27 French Phrases for Travel

Are you going to France? Then, you need to know these French phrases for travel. In this article, you will discover the basic vocabulary to communicate with the French during your stay in the country!

This article is a collaboration between Conexão Paris and Afrancesados

At Afrancesados, Roberta (from Brazil) and Emil (from France) guide you through an immersion in real-life French, meaning the French that is actually used by natives. C'est parti? Allons-y!

1 - Bonjour! (Hello / Good morning!)

First of all, remember this tip: when starting any interaction with a native, never forget to say "Bonjour". For the French, it's considered rude to just walk in and start talking without this greeting!

2 - Bonsoir! (Good evening!)

At the end of the day, you can also say "Bonsoir" when arriving somewhere or starting a conversation with someone.

Note: There is the expression "Bonne nuit" in French, which also means "good night", but it's used only when going to bed.

3 - S'il vous plaît (Please)

Another term that must be in your vocabulary is "please". When asking a question or requesting information in French, get used to always ending your sentence with "s'il vous plaît" to maintain politeness and respect for the person you are speaking with.

4 - Merci (Thank you)

To express gratitude, the same word applies to different genders. Use the good old "merci" whenever someone gives you information or when making a purchase, for example.

5 - Excusez-moi / Pardon. (Excuse me)

While using public transport or walking on the street, you will hear many people asking for permission (especially during peak hours or in crowded places).

Just use one of these terms for the person to understand that you want to pass or get off the subway car, for example. Remember, of course, to say thank you (merci) right afterward

If you feel the person you are addressing seems open, you can ask how they are doing.

If it's someone you don't know, like being in a store or bakery, always use "vous" in your sentences.

Tip: In French, we have two ways of addressing: one more formal, treating the person as "vous", which corresponds to "Mr./Mrs." in Portuguese; and another way more informal, addressing the person as "tu". This informality is used with closer coworkers, friends, family, and children.

6 - Comment allez-vous? (How are you?)

If the person asks you the same thing (saying "Bien et vous?", for example), you can respond:

7 - Je vais bien, merci. (I am fine, thank you.)

As you interact with a native, you may not understand the response to your question or comment. At the end of this article, we will give you a crucial tip to develop your French listening comprehension

To inform the person that you do not understand the sentence, you can use one of the following options:

8 - Désolé, je n'ai pas compris. (Sorry, I didn't understand.)

9 - Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît? (Can you repeat, please?)

Not all French people are fluent in other languages, such as English, for example. Therefore, it is important that you know at least basic French during your trip.

As a last resort, if you feel the conversation is not going anywhere, just say that you don't speak French and ask if the person speaks another language.

10 - Désolé, je ne parle pas français. (Sorry, I don't speak French.)

11 - Parlez-vous anglais / portugais? (Do you speak English / Portuguese?)

Here are some things you will need to ask in French while traveling in different contexts. Again, remember to always end your request with "please" (s'il vous plaît).

12 - Où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît? (Where is the restroom, please?)

13 - Ça coûte combien, s'il vous plaît? (How much does it cost, please?)

Read also: The numbers in French.

14 - Pourriez-vous prendre une photo, s'il vous plaît? (Could you take a photo, please?)

In addition to the phrases in French, keep the context in mind. For example, do not ask someone who looks rushed to take a photo for you.

Although the reputation of the French (especially Parisians) is that they are cold or even arrogant, this is not always true. But a bit of tact, observation, and knowledge of the French culture is needed.

15 - Quel est le mot de passe pour la wi-fi, s'il vous plaît? (What is the Wi-Fi password, please?)

In a restaurant or shop, the magic sentence in French is "Je voudrais....". This is the most polite and commonly used way to make a request.

16 - Je voudrais un bœuf bourguignon, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a bœuf bourguignon, please.)

17 - Je voudrais une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a carafe of water, please.)

Tip: At restaurants, you can drink water for free if you ask for a "carafe d'eau" (carafe of water). It's tap water, but potable and of good quality. If you ask for a "bouteille d'eau" (bottle of water), you will get a bottle of mineral water that will be charged to your bill.

Here are other more specific requests when eating during your trip to France:

18 - Avez-vous des options végétariennes? / sans gluten? (Do you have vegetarian / gluten-free options?)

19 - Quel vin me conseillez-vous avec ce plat? (Which wine do you recommend with this dish?)

The types of wine are: "rouge" (red), "blanc" (white), or "rosé".

When calling a waiter, use "Monsieur, s'il vous plaît" or "Madame, s'il vous plaît".

20 - L'addition, s'il vous plaît. (The bill, please.)

21 - Je paie par carte. (I will pay by card.)

For contactless payment, the French say "sans contact". In some cases, you may need to insert your card into the machine, choose the language, and the payment option, depending on your card brand or type.

Tip: Having two cards can be very useful while traveling, as in case of technical issues, loss, or theft, you have a second option. Additionally, always remember to have some cash on hand.

If you find yourself walking on a street or boulevard in Paris, for example, and feel completely lost, know that this is completely normal!

Besides the beauty of the buildings and monuments in the city, there are charming little streets, shops, and everything to "divert" yourself during your Parisian walk.

But stay calm and remember to approach someone who seems available, always with a "Bonjour"

22 - Pourriez-vous m'aider? (Can you help me?)

23 - Je cherche la station de métro. (I am looking for the subway station.)

The French will usually explain to you with gestures, but remember well the basic directions in French: "à gauche" (to the left), "à droite" (to the right), and "tout droit" (straight ahead).

24 - Je cherche la Tour Eiffel. (I am looking for the Eiffel Tower.)

To learn more: Monuments in French: How to pronounce?

When saying goodbye to someone, the "classic" in French is "see you later":

25 - Au revoir! (Bye / See you later!)

To top it off, at the end of a conversation or interaction, wish the person a good day or good night. These expressions are often used by the French in shops, on the street, and in more informal conversations as well.

26 - Bonne journée! (Have a good day.)

27 - Bonne soirée! (Have a good evening.)

With these French phrases for travel, you can be sure that your access to places and your interactions with the French will be much easier. Speaking the local language is a way to show interest and respect for the people living there. So don't forget to practice these basic French expressions!

This is why Roberta and Emil created the Afrancesados Method(R), focused entirely on Real-Life French(R), meaning the French that is actually used by French people in everyday life.

All of this, of course, with learning techniques that have already helped more than 3,000 students achieve their dream of speaking French naturally!

If you want to speak French naturally, we invite you to join the Free French Mini-Course.

With it, you will have access to the principles of the Afrancesados Method with Roberta (from Brazil) and Emil (from France) and take your first steps towards mastering Real-Life French(R).