10 sentences in French to know before traveling to France

Prepare for your trip to France by learning ten essential sentences in French. Whether you're visiting Paris, exploring the French countryside, or enjoying the beautiful coastal areas, knowing these basic phrases will enhance your travel experience and help you communicate with locals. From greetings to ordering food and asking for directions, this guide has you covered!

Knowing a little French before coming on a trip to France is important because it will help to facilitate communication with locals, show respect for the local culture and customs, and make it easier to navigate the country. It is also more enjoyable to be able to understand and engage with the local culture. Here are the phrases you need to know before starting your trip.

"Bonjour"

"Bonjour" is a French word that is commonly used as a greeting, similar to how "hello" is used in English. It is considered a polite and formal way to start a conversation or to greet someone, whether it is in person or through other means of communication.

The word "bonjour" is derived from the old French word "bon" meaning "good" and "jour" meaning "day". So "bonjour" literally translates to "good day".

In French culture, it is customary to greet people when first meeting them or when starting a conversation, regardless of whether it's in a professional or personal setting. The use of "bonjour" is considered a sign of respect and politeness.

It is also common to use "bonjour" in a variety of settings such as when entering a store, a restaurant, or any other public places. It is considered a polite way to acknowledge the presence of the people working there and to show respect.

It's worth noting that in certain situations, like in informal settings or with people you know well, it is common to use other greetings such as "Salut" or "Coucou" instead of "Bonjour".

"S'il vous plaît"

"S'il vous plaît" is a French phrase that translates to "please" in English. It is a polite way of making a request or asking for something. It is commonly used in formal settings, such as in a business setting or when addressing someone who you do not know well.

The phrase "s'il vous plaît" is a shortened form of "si vous plaît" which means "if it pleases you". It is a polite way of asking for something as it implies that the person being asked has the power to grant the request and it also implies that the speaker is being respectful and courteous. It is common to use "s'il vous plaît" in a variety of settings such as when asking for directions, when ordering food or drinks, or when asking for someone's assistance.

It can be used in a sentence like "S'il vous plaît, pourriez-vous me dire l'heure ?" (Please, could you tell me the time?) It can also be used as a standalone phrase to make a polite request, like "S'il vous plaît, pourriez-vous m'aider?" (Please, could you help me?)

It is important to note that in French, the use of formal and informal address is very important and it is considered very impolite to use informal language with someone you do not know well or in formal settings. Therefore, using "s'il vous plaît" instead of the more informal "s'il te plaît" is a good way to show respect and politeness in these situations.

The pronunciation of "s'il vous plaît" is "seel voo pleh".

"Merci"

"Merci" is a French word that is commonly used to say "thank you" in French. It is considered a polite and formal way to express gratitude and appreciation for something someone has done for you.

The word "merci" is derived from the Latin word "merces" meaning "wages" or "reward". So "merci" literally translates to "thank you" or "I am grateful".

It is common to use "merci" in a variety of situations such as when someone does something for you, when someone gives you a gift, or when someone provides you with a service. It is considered a polite and formal way to express gratitude and appreciation.

It's worth noting that French culture places a high value on politeness and formality, so it's important to use "merci" in the appropriate situations to show respect and make a positive impression.

In informal settings or with people you know well, it is common to use other expressions such as "merci beaucoup" (thank you very much) or "merci infiniment" (thank you infinitely) to express a greater level of gratitude.

"Excusez-moi"

"Excusez-moi" is a French phrase that is commonly used to say "excuse me" in French, often to get someone's attention or to apologize for something. It is considered a polite and formal way to interrupt someone, ask for directions, or apologize for something you did.

The phrase "excusez-moi" is a shortened form of "excusez-moi de vous déranger" which means "excuse me for disturbing you". It is a polite way of interrupting someone or apologizing for something you did.

It is common to use "excusez-moi" in a variety of settings such as when you need to get someone's attention, ask for directions, or apologize for something you did. It is considered a polite and formal way to interrupt someone or apologize for something you did.

It's important to note that in informal settings or with people you know well, it is common to use other expressions such as "désolé" (sorry) or "pardon" (pardon/sorry) instead of "excusez-moi".

"Oui" and "Non"

"Oui" and "non" are French words that are commonly used to indicate agreement and disagreement, respectively. They are considered basic but important words to know when communicating with others in French.

"Oui" means "yes" in French and is used to indicate agreement or consent. It is a simple word that is commonly used in daily conversation when answering questions or responding to statements. For example, if someone asks "Voulez-vous venir à la fête?" (Do you want to come to the party?), you can respond with "Oui, j'aimerais bien" (Yes, I would like to).

