Looking to learn some French travel phrases?
Well, if you’re traveling to France, then you’ll likely need some of these phrases about toilets, money, English and much more.
These French travel phrases also come with key vocabulary breakdowns. Why? So if you forget the phrase, if you can remember the key word, that could be good enough.
So, here are the French phrases that travelers must know.
1. Merci! Thank you!
“Thank you” is one of the most important phrases you need to know. Why? Simple manners. You’ll want to thank all the French people that help you on your trip.
Just remember… “mer-see.” Basic way of saying thank you in French. If you remember only one word from this guide, let it be this one.
Key words and phrases:
- Merci – Thank you
If you want to say thank you very much in French, then…
- Merci beaucoup.
- Thank you very much.
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- How to Say Thank You in French – Learn French in 3 Minutes
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2. Excusez-moi. Excuse me.
This is one of the most useful French travel phrases. You’ll need to get the attention of waiters, shop staff, stewardesses, and so on, and this is where “Excusez-moi” comes in.
3. Bonjour. Good morning or Hello
Even though French greetings are not really “French travel phrases,” you’ll still have to talk to people in French. And aside from “excuse me,” you can also learn some “hellos.”
“Bonjour” is a formal way of saying hello and also a morning greeting. So, if you have to address someone in the morning, use “bonjour.”
4. Salut. Hi.
If you want something a bit more casual than a “bonjour,” then try a “salut” or “hi.”
5. Bon après-midi. Good afternoon.
Now, what if it’s afternoon? Then use this greeting.
6. Bonsoir. Good evening.
Now, if you need to talk to some shop staff or whoever in the evening, this is the phrase to use.
7. Je suis désolé. I’m sorry.
Chances are you won’t need to apologize. But it’s always good to know just in case you step on someone’s shoe or something.
Key words and phrases:
- Je suis – I am
- désolé – sorry
8. De l’eau, s’il vous plaît. Some water, please.
Whether you’re terribly thirsty or
Key words and phrases:
- s’il vous plaît – please
- l’eau – water
9. Combien ça coûte? How much is this?
Chances are, you’ll probably buy something in France. And so, you’ll want to know much it costs.
Key words and phrases:
- coûte – cost
10. Pourrais-je changer de chambre? Could I move to a different room?
This is a good French travel phrase for a hotel. Just in case you’re having issues with your current room.
Key words and phrases:
- changer – change
- chambre – room
11. Pourriez-vous m’obtenir une chambre non-fumeur? Could you find me a non-smoking room?
The country is known for heavy smokers. So, just in case you notice the “aroma” of tobacco, use this line.
Key words and phrases:
- non-fumeur – non-smoking
- chambre – room
12. Cela ne me va pas. It doesn’t fit.
If you go shopping for clothes and have to try things on, you’ll want this phrase.
Key words and phrases:
- Cela – This
13. Avez-vous des chambres de disponibles ce soir? Do you have any vacancies tonight?
Key words and phrases:
- J’en voudrais – I woud like
14. Y at-il un bus de l’aéroport pour aller en ville? Is there a bus from the airport to the city?
Key words and phrases:
- ville – city
- bus – bus
- l’aéroport – the airport
15. Est-ce le bon bus pour l’aéroport? Is this the right bus for the airport?
When they answer it, listen for the “oui” (yes) or “non” (no).
Key words and phrases:
- bon – right
- l’aéroport – the airport
16. Excusez-moi, c’est combien? Excuse me, what’s the fare?
You already know some of the words and phrases here.
Key words and phrases:
- Excusez-moi – excuse me
- combien – cost
- 18. Je voudrais un siège non-fumeur, s’il vous plaît. I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please.
17. Je suis allergique aux cacahuètes. I’m allergic to peanuts.
This is a good line to know for restaurants. If you’re allergic to something else, look it up on Google Translate and swap it in place of “peanuts.”
Key words and phrases:
- Je suis – I am
- allergique – allergic
- cacahuètes – peanuts
18. Que recommandez-vous comme souvenir? What do you recommend for a souvenir?
It’s good to get an opinion from shop staff if you want to pick something unique or culturally significant to France. Otherwise, you’ll just end up buying a “I LOVE PARIS” shirt.”
