We often see on social media how people just pack up and go to another country. Some are influencers only staying long enough to capture a few snaps. A far greater number of such travellers are digital nomads.
These explorers stay in a country for at least six months. They rent a place to live and, depending on where the country they're in, they register their presence with the local authorities. While there, many endeavour to learn their host country's language and customs.
Digital nomads are a breed apart from casual travellers. Tourists might learn their destination country's polite expressions like 'please', 'thank you', 'hello' and 'goodbye'. Beyond that, they contend that pointing to menu items and using their phone's built-in translators will cover their communication needs.
There's nothing wrong with that. However, people's travel experiences could be so much richer if they learned even basic language skills. And what if one plans on being a digital nomad in Paris or Marseille? Superprof contends that everyone headed to a French-speaking country should master:
- basic phrases for everyday usage
- how to use common phrases effectively
- how to be polite and show gratitude in French
- how to expand one's vocabulary beyond 'survival' French
As native English speakers, we're blessed in our travels. Our mother tongue is the world's lingua franca, spoken just about everywhere. We don't have to learn another language, especially if we stick to the world's bigger cities.
But doing so would be rude. It would also sell our travel experiences short. In fact, not learning essential French phrases ahead of our sojourn in France robs us of a host of benefits. A memorable travel experience would be the least of them.
Must-Know Phrases for Travel and Daily Interactions
Even people who aren't taking French lessons know 'bonjour' and 'merci'. Knowing how to say 'hello' and 'thank you', no matter where in the world you are, is a good start. The trick is knowing how to respond to 'How are you?' and 'So nice to meet you!'.
In this table, we list essential French phrases such as these. You'll find the formal (vous) and informal (tu) versions for each, along with their translations. And then, you'll learn the right times to use them and how to respond when French speakers say them to you.
| French Expression | English | When to Use | Response |
| Bonjour | Hello | All day, until evening | Bonjour |
| Salut (i) | Hello | Any time | Salut |
| Comment-allez vous? | How are you? | After or as a response to bonjour | Tres bien, merci. Et vous? |
| Ça va? (i) | How's it going? | After or as a response to bonjour | Pas mal, et toi? |
| Merci | Thank you | After someone does something for you | De rien |
| Comment vous appellez-vous? | What is your name? | When meeting someone you expect to have some ongoing relationship with | Je m'appelle... |
| Comment t'appelles-tu? (i) | What is your name? | When meeting someone children | Je m'appelle... |
| Ravi(e) de faire vôtre connaissance | Pleased to meet you | When meeting someone for the first time. | Enchanté(e) |
| Au revoir! | Goodbye! | When parting company | Au revoir! |
| Salut! (i) | See you! | When parting company | À la prochaine! |
Let's say you're rambling along the streets of Lyon or Toulouse and you're looking for a particular monument. You can use the phrases above to break the ice before you ask for directions. But then, you have to ask the right questions for the answers you need. These should help you sort things out.
| Question | English |
| Excusez-moi... | Excuse me... |
| Pardonnez-moi... Pardon | Pardon me |
| Pourriez-vous m'aider? Peux-tu m'aider? | Could you help me? Can you help me? |
| Je cherche... | I'm looking for... |
| Où ce trouve...? Où est...? | Where is...? |
| Pourriez-vous l'ecrire? Peux-tu l'écrire? | Could you write it down? |
Mastering these essential French phrases has a downside. The French person you engage with may assume that you speak French well because you have those phrases down pat. They might give you rapid-fire directions, thinking you're catching every word. Read on to learn how to counter that situation.
French lessons serve as a foundation for developing a deep appreciation for the language.
Common Situations: Using French Phrases Effectively
You should spend some time learning directional words like 'à gauche', 'à droit(e)', and 'à côté de'. Those are 'left', 'right' and 'next to', respectively. 'Tout près' and 'très loin' - very close and very far can help, too. But you should also spend time learning phrases to help you overcome the language barrier.
