Master the essential French phrases for travel

France is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. With brilliant museums in Paris, beautiful beaches in Nice, and Lyon’s gastronomic culture, there’s plenty to see no matter what’s on your schedule.

Though you can get by with English in tourist-heavy regions, knowing some French before you arrive might provide additional context for your stay and lead to more opportunities to interact with locals. There’s no need to wait until you’ve mastered every verb tense before going, but knowing a few basic French words for travel will help you get far.

100+ common French phrases for travel

This section will cover the common French phrases related to different aspects. So let’s get started!

Greetings and basic phrases

Let’s begin with the fundamental elements of discussion. Small gestures of kindness and respect include greeting individuals, asking how they are, and saying goodbye in French.

Outside of specified situations, most locations in the United States allow us to be casual with strangers. This is not the case in France. Using tu (informal form of “you”) when someone expects a vous (formal form of “you”) might be a huge mistake.

Even in a casual atmosphere, utilize vous when meeting someone for the first time. Once you’ve gotten to know the person, ask if you can use tu when speaking with them.

French	English
Bonjour!	Hello!
Salut!	Hi!
Coucou!	Hey!
Allô!	Hello (answering the phone)!
Bonsoir.	Good evening.
Enchanté(e).	Nice to meet you.
Comment allez-vous?	How are you? (formal)
Comment ça va?	How are you? (semi-formal)
Comment vas-tu?	How are you? (informal)
Ça roule?	How’s it going? (slang)
Quoi de neuf?	What’s new? (slang)
Merci.	Thank you.
s’il vous plaît	please
Excusez-moi.	Excuse me.
Au revoir!	Goodbye!
À bientôt!	See you soon!
À plus tard!	See you later!
À demain!	See you tomorrow!

Asking for directions

Whether you wish to take the shortest route to the Louvre or simply locate the restroom, here are some terms and phrases to help you ask for and get directions in French. Even if you are in Paris or another region where the residents speak English fluently and are accustomed to tourists, not everyone you meet can direct you in English.

Always be polite and utilize vous when asking strangers for directions. These phrases can help you find your way across France’s many attractive streets.

French	English
à côté de	next to
en face de	across from
à droite	to the right
à gauche	to the left
tout droit	straight
derrière	behind
devant	to the front
sur	on
au-dessus	above
sous	under
dans	in
près de	near
loin de	far
au coin de	at the corner of
traversez la rue	(you) cross the street
Tournez à droit.	Turn right.
Prenez à gauche.	Take a left.
continuez	continue
suivez	follow
Où est le musée?	Where is the museum?
Savez où est le musée?	Do you know where the museum is?

Dining

The French are well known for their French breakfast, special cuisine and hospitality. Ordering meals and communicating with restaurant staff in French demonstrates respect for the cultural institution and will likely impress your friends. Always remember to greet the personnel with s’il vous plaît (please) and merci (thank you) to show them the respect they deserve.

It’s worth noting that cultural attitudes toward customer service professionals differ between the United States and France. In France, restaurant service is highly respected and regarded as a skill people can perfect. They also regard chefs as specialists and think asking them to adjust a meal is impolite. You must learn to order food in French. It will help you place your order confidently.

French	English
le menu	the menu (formal)
la carte	the menu (informal)
une table	a table
une table pour deux	a table for two
en terrace	on the terrace
Que me recommandez-vous?	What do you recommend?
Installez-vous.	Take a seat.
Avez-vous reservé?	Do you have a reservation?
Je voudrais…	I would like…
Je vais prendre…	I will have…
Je n’ai pas encore choisi.	I haven’t chosen yet.
apéritif	a drink and/or appetizer served at the beginning of a meal
hors d’oeuvres	finger food appetizers
l’entrée	the appetizer
le plat	the main dish
le dessert	the dessert
Bon appétit!	Enjoy!
Santé!	Cheers!

