If it’s your first trip to France or any other French-speaking country, learning must-know French travel phrases is a way to look forward to your trip and navigate it with confidence. Participating in the language, even if you’re a total beginner, can help you connect with people and fully embrace the experience.
You may have heard that “everyone speaks English” at your destination. While it’s likely true that you’ll have lots of help along the way, making an effort to use basic travel phrases in French is respectful. Don’t worry about being perfect. Start with these key French phrases for tourists to enhance your stay in a French-speaking location.
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Phrases for polite manners in French
From the airplane to the restaurant, savoir-vivre (good manners/etiquette) is important in French culture. Good manners begin with a couple of simple expectations, making these some of the most important French travel phrases for beginners. Greet people in French, say “please” and “thank you,” and use vous instead of tu in your interactions with almost everyone.
@rosettastone 11 essential travel phrases you need to know before visiting #France
♬ original sound – Rosetta Stoneor another French-speaking region! Language recap: – Parlez-vous anglais ? (Do you speak English?) – Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît. (A table for two, please.) – Où est la gare ? (Where is the train station?) – Excusez-moi (Excuse me) – Un café, s’il vous plaît. (A coffee, please.) – Où sont les toilettes ? (Where is the toilet?) – À emporter s’il vous plaît. (To go, please) – Combien ça coûte ? (How much does that cost?) – Par carte, s’il vous plaît. (By card, please.) – Merci, bonne journée. (Thank you, have a nice day.) – Merci, au revoir. (Thank you, bye.) #traveltiktok #francetiktok #francetravel #visitfrance #francetrip #learnfrench #speakfrench #frenchlanguage #français #languagelesson #languagelearning
Greetings and goodbyes
Saying “hello” in French is a crucial part of la politesse (polite manners), making greetings among the very first French phrases to know. Whether you’re next in line to check your bag or you’re ordering a coffee, you’re expected to use a greeting before jumping in with your request.
- Bonjour. = Hello/Good day.
- Bonsoir. = Hello/Good evening.
Take your cues from the locals, but a good time to switch over to the main evening greeting is around 6-7 pm.
Saying “goodbye” in French is also good manners, and it’s easy to master. On your trip, you won’t be making best friends with most people, so you can keep it simple.
- Au revoir. = Goodbye.
Polite expressions
Saying “please” and “thank you” in French is expected in social interactions in public. So if you’re offered a coffee, instead of saying just oui (yes), say “yes, please.”
- Voudriez-vous du café ? = Would you like some coffee?
- Oui, s’il vous plaît. = Yes, please.
In public, you’ll likely see formal requests on signs or hear announcements such as veuillez patienter (please wait) or prière de ne pas déranger (please do not disturb).
| French | English |
| Excusez-moi. | Excuse me. (to get attention) |
| Excusez-moi de vous déranger. | Sorry to bother you. |
| Je vous en prie. | You’re welcome. |
| Merci. | Thank you. |
| Pardon. | Excuse me. (to get past someone) |
| Prière de (+ verb) | Please (+ verb) |
| Prière de ne pas (+ verb) | Please do not (+ verb) |
| S’il vous plaît. | Please. (Formal) |
| Veuillez (+verb) | Please (+ verb) |
Use vous forms
French uses two different ways to say “you.” As you get comfortable with French and develop close friendships with others, you will nail down when to use tu vs. vous, but for your trip, it’s much more appropriate to use the vous forms of any French travel phrases with strangers.
Sticking to vous for “you” will help you avoid sounding too familiar. It’s also the plural form, so you can use it when talking to one person or to a group.
- Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? = Hello, how are you?
- Comment vous appelez-vous ? = What is your name?
Putting together a polite conversation
Notice that in this interaction, both people greet one another, use polite expressions, and use vous for “you.”
- Bonjour. = Hello.
- Bonjour. Je voudrais un plan de ville, s’il vous plaît. = Hello. I would like a map of the city, please.
- Où allez-vous ? = Where are you going?
- Je vais au musée. = I’m going to the museum.
- Allez tout droit jusqu’à la rue de l’Oranger. = Go straight toward Oranger Street.
- Merci. = Thank you.
- Je vous en prie. = You’re welcome.
Navigating the airport
Just 25 kilometers from the city, the Paris Charles De Gaulle airport welcomed over 70.3 million passengers in 2024 alone, so it’s likely you’ll reach your destination via an airport as well. You can always look for English translations and ask for directions in French, but it’s helpful to recognize certain French travel phrases and vocabulary immediately, so the fun parts of your trip can begin.
