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If the above headline leaves you scratching your head in bemusement, chances are you're none too familiar with the French language. So will this be a handicap on your visit to Paris? Well, while the French have something of a reputation for being downright disdainful towards hapless tourists struggling to speak the lingo, the reality is nowhere near as bad. The majority of French people will be delighted to assist you, particularly if you at least attempt a word or two in French. Making an effort is all-important, even if your pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. In addition, many native French speakers welcome the opportunity to practise their English on visiting tourists. So don't feel obliged to digest a whole French phrasebook or immerse yourself in Gerard Depardieu movies before your arrival. Here follows our simple guide to getting by with a few key French phrases and words:
The Basics
Knowing how to pronounce the French alphabet is a good start, particularly for spelling out names etc. The correct pronunciation is as follows: - a=ah
- b=bay
- c=say
- d=day
- e=er
- f=ef
- g=zhay
- h=ash
- i=ee
- j=zhee
- k=ka
- l=el
- m=em
- n=en
- o=oh
- p=pay
- q=kew
- r=her
- s=ess
- t=tay
- u=ew
- v=vay
- w=dooblah vay
- x=eex
- y=ee grek
- z=zed.
When speaking French, remember to emphasise each syllable, but do not (as a rule) pronounce the final consonant of a word (including the plural 's'). The letter 'h' is generally silent, while the letter 'r' is pronounced by moving the tongue backwards while its tip rests on your lower front teeth. Sounds tricky, but if you imagine the sound as akin to preparing for a good old spit, you'll get the general idea…! The letter 'j' in French is pronounced like the 's' in the word 'treasure'.
An important distinction is often made between the use of the words 'tu' and 'vous' which both mean 'you'. The former is regarded as less formal, the latter used to address adults and other people with whom you are unfamiliar. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and use 'vous'.
Politeness is all-important in France - as it should be anywhere. Address people either as 'Madame' (female) or 'Monsieur' (male) and use their surnames, until such time as you are on first-name terms. It is considered good manners to say "Bonjour Monsieur/Madame" when entering a shop, restaurant etc and to say "Merci, au revoir" on leaving.
Key Words and Phrases
- Yes - oui
- No - non
- Please - s'il vous plait
- Thank you - merci
- Excuse me - excusez-moi
- Sorry - pardon
- Hello - bonjour
- Goodbye - au revoir
- Today - aujourd'hui
- Tomorrow - demain
- Right Away - tout de suite
Some Useful Phrases
- How much is it? - C'est combien?
- I am American/English - Je suis americain/anglais.
- I don't understand - Je ne comprends pas
- Where is…? - Ou est…?
- What time is it? - Quelle heure est-il?
- Do you take credit cards? - Est-ce que vous acceptez les cartes de credit?
- I am a vegetarian - Je suis vegetarien.
- What do you recommend? - Que'est-ce que vous recommandez?
- Is service included? - Est-ce que le service est compris?
- Enjoy your meal - Bon appetit!
Garcon (the 'c' is pronounced like an 's') - waiter, but never use it directly. Say 'monsieur' or 'madam' to attract attention.
Don't get caught out when ordering food in a restaurant where the English translation is absent. If in doubt, ask, or make sure you're carrying a reliable phrase book to help avoid those embarrassing dining errors. Here are a few key French words to keep you on the culinary straight and narrow:
- Breakfast and snacks
- bread - pain
- rolls - petit pains
- butter - beurre
- salt - sel
- pepper - poivre
- sugar - sucre
- jam - confiture
- honey - miel
- eggs - oeufs
- yoghurt - yaourt
- Main courses
- lamb - agneau
- steak - bifteck
- beef - boeuf
- ham - jambon
- pork - porc
- chicken - poulet
- frogs legs - cuisses de grenouille
- duck breast - magret de canard
- shellfish - coquillage
- seafood - fruits de mer
- tuna - thon
- lobster - homard
- oyster - huitre
- Vegetables
- mushrooms - champignons
- cabbage - chou
- cauliflower - chou-fleur
- spinach - epinard
- French fries - frites
- green beans - haricot verts
- onion - oignon
- green salad - salade verte
- Fruit
- pineapple - ananas
- lemon - citron
- lime - citron vert
- strawberry - fraise
- raspberry - framboise
- grapefruit - pamplemousse
- peach - peche
- pear - poire
- apple - pomme
- Drinks
- Coffee - café
- with milk or cream - au lait or crème
- American filtered coffee - filter
- tea - the
- Freshly squeezed orange juice - orange presse
- beer - biere
- with ice - avec des glacons
- red - rouge
- White - blanc
- sweet - doux
- sparkling wine - cremant
- house wine - vin de maison
- Cheers! - sante!
- Hangover - guile de bois
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PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS ?