Traveling to Paris: 10 expressions you absolutely must know

You learned French in high school, maybe at university. Or maybe you don't speak French at all! Your long-awaited trip to Paris is (finally!) here, and... speaking French does scare you! You perfectly know that French people like it when tourists try to speak French. But you don't feel up to it.

Don't worry: here is a selection of essential expressions for speaking with Parisians. No need to delve into conjugation books or dictionaries: these few phrases will be useful every day and will allow you to break the ice in France.

Parisians will greatly appreciate your effort to speak in French, even if your pronunciation or grammar is not perfect. Just trying to speak French will make a huge difference. Parisians are particularly flattered when foreign tourists (and particularly British or American) try to speak French: it is thought as a mark of respect and politeness for the country you are visiting. And politeness, you will see, is quite important in France. Let's go then!

Expression n°1: Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?

A very useful expression when someone speaks to you in French and you don't understand. This may seem long, but don't shorten the expression and do say each word one after the other: pouvez.vous.répéter.sil.vous.plait. Or, in approximate phonetics: poo.veh.voo.reh.peh.teh/sil.voo.pleh. Your interlocutor will understand that they are speaking too quickly, or that they are using words that are too difficult. And above all, they will note that you do not directly switch to English: good job!

Expression n°2: Bonjour, excusez-moi : je cherche le métro X

You quite certainly will use the metro several times a day. Although signage has improved significantly since the organization of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it is still sometimes difficult to find the entrance or the right platform! Use this sentence to guide you, by replacing the X with the metro line you are looking for (7, 13...).

Here again, it's important to say the whole sentence, and not just say "Je cherche le métro X". By saying "Bonjour, excusez-moi", you announce to your interlocutor that you want to speak to them, and that you need them. Very important to draw their attention to what you are saying next.

In approximate phonetics: boñ.joor / eks.kuh.zeh.mwah / zhuh.shehr.sh.luh.meh.troh...

Expression n°3: Oh, pardon !

An expression to use when you bump into someone in the street or on a platform. French people are very attentive to apologies and teach their children to apologize very early: do not fail to do so at every opportunity. No need for a big sentence: simply “oh, pardon!” does the trick very well. Instead of big eyes, you'll probably get a smile.

In approximate phonetics: oh.pah.r.doñ, with this very typical final nasal where the mouth remains open in a circle.

Expression n°4: Nous sommes deux.

To be used mainly in restaurants, or also for a drink in a café if there is no visible free table. This is a more typical way of asking for a table for two than juste saying "une table pour deux". Simply announce how many of you there are: “nous sommes deux”, “nous sommes quatre”, etc.

In approximate phonetics: noo.soh.m.duh

Expression n°5: Peut-on voir la carte ?

A "menu" in French is a food package containing a starter, a main course and its side dish, and a dessert. To ask to see the list of dishes offered in a restaurant (or the list of drinks in a café), you do not ask for "le menu": you ask for "la carte".

If you do ask for "le menu", you will probably get the "menu du jour", meaning today's special.

In approximate phonetics: puh.toñ.vwah.r.lah.kah.rt

Expression n°6: Je vais prendre un café, s'il vous plaît.

This is how to order like a Frenchman! Replace "coffee" with what you want to order: "un croissant" if you are at the bakery, "une escalope" if you are at the restaurant, "un verre de Chardonnay" if you are at the bar, etc. At the end, the “s'il vous plaît” is said in one go, very quickly, as if it were a single word. Often, we hear instead: sivoopleh by swallowing the “l” at the end of “s’il”. In approximate phonetics: zhuh.veh.prãndr.an.kah.feh.si.voo.pleh.

Instead of “je vais prendre”, you can also say “je voudrais” or “j'aimerais”: these are two even more polite but totally possible options. Choose the one you are more confortable with.

Expression n°7: Oui, très bien, merci

It is a way of validating or confirming something in different situations. For example :

• after tasting the wine, it means: "the wine is good, you can serve".

• at the bakery, when the saleswoman points to a baguette at you, it means: "yes, this type of cooking is fine with me".

• at the hotel, if you are asked if the room suits you

• or, at a restaurant, when the waiter clears up and asks you: “ça vous a plu?” or “c'était bon ?”, and you reply "oui, très bien, merci", meaning “yes, we ate well”.

No need to learn a phrase for each situation: just say “oui, très bien, merci”. In approximate phonetics: wee/treh.bionh / meh.r.see

Expression n°8: Voilà.

This is a phrase you'll probably hear several times a day. It is a way of accompanying with a word something that we are giving or that is being completed:

• when the waiter brings a dish or the menu: “voilà”

• when the hotel receptionist hands you the bill at the end of your stay: “voilà”

• when someone has finished giving you the explanation for finding the metro: “voilà” (shrugging your shoulders!)

In English, this litterally translates to "here it is". But the French use it much more often. In approximate phonetics: vwah.lah

Expression n°9: Merci, au revoir !

How to leave a restaurant politely? Like greeting the Bateaux-Mouches ticket clerk at the end of an exchange? Or simply leave from the bakery like French people?

Whether or not you purchased on site, only one formula does the trick: “merci, au revoir !”. The “merci” can be to thank you for the service you received or, on the contrary, a polite way of refusing the service. Even more so, it is common to see French people say "merci" by shaking their head "no" and opposing the palm of their hand as a refusal: "merci" to say "no, thank you".

In approximate phonetics: meh.r.see / oh.ruh.vwah.r

Expression n°10: Bonjour !

It's more a word than an expression. And I don't know why I put it last, because it's clearly the most important! As obvious as it may seem, don't neglect your "Bonjour"! It is both:

• the way to drag attention to someone you don't know and need to talk to (for instance, to ask for help, to place an order, when you arrive at the hotel)

• the essential polite phrase when you go somewhere: in a café, in a store, in a restaurant... “Bonjour!”

Not saying “Bonjour” is considered very rude: you should not do without it! In some cultures, there is no need to announce yourself: you say what you want to say straight away. In French, you have to start with “Bonjour”. You would never see someone walk into a café, go to the bar and order directly: “Je vais prendre un café au lait”. Non non non ! Whereas "Bonjour. Je vais prendre un café au lait, s'il vous plaît", it's so much nicer... and much more French!

Voilà! Let's go now!

With these 10 expressions, I hope you feel better equipped to face Parisians with complete courtesy. If you would like help with your pronunciation or want to go further with your French learning, contact me: I offer online lessons, wherever you are, and tailor-made programs to suit your own need, particularly preparing for a trip.

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