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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 08:49 AM
  #1  
Pinchme_iam_dreaming
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French language question..

What would we say to order an inexpensive carraf of red/white wine at a streetside cafe? Thanx
 
Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:03 AM
  #2  
 
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perhaps "Je voudrais acheter une carafe de vin rouge (ou blanc), pour un bon prix."

un bon prix= good price

There might be more eloquent ways to ask, but this'll do the trick.

Bloom
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:05 AM
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Une carafe de vin rouge/vin blanc, s'il vous plait.

After which you may be greeted with a barrage of quick French asking "un quart? Un demi? Vin de maison?....." etc.

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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:07 AM
  #4  
ira
 
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Hi P,

Bonjour. Une carafe de vin rouge/blanc, s'il vous plaît

Bonjour. Une pichet de vin de maison rouge/blanc, svp.

will both work.
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:10 AM
  #5  
ira
 
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>After which you may be greeted with a barrage of quick French asking "un quart? Un demi? Vin de maison?....." etc.<

Then you put one hand above the other and indicate whether you want large, medium or small (grand, demi, quart - a quarter, not 32oz)

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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:11 AM
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Bloom, St Cirq is right, if you say "je voudrais acheter" you mean you want to take it away with you.
Make it easy, swap "je voudrais acheter" for "j'aimerais s'il vous plait" or like St Cirq wrote.
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:11 AM
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If you are buying a carafe, it is pretty well established that you will get inexpensive wine. You need to specify what size:
"Un quart de vin rouge" (a quarter-litre of red wine)
"Un demi de vin blanc" (a half-litre of white wine)
+s'il vous plait" (please)

The wine will probably be served in a "pichet" (jug).
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:14 AM
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Several responses arrived as I was composing mine. Obviously, we have many people here who like wine.
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:40 AM
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Wouldn't it be a lot easier than all these suggestions to look at the menu and choose what you want, at the price you want, and point to it? I always choose the type and price of wine I want, I don't just say anything like I want a cheap carafe of red wine. People are making this much too difficult.
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 09:55 AM
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Oui oui...vous avez tous raison.

Sante!

Bloom
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 10:22 AM
  #11  
Pinchme_iam_dreaming
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WOW, you guys are great. thank you so much. I have wrote down your interpataions. Christina, Yes it would be the best way to order from a menu however... I DON"T SPEAK FRENCH!!! That's why I was asking how to say what I asked in french, But thank you for your advice.
 
Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 10:37 AM
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I am in Paris as I write. Interstingly, I speak no french either and wandered into a brasserie today where they spoke no English as well. I still had two lovely glasses of Bordeaux, a brie/pate baguette and bummed two cigs successfully! Total bill 9 euro- don't sweat it and enjoy! People have been truly helpful-
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Old Aug 21st, 2007 | 11:53 AM
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The carafe is normally house wine unless otherwise specified. But by the very fact that the question is being asked the OP probably does not have the skill to ask in French which wines come in a carafe.
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