French for travel

Salut !

„Salut“ is a casual „hi“ among friends, for strangers or formal occasions, „Bonjour“ is better.

💡 Did you know? „Salut“ goes back to Latin salus („well-being, health“) and originally served as a blessing.

Bonjour.

„Bonjour“ literally means „good day“ and is the polite all-purpose greeting: in shops it is almost obligatory.

💡 Did you know? Entering a shop without saying „Bonjour“ is quickly seen as rude in France.

Bonsoir. / Bonne nuit.

„Bonsoir“ greets in the evening, „Bonne nuit“ is said only at bedtime.

💡 Did you know? Unlike in German, „Bonne nuit“ is not an evening farewell but really only for going to bed.

Au revoir !

„Au revoir“ literally means „until we see each other again“ and is the polite farewell.

💡 Did you know? The casual „Salut“ also works as a goodbye, incidentally: like the German „Servus“.

À plus tard.

„À plus tard“ means „see you later“: colloquially often shortened to „à plus“.

💡 Did you know? Young French people often just write „A+“ in messages: pronounced „a plüss“.

S'il vous plaît.

„S'il vous plaît“ literally means „if it pleases you“: the polite form; among friends one says „s'il te plaît“.

💡 Did you know? The famous line from „The Little Prince“ („Please, draw me a sheep“) uses this very polite phrase.

Merci.

„Merci“ is the universal „thank you“.

💡 Did you know? „Merci“ goes back to Latin merces („reward, mercy“): originally one asked for „mercy“.

Merci beaucoup.

„Merci beaucoup“ strengthens the thanks to „thank you very much“.

💡 Did you know? Stronger still is „merci mille fois“: „a thousand thanks“.

De rien.

„De rien“ literally means „for nothing“: i.e. „you're welcome“.

💡 Did you know? More formally one replies „je vous en prie“: „I beg you / not at all“.

Oui / Non.

„Oui“ is yes, „Non“ is no: two of the first words you learn.

💡 Did you know? Colloquially you often hear „ouais“: a casual „yeah“.

Pardon. (Excusez-moi.)

„Pardon“ is used to apologise or to squeeze past; more formal is „excusez-moi“.

💡 Did you know? The English „pardon?“ (meaning „what did you say?“) comes straight from French.

Ça coûte combien ?

„Ça coûte combien ?“ asks the price; „C'est combien ?“ works too.

💡 Did you know? The word „combien“ („how much“) is worth its weight in gold on holiday.

Par carte, s'il vous plaît.

„Par carte, s'il vous plaît“ signals you want to pay by card.

💡 Did you know? Card payment is widespread in France: small amounts go contactless almost everywhere.

L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

„L'addition, s'il vous plaît“ politely asks for the bill in a restaurant.

💡 Did you know? A discreet gesture like „signing in the air“ is usually understood by the waiter at once.

Où sont les toilettes ?

„Où sont les toilettes ?“: perhaps the most useful question on holiday.

💡 Did you know? „Toilettes“ is almost always plural in French.

Je ne comprends pas.

„Je ne comprends pas“ means „I don't understand“: a lifesaver in conversation.

💡 Did you know? The typically French negation brackets the verb with „ne … pas“.

Vous parlez anglais ?

„Vous parlez anglais ?“ politely asks whether the other person speaks English.

💡 Did you know? A „Bonjour“ up front makes the question much friendlier and improves your chances.

Une bière, s'il vous plaît.

„Une bière, s'il vous plaît“ orders a beer: „une pression“ specifically means a draught.

💡 Did you know? In France beer is often ordered as a „demi“: about 25 centilitres, a „half“.

Santé !

„Santé !“ literally means „health“ and is the classic toast.

💡 Did you know? When clinking glasses in France, it is custom to look each other in the eye.

Au secours !

„Au secours !“ is the cry for help in an emergency.

💡 Did you know? The Europe-wide emergency number is 112: free throughout France.