Common French Phrases for Traveling
A trip to France is an essential bucket list item for many people. From the Parisian nightlife to the idyllic Norman countryside, from the gleaming beaches of the French Riviera to the mountainous regions bordering Switzerland and Italy, France has it all!
Including, of course, millions of native French speakers.
Instead of just traveling to France with no knowledge of the language, it helps to have some common French phrases for travel in your vocabulary. Ask anyone who’s been to the country, and they all agree – deploying some useful French phrases for travel is much better than trying to wing it with English. And this doesn’t just apply to France – travel phrases are helpful for any country.
While the French are generally polite and welcoming to foreigners, and know some English (especially in major metro areas), they also have pride when it comes to their language. In other words, most French people will tolerate English-only speakers. But to integrate yourself with the locals and enjoy a few casual conversations along the way, French phrases always come in handy!
In this article, we’ll review why it’s important to have some French phrases before you go, some essential French phrases for travelers, and how acquiring these brief yet meaningful sayings can not only elevate your travel experience, but also open the door to learning French.
Why Learning French Phrases Is Essential for Your Trip
Picture this scenario: you’re wandering about in Marseille and hunger strikes. Sadly, the part of town you’re in has more retail establishments than restaurants. How can you ask someone where the nearest café is without pointing to your stomach or gesturing an invisible fork toward your mouth?
This is just one reason why it’s important to have essential French phrases for travel in your back pocket – or better yet, right in your head so you can instantly express a thought, ask a question, and more.
Here are a few other reasons why you should know a handful of basic phrases in French for traveling:
- Navigation. Getting around France is much easier when you know the right questions to ask.
- Emergencies. Just in case the unthinkable happens, it helps to have some emergency-related phrases at the ready.
- Enjoying amenities like the locals do. To cite just one example here, French cuisine is world-renowned for its sophisticated flavors, unique preparation, and elegant presentation. If you know how to ask a local where to find a recommended eatery off the beaten path, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience, whether you’re traveling from Nice to Nantes, from Strasbourg to Saint-Étienne, and beyond. So definitely put restaurant-themed common French phrases for travel in your repertoire!
Essential French Phrases Every Traveler Should Know
Here are some French phrases every traveler should know. Remember, it helps to practice these before your trip!
| Basic French Phrases | |
|---|---|
| Yes | Oui |
| No | Non |
| Hello. | Bonjour. |
| What’s your name? | Comment vous appelez-vous? |
| Please. | S’il vous plaît. |
| Goodbye. | Au revoir. |
| You’re welcome. | De rien. |
| French Phrases for Conversation | |
|---|---|
| Can you spell that? | Comment ça s’écrit? |
| How do you say (word) in French? | Comment dit-on (word) en français? |
| More slowly (helpful to understand rapid-pace speakers). | Plus lentement. |
| What does that mean? | Que veut dire ça? |
| Can you say that another way? | Peux-tu dire ça d’une autre manière? |
| Sorry, I don’t understand. | Désolé, je ne comprends pas. |
| Sorry. | Pardon. |
| How are you? | Comment allez-vous? |
| Pardon me / excuse me. | Excusez-moi. |
| Useful French Phrases for Navigating Travel | |
|---|---|
| Do you know where the nearest metro station is? | Où se trouve la station de métro la plus proche? |
| I’d like to buy a ticket. | Je voudrais acheter un billet. |
| The menu, please. | La carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît. |
| We’re ready to order. | Nous voudrions commander maintenant. |
| Do you know what time check-out is? | À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? |
| Can I have? | Puis-je avoir… |
| A coffee, please. | Un café, s’il vous plaît. |
| How much does this cost? | Combien ça coûte? |
| French Phrases for Emergencies | |
|---|---|
| Can you help me? | Pouvez-vous m’aider? |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? |
| I’m lost. | Je suis perdu(e).* |
| Where is the nearest pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie la plus proche? |
| Where is the hospital? | Où est l’hôpital? |
*Perdu is masculine; perdue is feminine. Gender aligns with the speaker in this case.
Tips for Learning and Using French Phrases Effectively
Memorizing as many of these phrases as possible is key when your goal is to be able to travel with more confidence and convenience. But how do you achieve that goal? It’s essential to incorporate language practice into your daily life. Pimsleur’s lessons are portable – you can listen on the go and not have to choose between practicing and going on a walk. When daily language learning is easy and accessible, committing to practicing daily becomes more realistic. And if you want to speak to be understood? Pimsleur has you covered there as well – you can practice out loud with AI pronunciation feedback. With practice and feedback, memorizing those key travel phrases for a smooth trip is an achievable goal.
Prepare for Your French Adventure with Confidence
Traveling to France is fun – but did you know traveling to the heart of the French language is fun, too? With Pimsleur, you can learn French much faster than traditional learning programs. That’s because we teach the language with a focus on listening and speaking the language instead of boring lessons and bulky textbooks.
Start speaking French phrases after your very first lesson. At just 30 minutes a day, you can speak the language conversationally in just a matter of weeks! Imagine the possibilities during that next trip to France with the entire language at your disposal instead of just a few dozen basic phrases in French for traveling!
Get started today with a Premium or All Access subscription – we’re ready to help you speak French right away!