"Non" means "no" in French and is used to indicate disagreement or to refuse something. It is also a simple word that is commonly used in daily conversation when answering questions or responding to statements. For example, if someone asks "Voulez-vous manger des escargots?" (Do you want to eat snails?), you can respond with "Non, je n'aime pas les escargots" (No, I do not like snails).

It's worth noting that in French culture, it is considered polite to phrase negative responses in a more polite or indirect way, instead of just saying "non" directly. For example, instead of saying "Non, je ne veux pas venir" (No, I don't want to come), you can say "Je suis désolé, je ne peux pas venir" (I'm sorry, I can't come).

In general, "oui" and "non" are considered very basic but important words to know when communicating with French speakers.

"Je ne comprends pas"

"Je ne comprends pas" is a French phrase that means "I don't understand" in English. It is used when you are having difficulty understanding something that is being said to you. It is considered a polite way to ask for clarification or for someone to repeat something.

The phrase "Je ne comprends pas" is formed by combining the personal pronoun "Je" meaning "I", the negation "ne", the verb "comprendre" meaning "to understand", and "pas" meaning "not". So it literally translates to "I don't understand".

It is common to use "Je ne comprends pas" in a variety of settings such as when you are in a conversation and you don't understand what the other person is saying, when you are reading something and you don't understand the meaning, or when you are in a class and you don't understand the material being taught. It is considered a polite way to ask for clarification or for someone to repeat something.

It's important to note that in informal settings or with people you know well, it is common to use other expressions such as "Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?" (What does it mean?) or "Pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plaît?" (Can you repeat please?) instead of "Je ne comprends pas".

"Je parle un peu français"

"Je parle un peu français" is a French phrase that means "I speak a little French" in English. It is used to indicate that the speaker has a basic understanding of the French language and can communicate with others in French to some extent.

The phrase "Je parle un peu français" is formed by the personal pronoun "Je" meaning "I", the verb "parle" meaning "speak", the adverb "un peu" meaning "a little", and the noun "français" meaning "French". So it literally translates to "I speak a little French".

It is common to use this phrase when introducing oneself to French speakers or when trying to communicate with them. It helps to indicate that the speaker may not be fluent in French but can still hold basic conversation. It can also be used to indicate that you are willing to communicate in French, but that you may need extra help or patience.

It's important to note that this phrase can also be used in other forms, such as "Je parle français un peu" or "Un peu, je parle français", and they all convey the same meaning.

In summary, "Je parle un peu français" is a useful phrase to know when traveling to France as it indicates that you have a basic understanding of the French language and can communicate with others to some extent. It is a polite way to indicate your level of proficiency, and it can also indicate that you are willing to communicate in French but may need extra help or patience.

"Combien coûte cela?"

"Combien coûte cela?" is a French phrase that means "How much does this cost?" in English. It is used to ask about the price of something.

The phrase "Combien coûte cela?" is formed by the adverb "Combien" meaning "how much", the verb "coûte" meaning "cost", and the pronoun "cela" meaning "this". So it literally translates to "How much does this cost?"

It is common to use this phrase when shopping or making a purchase, to inquire about the price of a product or service. It can also be used in other situations such as when inquiring about the cost of admission to a museum or the cost of a meal in a restaurant.

It's worth noting that in French culture, it is considered polite to inquire about the price before making a purchase or asking for a service.

"Combien coûte cela?" is a common and important phrase to know when traveling to France or interacting with French speakers.

"Où se trouvent les toilettes?"

"Où se trouvent les toilettes?" is a French phrase that means "Where are the restrooms located?" in English. It is used to ask for the location of the restrooms.

The phrase "Où se trouvent les toilettes?" is formed by the adverb "Où" meaning "where", the reflexive verb "se trouver" meaning "to be located", and "les toilettes" meaning "the restrooms". So it literally translates to "Where are the restrooms located?"

It is common to use this phrase when you are in a public place such as a mall, a park, a train station, or a restaurant and need to use the restroom. It is considered a polite way to ask for the location of the restrooms.

It's worth noting that in French culture, it is considered polite to use the formal word "toilettes" instead of the informal word "WC" (water closet) when asking for the location of restrooms.

Conclusion

It's important to remember that the more you practice and use these phrases, the more comfortable and confident you will feel when communicating with native speakers in France. It's also important to note that French culture places a high value on politeness and formality, so using these phrases appropriately can help to show respect and make a positive impression.

Exercise