Essential words and phrases for travel in France
The most essential French travel phrases are Bonjour (hello), au revoir (goodbye), Où est? (Where is), C’est combien (How much is it?) and l’addition s’il vous plaît (the check, please). This page covers over 100 useful words and phrases which you can use on a trip to France.
French Greetings
If you are going to France it is very important to learn the basic greetings. While you might not speak French fluently just yet, the French people will really appreciate your trying to make an effort.
- Bonjour Hello, good morning, good day
- Au revoir Goodbye
- Salut Hi/bye (informal)
- Merci! Thank you!
- Merci beaucoup! Thank you very much!
- Ça va? How are you? How’s it going? (informal)
- Bien, merci! Fine, thank you!
- S’il vous plaît Please
- De rien You’re welcome
- Enchanté! Nice to meet you!
This page on our site covers French greetings in detail.
Asking directions
When asking directions in France, it’s very important that you know a few basic words. This page on our site covers asking directions in detail.
- Où est…? Where is…?
- Où est la gare? Where’s the train station?
- Où est la gare routière? Where’s the bus station?
- Où sont les toilettes? Where’s the restroom?
- Où est la banque? Where’ the bank?
- Où est un bureau de change? Where’s a exchange counter?
- Je suis perdu I’m lost
- Le plan city map
Asking for things
On your trip you’ll inevitably need to ask for things. This short list of words is a very good start. Learning the verb vouloir is a good idea as it means “to want”.
- Je veux (slightly informal)
- Je voudrais I would like
- Donnez-moi Give me
- Avez-vous? Do you have?
- Auriez-vous Would you happen to have?
- Qu’est-ce que c’est? What is it?
- Nous avons We have
- Nous n’avons pas We don’t have
- C’est disponible It’s available
Restaurant phrases
One of the best places to try practicing speaking French is a restaurant. Here’s a short list of words in phrases you may use. This page on our site offers a very comprehensive list of restaurant vocabulary. In addition, this page on our site covers food vocabulary and this page covers beverage vocabulary.
- Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît A table for two, please
- Je prends I’ll have (from the verb prendre, to take)
- La carte menu
- La soupe soup
- La salade salad
- L’entrée appetizer
- Le dessert dessert
- La boisson beverage
- Le vin rouge red wine
- Le vin blanc white wine
- Le vin rouge red wine
- La a bière beer
- Le café coffee
Taxi/Uber phrases
If you find yourself in a taxi or Uber, some of the the following phrases should come in very handy.
- Je vais à I’m going to
- Je descends ici I’ll get off here
- Voici l’adresse Here’s the address
- Allez tout droit Keep going straight
- Tournez à gauche Take a left
- Tournez à droite Take a right
Hotel phrases
The following is a short list of words and phrases that you can use in your hotel. While most hotel staff speak basic English, it’s still nice to know these words in French.
- L’hôtel hotel
- Une chambre à deux double room
- Un grand lit Double bed
- La réception Check-in desk
- Quitter la chambre To check out
- La piscine swimming pool
- Le petit déjeuner compris Breakfast included
- Réserver une chambre To reserve a room
Miscellaneous words and phrases
The following is a list of miscellaneous French words and phrases which we feel are essential for a trip to France and belong on this list.
- Je voudrais louer une voiture. I’d like rent a car.
- Je voudrais acheter un billet. I’d like to buy a ticket.
- Un billet aller-retour Round-trip ticket
- L’aller simple One-way ticket
- Le passeport passport
- Les vacances vacation
- Je voudrais annuler. I’d like to cancel.
- Un voyage A trip
- Bon voyage! Enjoy your trip!
- Bon séjour! Enjoy your stay!
Further your learning
We feel that it’s a great idea to carry a French phrase book while traveling in France. Overall, we have used and like the Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary. Another great companion for a trip to France is the Rick Steves French Phrase Book & Dictionary.
Discover more:
- Ways to say “thank you” in French
- How to say “hello” in French
- Ways to say “you’re welcome” in French
- Guide to French verbs
- Guide to French vocabulary
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Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
