First, a little attitude
From someone on the web:
I’ve been visiting France for 35 years or so and no one has ever given me a hard time about language. I may speak French but it’s with an atrocious accent and the vocabulary of a mildly retarded 12 year old. Nonetheless, people manage to have entire conversations with me in French without once rolling their eyes or bursting out in hysterical laughter (either of which would be completely justified). If you act like a jackass you’ll be treated like one. If you’re polite and pleasant you’ll be treated with courtesy.
On my first visit a few years ago all I could say was bonjour, merci, s’il vous plait, and parlez-vous anglais? Still, I managed to enjoy that two-week stay and not feel as if anyone had treated me with anything other than respect and courtesy. I think you get what you give! If you are polite and respectful, then that’s usually how people respond to you.
Next, some French phrases
| English | Pronunciation | French |
|---|
| Do you speak English? |
par-lay voo zon-glay |
Parlez-vous anglais? |
| Excuse me/sorry |
ex-koo-zay mwah |
Excusez-moi |
| Fine thanks and you? |
bee-ehn mer-see ay voo? |
Merci et vous? |
| Glad to meet you |
on-shohn-tay |
Enchanté |
| Good-by |
oh ruh-vwar |
Au revoir |
| Good evening |
bon-swar |
Bon soir |
| Good morning/good day |
bon-zhoor |
Bon jour |
| Hello |
sah-loo |
Salut |
| Here |
ee-see |
Ici |
| How are you? |
kom-mohn tah-lay voo |
Comment allez-vous? |
| I don’t understand |
jhuhn kom-prohn pah |
Je ne comprends pas |
| I’m sorry |
day-zoh-lay/pahr-dohn |
Desolé/Pardon |
| My name is |
juh mah-pell |
Je m’appelle |
| No |
nohn |
Non |
| Ok |
dah-core |
d’accord |
| Pardon me |
pahr-dohn |
Pardon |
| Please |
seel voo play |
S’il vous plaît |
| Pleased to meet you |
ohn-shahn-tay |
Enchanté(e) |
| Please speak slowly |
par-lay lehn-ta-mohn |
Parlez lentement |
| So-so |
kum-see, kum-sah |
Comme ci, comme ça |
| Thank you |
mare-see |
Merci |
| That’s ok |
dah ree-ehn |
De rien |
| There |
lah |
Là |
| Very well |
treh bee-ehn |
Trés bien |
| What? |
kom-mohn |
Comment? |
| What is your name? |
kom-mohn voo-za-peh-lay voo |
Comment vous appellez-vous? |
| When |
kohn |
Quand |
| Where is |
oo-ay |
Où est |
| You’re welcome |
dah ree-ehn |
De rien |
General Words & Phrases Translations
| English | Pronunciation | Français |
|---|
| Do you have | Ah-vay voo | Avez-vous |
| A map? | Ewn kart? |
Une carte? |
| The time? | Lehr? | L’heure? |
| Fill the tank | Leh plahn seel-voo-play | Le Plein, s’il vous plaît |
| Go straight ahead | Ah-lay too-dwah | Allez tout droit |
| I don’t speak French | Jehn parl pah frahn-say | Je ne parle pas français |
| Monday | lahn-dee | lundi |
| Tuesday | mahr-dee | mardi |
| Wednesday | mare-kruh-dee |
mercredi |
| Thursday | zhuh-dee | jeudi |
| Friday | vahn-druh-dee |
vendredi |
| Saturday | sahm-dee |
samdi |
| Sunday | dee-mahnsh |
dimanche |
| What time is it? | Kel uhr ay-teel | Quelle heure est-il? |
| Where is it? | Ooh-eh-tile | Où est-il? |
| It is over there | Say la-bah | C’est là-bas |
| It is there | Say lah | C’est là |
| It is to the left, right | Say tah goash, ah dwaht | C’est à gauche, droite |
| Where is the | Ooh-ay leh | Où est le |
| Bistro? | beez-troh? | Bistro? |
| cafe? | een kah-fay | une café? |
| Restaurant? | res-tah-rahn? | Restaurant? |
Restaurant Words & Phrases
| English | Pronunciation | Français |
|---|
| I would like | jhe voo-dray | Je voudrais |
| A bottle of wine | ewn boo-tay dew vahn | Une bouteille du vin |
| A cup of coffee | ewn tas deh kah-fay | Une tasse de café |
| A cup of tea | ewn tas deh tay | Une tasse de thé |
| A fixed price menu | uhn men-new ah pree feek | Un menu à prix fix |
| A fork | ewn for-shet | Une fourchette |
| A glass of water | uhn vair duh | Un verre d’eau |
| A knife | uhn koo-toe | Un couteau |
| A menu | leh men-new | Un menu |
| A reservation for two | ewn reh-zer-vah-see-ohn por duh | Une reservation pour deux |
| A spoon | ewn kwee-air | Une cuillére |
| A table | ewn tabhl | Une table |
| An appetizer | day zor-duhvr | Des hors-d’oeuvres |
| breakfast | Leh puh-tee day-zhuh-nay | Le petit-déjeuner |
| dinner | leh dee-nay | Le dîner |
| lunch | leh day-zhun-nay | Le dîjeuner |
| The check | lah-dee-see-yohn | L’addition |
| The desert | leh deh-ser | Le dessert |
| The dish of the day | leh plah dew zhoor | Le plat du jour |
| The main course | leh plah prahn-see-pal | Le plat principal |
| The wine list | lah kart day vahn | La carte des vins |
| To order | cooh-mahn-day | Commander |
| I would like it | jehn voo-dray | J’en voudrais |
| medium | ah pwahn | À point |
| rare | sayg-nyohn | Saignant |
| Well-done | bee-ehn kwee | Bien cuit |
| appetizers | day zohn-tray | des entrées |
| mussels | day mool | des moules |
| shrimp | day kruh-veht | des crevettes |
| soup | deh lah soop | de la soupe |
