30 French phrases to know when visiting France

 

Bonjour !

 

Today’s topic: 30 French phrases to know but for what?

Not yet on vacations? What if your next destination is France or one of the French-speaking countries ? Then this is for you all the phrases you need to make your stay a success.

Here, the 30 phrases you need to know to stay in France

I have divided this post into 5 parts and you will understand. What sentences will you need:

1. When you arrive at the airport.
2. To use transport and buy tickets
3. To ask for your way and the direction to take.
4. When you are at the hotel.
5. To buy in a store.
6. To pay in a store.
7. To the drugstore

Here we go !

 

When you arrive at the airport

 

 

Because often the toilets are not visible, and if you need to go there, you can ask:

• Où sont les toilettes s’il vous plaît ?. Where are the bathrooms, please ?

Then you arrive at immigration for passport control and your visa.

At the immigration office you can say:

• Bonjour ! Good morning

The customs officer may ask you questions about the purpose of your trip to France. You understand a little French and you can answer him:

• Je viens visiter la France. I’m coming to visit France
• Or  Pourriez-vous parler anglais, s’il vous plaît car je ne parle pas encore très bien français ?. Could you speak English, please because I don’t speak French very well yet?

Once your paperwork check is completed, you can say:

• Au revoir Monsieur (or Madame), Goodbye Sir (or Madam)

 

To use transport

 

When you leave the airport, the first thing you need is to find transportation to take you to the hotel or to your friends’ house.

You can then ask:

• Où se trouve le bureau de réservation de taxi, ou de bus, ou de metro. Where is the taxi, bus or metro reservation office?

• Où se trouve la gare ? Where is the train station ?

 

Once you are at the taxi, bus or metro ticket counter:

You need to buy a transport ticket and pay, so you can ask:

• Je voudrais un billet de transport, s’il vous plaît pour …(ta destination) et combien je vous dois ? I would like a transport ticket, please for…(your destination) and how much do I owe you?
• Merci. Thanks

 

To ask for directions:

 

If you are looking for a store, bakery, pharmacy, bus stop, taxi, supermarket or another direction, you can ask:

• Excusez-moi, je recherche ce magasin, pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plaît ? Excuse me, I’m looking for this store, could you point me in the direction please?

 

• Excusez-moi, je recherche une boulangerie, pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plaît ? Excuse me, I’m looking for a bakery, could you point me in the direction please?

 

• Excusez-moi, je recherche une pharmacie, pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plaît ? Excuse me, I’m looking for a pharmacy, could you point me in the direction please?

 

• Excusez-moi, je recherche l’arrêt de bus (ou le taxi) pour aller…., pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plaît ? Excuse me, I’m looking for the bus stop (or taxi) to go to…., could you tell me the direction please?

 

• Excusez-moi, je recherche un supermarché, pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plaît ? Excuse me, I’m looking for a supermarket, could you point me in the direction please?

 

• Excusez-moi, j’aimerai me rendre à …(nom de l’endroit), pourriez-vous m’indiquer la direction s’il vous plait ? Excuse me, I would like to go to…(name of place), could you tell me the direction please?

 

At the hotel:

 

 

Do you need a room or have you already reserved it:

• Bonjour, j’aimerai réserver une chambre s’il vous plaît, pour 1 personne….2 personnes… Hello, I would like to reserve a room please, for 1 person….2 people…

Or if you have already booked

• Bonjour, j’ai réservé une chambre. Hello, I have reserved a room

You need WiFi:

• Pourriez-vous me donner le code Wifi, s’il vous plaît ? Could you give me the WiFi code, please?

You need a bottle of water, to reserve your breakfast.

 

• Pourriez-vous m’apporter une bouteille d’eau, s’il vous plaît ? Could you get me a bottle of water, please?

 

• Je souhaite commander le petit déjeuner pour demain matin, à quelle heure est-il servi ? I would like to order breakfast for tomorrow morning, what time is it served?

 

And if you need to order your taxi for your return to the airport:

• Je souhaiterai réserver mon taxi pour l’aéroport, s’il vous plaît ? I would like to book my taxi to the airport, please?

 

To pay the hotel bill:

• Combien je vous dois ? How much do I owe you?

 

To buy in a store

 

You are looking for an article:

•  Bonjour, j’ai besoin de ….Hello, I need….
• Avez-vous la taille S, M, XL ? Do you have size S, M, XL?
• C’est combien ? How much is it ?

 

To the drugstore

 

You need bandages, medicines, disinfectants.

• Bonjour, auriez-vous des pansement s’il vous plaît ? Hello, do you have any bandages please?
• Bonjour, auriez-vous des médicaments pour le mal de tête / mal de gorge/ les infections urinaires/ la diarrhée/ la constipation/ s’il vous plaît ? Hello, do you have any medicine for headache/sore throat/urinary tract infections/diarrhea/constipation/please?

 

• Merci. Thanks
• Combien je vous dois ? How much do I owe you?

 

Voila! You are ready for your next trip to France.

 

I hope you liked this post which took us on a journey. I await your comments.

I have been supporting foreigners on their journey since I became a teacher, and if you want to progress faster in French, do not hesitate to write to me or take your free appointment.

See you soon !

Julie