Best French Phrases for Travel (With FREE Printable)
Heading to France? Learning a few simple French phrases can make travelling much easier and more enjoyable.
Even though many people speak some English, I’ve found that locals appreciate it when you try using their language, even if it’s just a word or two.
Since we already knew a little French, we really just needed to brush up on the basics.
The great thing is that these phrases are also useful in Belgium, Monaco, and parts of Switzerland, where French is also spoken. Bonus!
In this post, I’ll share some easy French phrases you can use to greet people, order food, ask for directions, and handle everyday situations… all the things you’ll actually need while travelling.
👉🏻 Don’t forget to grab your FREE printable cheat sheet at the bottom of this post!
Basic French Greetings and Politeness
While travelling through France, I found that English was pretty widely spoken and understood in most of the larger cities.
While Google Translate can help in a pinch, I needed to brush up on a few basic phrases before our trip.
The list below is a great place to start.
It covers basic greetings, helpful questions, and polite words you’ll need each day.
We have included the words in English and French, as well as a phonetic pronunciation for each.
Good morning / Hello
• Bonjour
• (bohn-zhoor)
Good evening
• Bonsoir
• (bon-swahr)
Good night
• Bonne nuit
• (bun nwee)
Goodbye
• Au revoir
• (oh ruh-vwar)
Bye (informal)
• Salut
• (sa-lew)
Thank you
• Merci
• (mehr-see)
Thank you very much
• Merci beaucoup
• (mehr-see boh-koo)
You’re welcome
• De rien / Je vous en prie
• (duh ree-ahn / zhuh voo-zahn pree)
Please
• S’il vous plaît
• (seel voo pleh)
I’m sorry
• Je suis désolé(e)
• (zhuh swee day-zo-leh)
Excuse me / Pardon me
• Excusez-moi / Pardon
• (ex-kew-zay mwah / par-dohn)
Useful Phrases for Getting Around France
Getting around France is usually straightforward, especially in the big cities.
Smaller towns and rural areas can feel different, though. Signs aren’t always in English, and directions can be harder to follow.
Street names can change quickly, and older town centers often have twisting lanes that are not always well marked.
If your phone drops signal or your GPS acts up, it helps to ask someone nearby.
We found that people were usually kind and willing to help, especially when we started with a polite greeting.
🗾 Expert Tip – Keep a copy of your hotel’s address with you. It’s useful to show taxi drivers or locals if you need directions back. You can do the same with saved attraction addresses from Google Maps.
Where is…?
• Où est…?
• (oo eh)
How far is it?
• C’est loin?
• (say lwan)
Left
• Gauche
• (gohsh)
Right
• Droite
• (dwatt)
Straight ahead
• Tout droit
• (too dwah)
Train station
• Gare
• (gahr)
Subway / Metro
• Métro
• (may-tro)
Tram
• Tram
• (trahm)
Which platform?
• Quel quai?
• (kel kay)
Bus stop
• Arrêt de bus
• (ah-ray duh bus)
Taxi stand
• Station de taxi
• (stah-see-ohn duh tak-see)
How do I get to…?
• Comment aller à…?
• (koh-mon ah-lay ah)
Helpful Everyday Phrases for Travel
Here are some simple but very useful phrases for when you are out exploring France.
I can almost promise you’ll use at least one of them during your trip.
And if you are travelling with kids, asking for a restroom may become a regular part of the day! 🤣🤣
Do you speak English?
• Parlez-vous anglais?
• (par-lay voo zahn-glay)
I don’t understand
• Je ne comprends pas
• (zhuh nuh kom-prahnd pah)
Can you repeat that?
• Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît?
• (poo-vay voo ray-pay-tay seel voo pleh)
Can you speak slowly?
• Pouvez-vous parler lentement, s’il vous plaît?
• (poo-vay voo par-lay lon-te-mon seel voo pleh)
Where is the restroom?
• Où sont les toilettes?
• (oo sohn lay twah-let)
Words to Know When Visiting Attractions
France has so many incredible places to discover.
From famous monuments and art museums to villages, markets, and historic districts, there is a lot to take in.
The phrases below will be useful while you are out sightseeing.
They can help you read signs, ask simple questions, and feel more comfortable while practicing your French.
Museum
• Musée
• (mew-zay)
Gallery
• Galerie
• (ga-luh-ree)
Church
• Église
• (ay-gleez)
Castle
• Château
• (sha-to)
Park
• Parc
• (park)
Garden
• Jardin
• (zhar-dan)
Entrance
• Entrée
• (ahn-tray)
Exit
• Sortie
• (sor-tee)
Ticket
• Billet
• (bee-yay)
Open
• Ouvert
• (oo-vair)
Closed
• Fermé
• (fair-may)
Hours / Opening hours
• Heures d’ouverture
• (ur doo-vair-tur)
Map
• Plan
• (plon)
French Words for Travelling with Kids
If you’re like us and plan to travel through France with kids, it helps to know a few child-focused words.
