French Language
The French are not necessarily enthusiastic at the idea of having to speak English, so knowing how to ask for simple things in French can go a long way.
French Language
The French are not necessarily enthusiastic at the idea of having to speak English, so knowing how to ask for simple things in French can go a long way.
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While most people you will interact with in Paris will be able to at least understand some English (especially in hotels, restaurants, and shops), knowing - and trying! - a bit of French will be much appreciated.
So here is a list of words and expressions in French that you might find useful. Since French pronunciation can be a bit hard to guess if you don’t know the rules, we have included the pronunciation in slashes.
Basics
Sorry: Pardon /pahr-dohn/
Please: S’il vous plaît /seel vooh pleh/
Thank you: Merci /mehr-see/
Excuse me: Excusez-moi /eks-kew-zey-mwah/
Welcome: Bienvenue /biahn-ven-nhoo/
You’re welcome: De rien /duh ryahn/
Yes: Oui /hoo-ee/
No: Non
When: Quand /kuahnd/
Where: Où
Everything: Tout /toot/
What: Quoi /kuah/
Why: Pourquoi /puhr-kuah/
A lot: Beaucoup /boh-koo/
Too much: Trop
I don’t understand: Je ne comprends pas /juh neh kom-prandu-pah/
How much does … cost?: Combien coûte…? /kohn-byan kooht …?/
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais? /pahr-ley vooh ahn-gleh?/
Greetings
Good morning/hello: Bonjour /bohn-jhoohr/
Good evening: Bon soir /bohn-swahr/
Good night: Bonne nuit /bohn-noo-eet/
Goodbye: Au revoir /ohr-vwahr/
Numbers
0 zéro /zeh-roh/
1 un /uhN/
2 deux /duh/
3 trois /trwah/
4 quatre /kah-truh/
5 cinq /sank/
6 six /sees/
7 sept /seht/
8 huit /hweet/
9 neuf /nuhf/
10 dix /dees/
20 vingt /van/
30 trente /trahnt/
40 quarante /kah-rahnt/
50 cinquante /saN-kahnt/
60 soixante /swah-sahnt/
70 soixante-dix /swah-sahnt-dees/
80 quatre-vingts /kah-truh-van/
90 quatre-vingt-dix /kah-truh-van-dees/
100 cent /sahn/
Days of the week
Monday: lundi /luhn-dee/
Tuesday: mardi /mahr-dee/
Wednesday: mercredi /mehr-kruh-dee/
Thursday: jeudi /zhuh-dee/
Friday vendredi /vahn-druh-dee/
Saturday: samedi /sahm-dee/
Sunday: dimanche /dee-mahNsh/
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