Ultimate and Printable Guide: Basic French for Travelers

Once it is safe to travel again, are you planning on visiting France? France is the most-visited country in the world, with nearly 90 million people visiting annually (in a normal year that is!). French is estimated to be spoken fluently by approximately 235 million people. That means that the French you learn for your trip will likely be useful again in the future as well!

It is a great idea to have some knowledge of basic French words and phrases in your repertoire before departing on your trip. In major cities like Paris, it may be true that many people know some English, but most still use French. The more you go out of the city there will be fewer people willing to use English, or even that know English at all. French speakers are very proud of their language, so knowing at least some of it is respectful and part of the experience of traveling to a new place.

French is a Romance language, which while it does sound romantic, actually means it is one of the languages that derive from Vulgar Latin. You may not have a community of native French speakers at your disposal to help with pronouncing new words in this romantic language. So, while talking with native speakers really is the best way to learn, online tools like Google Translate or Duolingo can help in the meantime.

Without further ‘adieu’, here are some great Basic French Words and Phrases you should know before traveling to France:

General Greetings

• Hello — Bonjour
• Thank You — Merci
• Good Morning — Bon Matin
• What time is it? — Quelle heure est-il?
• Excuse Me — Excusez-moi
• Good Evening — Bonsoir
• Goodbye — Au revoir
• Please — S’il vous plaît
• Sorry — Pardon
• My name is *name* — Je m’appelle *name*
• How are you doing? — Comment allez vous?
• Do you speak English? — Parlez vous anglais?

Places

• Airport — Aéroport
• Train Station — Gare
• Restaurant — Restaurant
• Washroom — Toilettes
• Hotel — Hôtel
• Museum — Musée
• Metro — Métro

Travel

• Car — Voiture
• Taxi — Taxi
• Bus — Autobus
• Ticket — Billet
• Street — Rue
• Passport — Passeport
• Luggage — Bagage

Food and Drink

• Water — L’eau
• Beer — Bière
• Wine — Vin
• Coffee — Café
• Bread — Pain
• Cheese — Fromage
• Breakfast — Petit déjeuner
• Lunch — Déjeuner
• Dinner — Dîner
• Food — Nourriture
• Drinks — Boissons
• Menu — Menu

Quick Note

The French language has ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ words that English does not have to address someone. For instance, in English, you would just ask ‘How are you doing?’, whereas in French you can ask either ‘Comment allez vous?’ (formal) or ‘Comment vas-tu?’ (informal). If you have never met someone before, make sure you use the formal ‘you’.

Also, something to remember whenever you are traveling abroad: the emergency number in a foreign country may not be the same as your own. For instance, in France, it is 112. Something important to note before traveling to a new place, just in case you need it!

With some Basic French words and phrases in your repertoire, you’re ready to enjoy your visit to Sweden!