Essential French words and travel phrases

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 travel phrases: Essential words and phrases for 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.

French travel phrases
Bonjour! Hello!
Au revoir! Goodbye!
Merci! Thank you!
L'addition The bill/check
Je voudrais I would like
S'il vous plaît Please
De rien You're welcome
C'est combien? How much?
Où est? Where is?
Avez-vous? Do you have?

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.