Add some simple questions in French, like où est… ? (Where is…?) and à quelle heure… ? (At what time?) to the polite expressions you already know, and you will find your way with ease.
| French | English |
| Je cherche… | I’m looking for… |
| Où est… ? | Where is…? |
| l’aérogare | terminal |
| les arrivées | arrivals |
| les bagages à main | hand luggage/carry-on |
| les bagages en soute | checked luggage |
| la boutique hors taxe | duty-free shop |
| le contrôle de sécurité | security checkpoint |
| les départs | departures |
| la douane | customs |
| l’enregistrement | check-in |
| la livraison des bagages | baggage claim |
| la navette | shuttle |
| la porte | gate |
| la sortie | exit |
| les toilettes | public restrooms |
| Je reste (en France) pendant # jours. | I’m staying (in France) for # days. |
| Je voyage pour le tourisme. | I’m traveling for tourism. |
| Je n’ai rien à déclarer. | I have nothing to declare. |
| Voici mon passeport. | Here’s my passport. |
| Je veux aller à… | I would like to go to… |
Checking in to your accommodation
If you’re traveling to France or other French-speaking countries, you might experience some fatigue due au décalage horaire (jet lag). Master these useful French phrases for travel ahead of time, and you can look forward to resting your head after your long day of travel.
| French | English |
| Avez-vous une chambre disponible ? | Do you have an available room? |
| non-fumeur | non-smoking |
| J’ai une réservation au nom de… | I have a reservation under the name… |
| Je voudrais… | I would like… |
| J’ai besoin de… | I need…. |
| Où se trouve… ? | Where is…? |
| Est-ce que le petit déjeuner est compris ? | Is breakfast included? |
As always, don’t forget to include polite greetings in your conversations. This will be appreciated even if your French pronunciation isn’t perfect.
- Je voudrais m’enregistrer. = I would like to check in.
- Quel est votre nom ? = What is your name?
- Le nom est Smith. = The name is Smith.
- Est-ce que vous acceptez les cartes de crédit ? = Do you accept credit cards?
- Oui, nous acceptons les cartes de crédit. = Yes, we accept credit cards.
Phrases for dining out in French
Whether getting a quick bite to eat or a fancy meal, knowing a few simple phrases can get you started with ordering food in French. At a minimum, knowing the phrases je voudrais (I would like) and s’il vous plaît (please) can accomplish almost the entire dining experience.
- Une table pour combien de personnes ? = A table for how many?
- Une table pour quatre, s’il vous plaît. = A table for four, please.
- Qu’est-ce que vous voudriez ? = What would you like?
- Je voudrais de l’eau, s’il vous plaît. = I would like some water, please.
- Je voudrais l’addition, s’il vous plaît. = I would like the check, please.
| French | English |
| Avez-vous une table disponible ? | Do you have an available table? |
| Je voudrais faire une réservation. | I’d like to make a reservation. |
| Je n’ai pas encore choisi. | I haven’t decided yet. |
| Je prendrai le plat du jour, s’il vous plaît. | I’ll take the daily special, please. |
| Je vais prendre la formule/le menu, s’il vous plaît. | I will have the set menu, please. |
| Qu’est-ce que vous me recommandez ? | What do you recommend? |
| avec | with |
| sans | without |
| Bon appetit ! | Enjoy your meal! |
| C’est délicieux !/C’était délicieux ! | It’s delicious!/It was delicious! |
If you’re an adventurous eater or if you need to avoid certain ingredients, you can always use online dictionaries or translation tools to look up specific food vocabulary in French.
Seeing the sights
The World Travel and Tourism Council has consistently placed France at the top of the list of most popular countries for visitors, and for good reason. You’ll need some helpful French travel phrases for checking everything off your list, even if not everything goes according to your planned itinéraire (itinerary).
- Je voudrais acheter deux billets. = I would like to buy two tickets.
- Les billets coûtent soixante euros. = The tickets cost sixty euros.
- Excusez-moi. Est-ce que le train arrive à dix-neuf heures quinze ? = Excuse me. Does the train arrive at 7:15?
- Non. Le train est en retard d’une heure. Il arrive à vingt heures quinze. = No. The train is delayed by an hour. It arrives at 8:15.
It’s a great idea to plan some things in advance, but these French travel terms help you leave room for spontaneity, so you can discover all that France is known for.
| French | English |
| Ça coûte combien ? | How much does it cost? |
| un tarif plein/réduit/nocturne/moins de 18 ans | full/reduced/nighttime/under 18 price |
| Est-ce qu’il y a des places ? | Are there spaces available? |
| Je veux # billets/tickets. | I want # tickets. |
| Je voudrais aller à… | I would like to go to… |
| pour aujourd’hui/demain | for today/tomorrow |
| Quels sont les horaires ? | What are the (open) hours? |
As you learn French phrases about travel and more, you’ll also pick up on nuances in French vocabulary. See if you can spot the subtle differences between billet, ticket, entrée, and place, which can all refer to the word “ticket” in English.
Getting help
It’s inevitable that as a beginner traveler, you will find yourself in a situation where you haven’t quite understood something in French. You could jump right to asking someone if they speak English, or you could try to keep the conversation going a little longer by asking for specific help in French.
- Excusez-moi. Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ? = Excuse me. Do you speak English?
- Excusez-moi, que veut dire ce mot ? = Excuse me, what does this word mean?
- Je n’ai pas compris. Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? = I didn’t understand. Could you repeat it, please?
- Qu’est-ce que ce panneau veut dire ? = What does that sign mean?
Most importantly, remember that France and other French-speaking locations welcome many tourists each year, so don’t be intimidated by how much there is to learn. Be inspired, so you can spend the time between voyages (trips) immersing yourself in even more French language from home.
Continuing to improve your French with Rosetta Stone live lessons, reading books, surfing the internet, watching sports, or anything else you enjoy can be a great way to keep the excitement of your trip alive.
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