Most travellers don’t think about it until they are in a new place with a little one who suddenly needs a washroom or wants to find a playground.
We’re long past the stroller days, but the phrases below can make exploring France with younger children a bit easier.
Child
• Enfant
• (on-fon)
Baby
• Bébé
• (bay-bay)
Stroller
• Poussette
• (poo-set)
Playground
• Aire de jeux
• (air duh zhuh)
Diaper
• Couche
• (koosh)
Toy
• Jouet
• (zhoo-eh)
Lost child
• Enfant perdu
• (on-fon pair-doo)
Dining in France
We are a Foodie family, so eating out and trying local dishes is always part of our trip.
Ordering meals in France is usually pretty easy, especially in bigger cities or busy tourist areas.
However, in smaller towns or neighbourhood restaurants, menus may only be in French.
Learning a few key phrases can make ordering easier and keep things running smoothly.
If you’re trying something new or need to ask about ingredients (like John’s shellfish allergy), being able to explain your needs politely can make a big difference.
A table for two, please
• Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît
• (oon tab-l poor duh seel voo pleh)
Menu
• Menu
• (meh-nyoo)
I would like…
• Je voudrais…
• (zhuh voo-dreh)
Do you have…?
• Avez-vous…?
• (ah-vay voo)
Without…
• Sans…
• (son)
With…
• Avec…
• (ah-vek)
Water
• Eau
• (oh)
Tap water
• Eau du robinet
• (oh dew roh-bee-neh)
Beer
• Bière
• (byair)
Wine
• Vin
• (van)
The check, please
• L’addition, s’il vous plaît
• (la-dee-syon seel voo pleh)
Fork
• Fourchette
• (foor-shet)
Knife
• Couteau
• (koo-to)
Spoon
• Cuillère
• (kwee-yair)
I am vegetarian
• Je suis végétarien(ne)
• (zhuh swee vay-zhay-ta-ryen)
I’m allergic to…
• Je suis allergique à…
• (zhuh swee al-air-zheek ah)
Shopping in France
France is an awesome place to shop.
From department stores and Christmas markets to bakeries and small souvenir stalls, there is plenty to browse.
Whether you’re picking up a local snack or hunting for something unique, a few helpful phrases can make the experience smoother.
I’ve had to keep an eye on John a few times, especially when he spots something unusual or fun to bring home.
These phrases will help with most shopping situations during your trip.
How much is this?
• C’est combien?
• (say kom-byen)
Do you accept credit cards?
• Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit?
• (ak-sep-tay voo lay kart duh kray-dee)
Can I have a receipt?
• Puis-je avoir un reçu, s’il vous plaît?
• (pwee zh av-wahr un ruh-sew seel voo pleh)
I’m just looking
• Je regarde seulement, merci
• (zhuh ruh-gard suhl-mon mehr-see)
Do you have this in another size?
• Vous l’avez dans une autre taille?
• (voo lah-vay donz oatr tahy)
Do you have this in another colour?
• Vous l’avez dans une autre couleur?
• (voo lah-vay donz oatr koo-lur)
That’s too expensive
• C’est trop cher
• (say tro shair)
Can I pay in cash?
• Puis-je payer en espèces?
• (pwee zh pay-yay on es-pess)
Asking for Help in France
When you’re travelling in another country, needing help can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t speak the language.
We were fortunate not to have any serious issues, but it’s still useful to learn a few important phrases in case something unexpected happens.
These phrases can be helpful if you’re unwell, injured, or need urgent assistance.
Help!
• Au secours!
• (oh suh-koor)
Call the police!
• Appelez la police!
• (ap-lay lah poh-lees)
Call an ambulance!
• Appelez une ambulance!
• (ap-lay oon am-byoo-lahns)
I’m sick
• Je suis malade
• (zhuh swee mah-lahd)
I need a doctor
• J’ai besoin d’un médecin
• (zhay buh-zwan dun med-sahn)
Where is the hospital?
• Où est l’hôpital?
• (oo eh lo-pee-tal)
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d’ici?
• (yah-teel oon far-mah-see preh dee-see)
Basic Numbers in French
A lot of travellers forget to learn basic numbers when picking up a new language.
But they’re useful in soooo many situations.
From reading prices and telling time to buying tickets and giving directions, you’ll use them more than you expect.
