Top 40 Fun French Phrases for Travel

The Essentials (Politeness & Basics)

1. Hello / Good day

• French: Bonjour

• Phonetic: bohn-ZHOOR

• English: Hello

2. Please

• French: S'il vous plaît

• Phonetic: seel voo PLEH

• English: Please

3. Thank you very much

• French: Merci beaucoup

• Phonetic: mair-SEE boh-KOO

• English: Thank you very much

4. Do you speak English?

• French: Parlez-vous anglais ?

• Phonetic: par-LAY voo ahn-GLEH?

• English: Do you speak English?

5. Excuse me / Sorry

• French: Excusez-moi / Pardon

• Phonetic: ex-koo-ZAY mwah / par-DOHN

• English: Excuse me / Sorry

Getting Around the City & Transit

6. Where is the metro station?

• French: Où est la station de métro ?

• Phonetic: oo EH lah stah-SYOHN duh may-TROH?

• English: Where is the subway station?

7. A ticket to Paris, please.

• French: Un billet pour Paris, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: uhn bee-YAY poor pah-REE, seel voo PLEH.

• English: A ticket to Paris, please.

8. Where is the train to...?

• French: Où est le train pour... ?

• Phonetic: oo EH luh trahn poor...?

• English: Where is the train to...?

9. To the right / To the left / Straight ahead

• French: À droite / À gauche / Tout droit

• Phonetic: ah DWAHT / ah GOHSH / too DWAH

• English: To the right / To the left / Straight ahead

10. Is it far?

• French: C'est loin ?

• Phonetic: say LWAHN?

• English: Is it far?

Ordering Food & Drinks

11. I would like...

• French: Je voudrais...

• Phonetic: zhuh voo-DREH...

• English: I would like...

12. A table for two, please.

• French: Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: een TAH-bluh poor duh, seel voo PLEH.

• English: A table for two, please.

13. The bill, please.

• French: L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH.

• English: The bill, please.

14. A glass of water / coffee, please.

• French: Un verre d'eau / un café, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: uhn vair doh / uhn kah-FAY, seel voo PLEH.

• English: A glass of water / a coffee, please.

15. Delicious!

• French: C'est délicieux !

• Phonetic: say day-lee-SYUH!

• English: It's delicious!

Sightseeing & The Louvre

16. Two tickets for the Louvre, please.

• French: Deux billets pour le Louvre, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: duh bee-YAY poor luh LOO-vruh, seel voo PLEH.

• English: Two tickets for the Louvre, please.

17. Where is the entrance / exit?

• French: Où est l'entrée / la sortie ?

• Phonetic: oo EH lahn-TRAY / lah sor-TEE?

• English: Where is the entrance / the exit?

18. Where are the restrooms?

• French: Où sont les toilettes ?

• Phonetic: oo sohn lay twah-LET?

• English: Where are the toilets?

19. How much does this cost?

• French: Combien ça coûte ?

• Phonetic: cohm-BYAHN sah koot?

• English: How much does this cost?

20. Goodbye!

• French: Au revoir !

• Phonetic: oh ruh-VWAR!

• English: Goodbye!

Pro Tip for France: Always start every single interaction with "Bonjour" (or "Bonsoir" after 6 PM), even if you're just walking up to a ticket counter or asking someone for directions. It is considered the ultimate golden key to politeness in French culture!

Getting Around & Directions (Part 2)

21. Where is the taxi stand?

• French: Où est la station de taxi ?

• Phonetic: oo EH lah stah-SYOHN duh tahk-SEE?

• English: Where is the taxi station?

22. I am lost.

• French: Je suis perdu(e).

• Phonetic: zhuh swee pair-DOO.

• English: I am lost.

23. Can you show me on the map?

• French: Pouvez-vous me montrer sur la carte ?

• Phonetic: poo-VAY voo muh mohn-TRAY soor lah kahrt?

• English: Can you show me on the map?

24. Is there a bus to the museum?

• French: Y a-t-il un bus pour le musée ?

• Phonetic: ee ah teel uhn boos poor luh moo-ZAY?

• English: Is there a bus to the museum?

Dining & Cafe Culture (Part 2)

25. What do you recommend?

• French: Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?

• Phonetic: kess kuh voo ruh-coh-mahn-DAY?

• English: What do you recommend?

26. Do you have a menu in English?

• French: Avez-vous un menu en anglais ?

• Phonetic: ah-VAY voo uhn muh-NOO ahn ahn-GLEH?

• English: Do you have a menu in English?

27. I am vegetarian / allergic to...

• French: Je suis végétarien(ne) / allergique à...

• Phonetic: zhuh swee vay-zhay-tah-RYAHN / ah-lair-ZHEEK ah...

• English: I am vegetarian / allergic to...

28. Another one, please.

• French: Un autre, s'il vous plaît.

• Phonetic: uhn OH-truh, seel voo PLEH.

• English: Another one, please.

29. To go / To take away

• French: À emporter.

• Phonetic: ah ahm-por-TAY.

• English: To go.

Hotel & Lodging

30. I have a reservation.

• French: J'ai une réservation.

• Phonetic: zhay een ray-zair-vah-SYOHN.

• English: I have a reservation.

31. Where is the elevator?

• French: Où est l'ascenseur ?

• Phonetic: oo EH lah-sahn-SUHR?

• English: Where is the elevator?

32. What is the Wi-Fi password?

• French: Quel est le mot de passe pour le Wi-Fi ?

• Phonetic: kell EH luh moh duh pahss poor luh wee-fee?

• English: What is the password for the Wi-Fi?

Shopping & Money

33. I'm just looking, thank you.

• French: Je regarde juste, merci.

• Phonetic: zhuh ruh-GAHRD zhoost, mair-SEE.

• English: I'm just looking, thank you.

34. Do you accept credit cards?

• French: Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit ?

• Phonetic: ahk-sep-TAY voo lay kahrt duh cray-DEE?

• English: Do you accept credit cards?

35. Where is an ATM?

• French: Où est un distributeur ?

• Phonetic: oo EH uhn dees-tree-boo-TUHR?

• English: Where is a cash machine?

Emergencies & Misunderstandings

36. I don't understand.

• French: Je ne comprends pas.

• Phonetic: zhuh nuh cohm-prahn PAH.

• English: I don't understand.

37. Could you repeat that more slowly, please?

• French: Pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?

• Phonetic: poo-VAY voo ray-pay-TAY ploo lahnt-MAHN, seel voo PLEH?

• English: Could you repeat more slowly, please?

38. Help!

• French: Au secours !

• Phonetic: oh suh-KOOR!

• English: Help!

39. Where is the pharmacy?

• French: Où est la pharmacie ?

• Phonetic: oo EH lah far-mah-SEE?

• English: Where is the pharmacy?

40. Have a good day!

• French: Bonne journée !

• Phonetic: bun zhoor-NAY!

• English: Have a good day!

Phonetic Tip: For words ending in (ne) like végétarien(ne) or perdu(e), the extra letter is for feminine agreement if a woman is speaking. The pronunciation difference is subtle: perdu sounds like "pair-doo", while the feminine version gently extends the "oo" sound slightly longer.