It's going okay / I'm doing fine
Pronounced: sah vah
Un carafe d'eau s'il vous plaît
Can I have a carafe of plain water, please?
Pronounced: ahn cah raf doh see vu play
Parlez vous anglais?
Do you speak English?
Pronounced: pahr lay voo ahn glay
Je ne comprends pas
I don't understand
Pronounced: zhen cohm prahn pah
Pas de problème
No problem / don't worry about it
Pronounced: pah duh proh blehm
Enchanté
Nice to meet you
Pronounced: ahn shahn tay
Oú est X?
Where is X?
Pronounced: oo eh X
Ouvert
open (seen on store windows)
Pronounced: oo vehr
Fermé
closed (seen on store windows)
Pronounced: fehr may
C'est combien?
How much (is this)?
Pronounced: say cohm-bee-ahn
C'est combien de temps?
How long does it take? (e.g. for travel time)
Pronounced: say cohm-bee-ahn duh tahm
(X) s'il vous plaît?
Could I have (X), please?
Pronounced: (X) see voo play
Oú se trouve les toilettes?
Where is the restroom?
Pronounced: oo say troov lay twah let
J'ai une reservation
I have a reservation
Pronounced: zhay oon rehz uhr vah syon
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The check, please
Pronounced: lahd ees yohn see voo play
Pouvez-vous m'aider?
Can you help me, please?
Pronounced: pooh vay voo meh day
Je suis perdu.
I'm lost!
Pronounced: zhuh swee puhr doo
Excusez-moi
Excuse me (used to get someone's attention)
Pronounced: ex kyoo zeh mwah
Pardon
Sorry / excuse me (used if you bump into someone)
Pronounced: pahr dohn