Accommodation

Where you stay is equally crucial to your journey as what you see. Make your stay at a hotel, hostel, or vacation rental a safe and enjoyable experience. Remember your check-in and check-out times, keep your things secure, and become acquainted with the surrounding area as you would anywhere else. Here are some keywords and phrases to help you make a reservation and enjoy your stay:

French	English
l’hôtel	the hotel
le logement	the accommodation / lodging
Je voudrais une chambre.	I would like a room.
le couloir	the hallway
la rez-de-chaussée	the ground floor
service de chambre	room service
le bureau d’information	the information desk
l’ascenseur	the elevator
les toilettes	the restrooms
les escaliers	the stairs

Sightseeing

Visiting France without exploring the country’s museums, monuments, and other attractions is naive. Now that you’ve asked how to get there take in the views. Here are some useful words and names for popular French tourist attractions:

French	English
le centre-ville	downtown
le musée	the museum
l’office du tourisme	the tourism office
le monument	the monument
le château	the castle
le bâtiment	the building
le jardin	the garden
la Tour Eiffel	the Eiffel Tower
le Musée du Louvre	the Louvre Museum
le Château Versailles	the Versailles Palace
la côte d’azur	the French Riviera
la cathédrale	the cathedral

Transportation

You may need to interact with other people to get where you want to go. Whether you’re navigating a metropolis or travelling between cities, use these phrases to go forward confidently. Because French cities are far older than American cities, they are designed in a circular layout rather than a grid!

Vehicle transportation is fine. However, we encourage you to use the inexpensive, convenient public transportation that is accessible in most French cities. France also has a large intercity train network connecting to other European countries’ rail lines. The TGV, France’s famous high-speed rail, is reasonably priced and fast enough to compete with domestic aircraft.

French	English
à pied	by foot
en train	by train
en bus	by bus
en ferry	by ferry
en voiture	by car
en avion	by airplane
un piéton	a pedestrian
la gare	the bus / train station
l’aeroport	the airport
le metro	the metro
un taxi	a taxi
le TGV (train de grand vitesse)	the high speed train
la rue	the street
l’avenue	the avenue
le boulevard	the boulevard
une intersection/ Une croisement	an intersection
un passage piéton	a crosswalk

Emergencies

French	English
Aidez-moi!	Help me!
Emmenez-moi à l’hôpital.	Take me to the hospital.
Appelez les pompiers!	Call the fire department!
Appelez la police!	Call the police!
Je suis blessé(e).	I’m injured.
Je suis perdu(e).	I’m lost.
Il y a eu une accident.	There’s been an accident.
Avez-vous un téléphone?	Do you have a telephone?
J’ai perdu mon passeport.	I’ve lost my passport.
Emmenez-moi à l’ambassade.	Take me to the embassy.

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Frequently asked questions  

What are some basic French phrases I should know for travel?

Some basic French phrases you should know for travel include “Bonjour” (Hello), “Merci” (Thank you), “S’il vous plaît” (Please), “Où est…?” (Where is…?), and “Combien ça coûte?” (How much does it cost?).

How do I ask for directions in French?

To ask for directions in French, you can say “Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m’indiquer le chemin pour…?” (Excuse me, can you tell me the way to…?) Or simply “Où est…?” (Where is…?) followed by the name of the place you’re looking for.

What are some common phrases for ordering food in French?

Some common phrases for ordering food in French include “Je voudrais…” (I would like…), “L’addition, s’il vous plaît” (The check, please), and “Est-ce que vous avez un menu en anglais?” (Do you have a menu in English?).

What are some polite ways to interact with locals in French?

Some polite ways to interact with locals in French include using “Bonjour” (Hello) and “Au revoir” (Goodbye) when greeting and parting, saying “S’il vous plaît” (Please) and “Merci” (Thank you) when making requests or receiving help, and using “Excusez-moi” (Excuse me) to get someone’s attention.

Conclusion

Learning basic French phrases for travel can greatly enhance your experience in France. Whether you’re ordering food, asking for directions, or simply greeting locals, knowing a few key phrases can help you navigate your way around easily and show respect for the local culture.

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