French Language Phrases for Travelers

There are some French language phrases for travelers that are more useful than others. While you may never use several of the fancy phrases you learned in your French classes, you'll have plenty of opportunities to use common phrases if you visit a Francophone country. It's always helpful to be able to order a coffee, ask where the bathroom is, and say please and thank you while visiting a new place.

These simple French phrases can make the difference between having a pleasant time while vacationing and having an absolutely fabulous time. Mastering a few simple phrases will allow you to meet some locals and engage in conversation with some people on the street. Even if your French is not very polished, making the effort to speak as much French as you can will go a long way in terms of the locals wanting to have contact with you.

French Language Phrases for Travelers

These useful phrases are a good place to start when preparing yourself for a trip to a French-speaking country.

In addition to knowing the most important phrases to say, an absolute must is observing some of the French social customs in your seech. Greet shopkeepers and restaurant staff, etc. as soon as you come in the door. You should always say a polite good-bye/thank you as you leave, as well. In most European cultures, this sort of obligatory greeting is held in very high regard, and France is certainly no exception. Even if your French isn't very good, this minimal gesture is important.

Greeting Strangers

When greeting a stranger you should make eye contact and say bonjour, madame/monsieur. Mademoiselle is no longer used in French, so if you learned it in school, you can forget it before you travel overseas. Adding madame or monsieur to the end of your greeting makes it an adequate greeting in the eyes of the French. Simply saying bonjour is appropriate when you pass somebody on the street or on a walking path, but when you enter a shop or restaurant, a title is required.

When you are leaving a place, it is customary to repeat the same procedure, using a title again. Before opening the door, turn and find the shopkeeper/host/hostess and say au revoir madame/monsieur or merci madame/monsieur…au revoir!. This gesture earns you big points with the French. Just don't make the mistake of not making eye contact or of opening the door before you establish eye contact, both of which are considered amateur mistakes.

Approaching Strangers

Certain rules apply when approaching strangers, whether they are police officers, workers at the train station, or simply someone on the street. When approaching these groups of people, you should always approach them using the vous form in everything that you say: start with 'excusez-moi, madame/monsieur and proceed to use vous throughout the conversation. Whether you are asking for information about finding a certain place, where the bathroom is or which side of the Seine the Louvre is on, it is never appropriate to use tu. Even if you are going to revert to English while asking your actual questions, you should still approach someone with excusez-moi madame/monsieur. This gesture, as well as thanking them (merci beaucoup madame/monsieur) after they have helped you are a must.

The French and Their Language

Mastering a few French language phrase for travelers can and will make a big difference in how you are treated while overseas. Even if you are butchering the accent or struggling to string a sentence together, the French are generally very responsive to even attempts at their language.

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