There are some French words and phrases you will see, hear or need to use all the time when you’re living in Paris. If you really want to live in Paris, you’ll need to be able to speak basic French. How many of these French phrases do you know?
Vous venez d’où? = Where are you from?
des Etats-Unis = the United States
à droite = to the right
à gauche = to the left
Il ne marche pas = It doesn’t work
Hors service = Out of service
Salon d’essayage = Fitting Room
Caisse = Cashier / Checkout
Fermé = closed
Complet = sold out or full
Tirez = pull
Parlez-vous anglais? = Do you speak English?
Interdit = Forbidden/ illegal / not allowed
Ensuite = Next (in line)
Où sont les toilettes? = Where is the restroom? (Don’t say “Où est la toilette” — that would mean you’re looking for one particular toilet. Also a salle de bain is where you take baths, so don’t ask for that either.)
Qu’est-ce que c’est? = What is this/ that?
Combien ça coute? Ça coute combien? Quel est le prix? C’est combien? = How much does it cost? What is the price? It’s how much?
Je voudrais un billet s’il vous plait = I would like a ticket please.
Je ne comprends pas = I don’t understand
Je ne parle pas le francais = I don’t speak French
Je ne sais pas = I don’t know
And perhaps the most important phrase of all…
Où est l’ascenseur? = Where is the elevator?
If you need help with understanding spoken French, check out these French listening skills resources.
