If you’re traveling to France or another French speaking country soon and only have time to learn basic French phrases, see the below list for some of the most useful phrases to know while to have very simple conversations in French. Almost any native French speaker will be pleased that you have taken the time to learn French phrases before you visit their country.
Manners and polite greetings
In most urban areas natives will recognize that you are an English speaker by your accent and may even respond in English, but most will appreciate that you have taken the time to address them politely in their native language. In more remote areas of French-speaking countries you may need to interact with someone who knows little to no English, and you will have to communicate with simple French phrases. Politeness goes a long way toward encouraging them to help you.
French phrases: greetings and goodbyes
Always, always be polite. Greet people with the appropriate French phrase. Greetings are much more important in France as a measure of politeness than they are in the US. Never just walk up to someone and start asking a question.
| Hello | Bonjour (literally, “good day”) |
| Good evening | Bonsoir |
| Goodbye | Au revoir / adieu |
| How are you? | Comment ça va ? / Comment allez-vous ? |
| Please | S’il vous plaît |
| Thank you | Merci |
| I am well. | Ça va bien. (literally, “it goes well”) |
| My name is… | Je m’appelle… (literally, “I call myself…”) |
French phrases for traveling
- I would like… “Je voudrais…”
- I am looking for… “Je cherche…“
- Where is… “Où est…”
Other French phrases to know
- I have… “J’ai…“
- I am going… “Je vais…“
- I am from… “Je suis de…“
- I went… “Je suis allé…“
- How much (does this cost)? “Combien coûte ?“
- It is… “C’est…”
- Do you have… “Avez-vous…“
- What time is it? “Quelle heure est-il ?“
- I need… “J’ai besoin de…“
- Do you speak English? “Parlez-vous anglais ?“
- I don’t understand. “Je ne comprends pas.“
- I don’t speak French. “Je ne parle pas français.“
- Can you help me? “Pouvez-vous m’aider ?“
Travel Vocabulary
| a taxi | un taxi |
| the airport | l’aéroport |
| the car | la voiture |
| the train | le train |
| the hotel | l’hôtel |
| a restaurant | un restaurant |
| a grocery store/market | un marché |
| the museum | le musée |
| a suitcase | une valise |
| breakfast | le petit déjeuner |
| lunch | le déjeuner |
| dinner | le dîner |
| a meal | un repas |
Next Steps
These phrases will get you through most basic travel situations, but a little grammar goes a long way toward making you more flexible in conversation. Even learning the basics of the French present tense will let you go well beyond fixed phrases and start building your own sentences. For more vocabulary that’s useful when traveling, our French food vocabulary list is a practical next step, and our guide to talking about time in French will help you handle schedules, reservations, and directions.