Key words and phrases:
- Que – what
- recommandez – recommend
19. Prenez-vous la carte de crédit? Do you take credit card?
This would be a good phrase to know for shopping.
Key words and phrases:
- Prenez-vous- Do yu
- carte – card
- crédit – credit
20. Ce n’est pas ce que j’ai commandé. This isn’t what I ordered.
This may be a good line to know at a French restaurant. You know, just in case they don’t give you the baguette you ordered.
Key words and phrases:
- Ce n’est pas – it’s not
- que – what
- commandé – order
21. Nos plats ne sont pas encore arrivés. Our food hasn’t come yet.
Here’s another important restaurant phrase. Use it when you’ve been waiting for a while and your baguette still isn’t here.
Key words and phrases:
- plats – dish
- arrivés- arrived
22. Pourrions-nous avoir le menu, s’il vous plaît? Could we have the menu, please?
The good news here is that “menu” sounds pretty much the same as in English, minus the accent of course.
Key words and phrases:
- s’il vous plaît – please
- menu – menu
23. Où est la gare? Where is the train station?
Key words and phrases:
- Où – where
- gare – train station
24. Le wifi est-il gratuit? Is the Wi-Fi free?
Key words and phrases:
- gratuit – free
25. Je voudrais ceci. I’d like this.
Key words and phrases:
26. Avez-vous des recommandations? Do you have any recommendations?
Key words and phrases:
- Avez-vous – Have you/do you
27. Avez-vous des plats végétariens? Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
Key words and phrases:
- Avez-vous – Have you/do you
- végétariens – Vegetarian
- plats – dishes
28. Pourrais-je avoir l’addition? Could I have the check?
Key words and phrases:
29. Pourriez-vous me prendre en photo s’il vous plaît? Could you take a picture of me please?
This is another important French travel phrase. Because you’ll want to take lots of pics in France.
Key words and phrases:
- Pourriez-vous – could you
- prendre – take
- photo – photo/picture
- s’il vous plaît – please
30. Pourrais-je obtenir un plan? Could I get a map?
Key words and phrases:
- obtenir – get/obtain
- plan – map
31. J’ai une réservation. I have a reservation.
Key words and phrases:
- J’ai – I have
- une réservation – a reservation
- 29. Puis-je essayer? Can I try this on?
Good overall shopping phrase to know.
Key words and phrases:
- essayer – try
32. Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English?
Changes are, there’ll be times where you can’t handle any more French… and you’ll need English. So, what do you do? You ask for “anglais.”
Key words and phrases:
- anglais – English
- parlez-vous – speak
33. À quelle heure est le prochain bus?
What time is the next bus?
Key words and phrases:
- quelle – What
- heure – hour
- prochain – next
- bus – bus
34. Où sont les toilettes? Where Is the Bathroom?
This may be one of the most important French travel phrases here.
Key words and phrases:
- Où – Where
- toilettes – Bathroom
35. Est-ce que ce bus va à …..?
Does this bus go to…..?
If you need to ask if your bus is going in the right direction, use this.
Key words and phrases:
- va – go
36. Bienvenue à l’aéroport Roissy-Charles de Gaulle à Paris, France. Welcome to the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, France.
Not exactly a French travel phrase.
You won’t be the one saying this… but it’s still a good phrase to know.
You’ll hear this on the plane — even though they’ll likely announce it in English as well. Either way, it’s nice to understand what’s being said in another language.
Key words and phrases:
- Bienvenue – welcome
37. Excusez-moi, j’aimerais aller à l’aéroport, pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment y aller? Excuse me, I’d like to go to the airport, would you tell me how to get there?
Key words and phrases:
- Excusez-moi – Excuse me
- aller – to go
- j’aimerais – I would like
- m’indiquer – indicate me/tell me
- comment y aller – how to get there
38. Où sont les taxis ? Where are the taxis?
The good news is that “taxi” doesn’t soon too different in French.
Key words and phrases:
- Où – Where
- Taxi – taxi
Now You Know Some French Travel Phrases
If you want these phrases to stick better, feel free to print this page and review it as much as possible.
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