Asking people to write directions down, as shown in the preceding table, is a good start. You might further explain that your French skills are limited: "Pardonnez-moi, je parle pas beaucoup de français". That's 'Pardon me, I don't speak much French'. Or you could simply say "Pardon, je comprends pas" - 'I'm sorry, I don't understand'.
Politeness is a hallmark of French interactions. Always excuse yourself when approaching someone and wish them a good day (bonjour) before you ask your question. Whether or not the person has been helpful, be sure to thank them. Don't forget 'Au revoir!' as you part company.
Also, remember formal and informal language. You must never address an adult with the informal 'tu' unless invited to do so, especially not a senior citizen. By the same token, a youth will look at you strangely if you address them with the formal 'vous'.
Engage in stimulating conversations and activities with Superprof's vibrant French lessons.
We've covered a lot of words and phrases so far but left out one of the most important: "S'il vous plait". This 'please' or its informal double "S'il te plait" should append every request. You might think this sentence creaks with formality:
Bonjour! Pardonnez-moi, pourriez-vous m'aider à trouver la cathédrale St André s'il vous plait?
That formal request isn't so different from British English's formal bent. You might have seen the recent meme about the perfect British sentence: "Ahem, excuse me, could I just, thank you". You only need to think of the most formal British expressions you know and convert them to French to fit in.
Polite Requests and Expressions of Gratitude in French
Thanks to our penchant for formality, learning polite expressions in French should be as easy as learning French ABCs. You could stick with 'merci' and 'pardonnez-moi' for all of your interactions with French native speakers. But why not expand your list of essential French phrases?
The French 'well' - 'bien' could get quite a workout. You can say 'Merci bien!' to show deep gratitude, for instance. Or you might respond to a cheerful 'Bonjour!' with 'Bien the bonjour a vous aussi, Madame!'. 'Bien le bonjour' might also suffice.
For an elaborate 'thank you', you could lob 'Je vous remercie bien pour... ' (I thank you well for...). This level of politeness works well at the office, especially if your boss does something nice for you. Likewise, you could use it to thank your hosts for a dinner invitation.
In fact, unless you're in a casual situation, you should always say what you're grateful for. Such a thank you would incorporate 'bien', like so: "Merci bien pour m'avoir invité(e)" - 'thanks so much for inviting me'. Obviously, this level of formality isn't needed to thank your restaurant server or someone giving you directions.
How should you respond if someone wants to ask you a question? "Je vous en prie!" is a common response for any situation where someone asks something of you. Its literal translation is "I pray you will!"; it means 'please do!'.
'Mais' - 'but' typically precedes this formal phrase. If someone on the metro wants to get past you or sit next to you, you might respond with "Mais je vous en prie!"
How should you part company politely in France? The standard French farewell is 'Au revoir' but if you know you'll see that person again, you could say 'À bientôt', instead.
You could also say 'Bonsoir' (good evening) if you're going your separate ways during evening hours. Later than 10 PM, you should say 'Bonne nuit!' - good night.
Expanding Your Vocabulary with Essential French Phrases
You're in a nice restaurant and you need to visit the loo. How could you maintain French politeness standards and still get the information you need? You could go with "Excusez-moi, òu est le WC?" (pronounced veh-seh). Or you could say "Pardon, j'ai besoin des toilettes" - pardon me, I need your bathroom.
"J'ai besoin de..." is a handy phrase to use when you're looking for something in a shop or help on the street. You might preface your question with "S'il vous plait, j'ai besoin de l'aide" - please, I need help. If you're not feeling well, you can say "J'ai besoin d'un médecin" - I need a doctor.
To describe something you're in the mood for, say "J'ai envie de... " - I feel like... . After a day of sightseeing, you might say "J'ai envie de m'asseoir" - I feel like sitting down. Should someone invite you to something you're not in the mood for, say "J'ai pas envie, merci."
You might consider learning a few French proverbs to expand your vocabulary. Dropping a time-honoured truism as you talk with native French speakers will demonstrate your command of the language. It will also reflect your cultural competence.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