It definitely came in handy when I wanted to order snacks, pastries or hot chocolate while exploring the Christmas markets!
1
• un
• (uhn)
2
• deux
• (duh)
3
• trois
• (trwah)
4
• quatre
• (katr)
5
• cinq
• (sank)
6
• six
• (seess)
7
• sept
• (set)
8
• huit
• (weet)
9
• neuf
• (nuf)
10
• dix
• (deess)
Larger numbers are also helpful for reading prices, paying for things, and navigating schedules.
50
• cinquante
• (san-kont)
100
• cent
• (sont)
500
• cinq cents
• (sank son)
1,000
• mille
• (meel)
5,000
• cinq mille
• (sank meel)
10,000
• dix mille
• (deess meel)
Telling the Time in French
Learning how to tell time might not be the first thing you think of, but it’s surprisingly useful when travelling.
Whether you’re catching a train, meeting a tour group, or planning to visit a museum, being able to ask and understand the time can save a lot of confusion.
We didn’t need these phrases very often, but it was still helpful to know a few time-related words during our trip to France.
What time is it?
• Quelle heure est-il?
• (kel urr eh-teel)
Time
• Heure
• (urr)
Hour
• Heure
• (urr-de)
Minute
• Minute
• (mee-nyoot)
Morning
• Matin
• (mah-tan)
Afternoon
• Après-midi
• (ah-preh mee-dee)
Evening
• Soir / Soirée
• (swahr / swah-ray)
Now
• Maintenant
• (mahn-teh-non)
Open at…
• Ouvre à…
• (oovr ah)
Closes at…
• Ferme à…
• (fairm ah)
Days of the Week in French
Knowing the days of the week is also surprisingly useful when you’re travelling.
It helps when checking train times, booking tours, or figuring out which days shops, museums, or restaurants are open.
This is especially helpful in France, since some places close on certain days, including Sundays and Mondays.
Monday
• lundi
• (lun-dee)
Tuesday
• mardi
• (mar-dee)
Wednesday
• mercredi
• (mehr-kruh-dee)
Thursday
• jeudi
• (zhuh-dee)
Friday
• vendredi
• (von-druh-dee)
Saturday
• samedi
• (sam-dee)
Sunday
• dimanche
• (dee-monsh)
Tips for Learning French Phrases
Here are a few tips and tricks that John and the kids used to learn some French before our trip:
Use Flashcards
Flashcards can be a great way to learn basic French words, especially for kids.
Brands like Berlitz and Usborne offer helpful sets, and pairing them with simple games keeps practice fun.
We used flashcards a lot when our kids were little and just beginning to learn new languages.
It turned practice time into something they looked forward to.
Read the French Phrases Out Loud
Saying the phrases out loud is very helpful.
Practicing them while you read builds familiarity with the sounds.
I’ll admit, I sometimes freeze up when it comes to using new phrases in real situations.
Repeating each one a few times helps the words feel more natural.
📖 Expert Tip – Try grabbing a few children’s vocabulary books or beginner readers to learn extra words. You can find plenty online, and your local library is also a great place to borrow some.
Use a Language App
Language apps are great for practicing French on the go.
My younger daughter uses Duolingo and enjoys keeping her streak going.
Apps like this offer short lessons, quizzes, and pronunciation practice, which makes it easy to fit language learning into a busy day.
Listen to French Podcasts, Radio, or Television
Listening to native speakers is a great way to get used to how the language sounds.
You can try French podcasts, local radio, or even watch French TV shows and YouTube channels.
I didn’t rely on this method when learning Japanese, but it helped a lot when I was refreshing my French.
It was especially useful for picking up everyday expressions and phrases I hadn’t heard before.
📺 Fun fact: My Italian grandmother learned English by watching soap operas on TV!
Practice with a Native Speaker
Nothing compares to speaking with someone who knows the language well.
Talking with locals is one of the fastest ways to improve.
My younger daughter was the closest thing to a native speaker I could practice with before our trip. She was actually in an extended French program at school for several years.
Once we arrived in France, we tried to use our phrases whenever we could.
Even small moments, like ordering food or asking for directions, helped us learn and remember more.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be fluent to enjoy travelling in France.
Even learning a few basic phrases can make everyday situations easier.
Using the local language shows respect and helps build small connections, whether you’re ordering food, asking questions, or buying tickets.
We tried to use French whenever we could, even if our pronunciation wasn’t perfect.
People were usually patient and happy to assist.
If you have a trip coming up, spending a little time practicing beforehand is worth it.
☝🏻 Don’t forget to download your FREE French Phrases for Travel printable!
