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-   -   Help me translate English into French!!!! (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/help-me-translate-english-into-french-125067/)

Laura Biegan May 20th, 2001 01:42 PM

Help me translate English into French!!!!
 
I need some help...my daughter is in Paris on vacation, and when I call her hotel, the man answering just keeps saying that he doesn't speak English when I ask him to connect me to her room. How do you say in French.....please connect me to (person's name)'s room? ( I don't know her room number) And since I don't speak French, could you spell it the way it is pronounced? <BR>Thank you, and hurry, I need to speak to her!

anitafla May 20th, 2001 01:47 PM

Laura, <BR> <BR>I hope this helps, but my french is very rusty. Try "Bon jour monsieu, le chambre de (then say your sister's name) <BR> <BR>Bon Chance (Good luck)!!

ellen May 20th, 2001 01:58 PM

It wouldn't hurt to add at the end: <BR> <BR>"s'il vous plait", meaning "please". Pronounced as it sounds in English, it would be something like "seel vu play".

Rex May 20th, 2001 02:06 PM

First of all, try calling in the day time - - you are no doubt reaching the night staff (it's past midnight in France), and they are less likely to have English speaking staff at this hour. Second, send a fax, asking that your daughter call you back - - or at least respond by fax, telling you her room number (remind her that you need to know the phonetic pronunciation of her room number). <BR> <BR>But if you need to call right now.... <BR> <BR>Each line (in French), followed by approximate phonetics, then English meaning. <BR> <BR>Bon soir, monsieur <BR> <BR>Boe Swahr, muh syuuh <BR> <BR>Good evening, sir <BR> <BR>=============================== <BR> <BR>[daughter's name], s'il vous plait <BR> <BR>[...... .......], see voo play <BR> <BR>[...... .......], please <BR> <BR>============================= <BR> <BR>Branchez a sa chambre, s'il vous plait <BR> <BR>Bra-shay ah sah shaw-bruh, see voo play <BR> <BR>Connect to her room, please <BR> <BR>============================ <BR> <BR>If you hear any of the following, they mean: <BR> <BR>============================ <BR> <BR>Ne quittez pas <BR> <BR>Nuh kee-tay pah <BR> <BR>Don't hang up <BR> <BR>======================= <BR> <BR>Patientez-vous, s'il vous plait <BR> <BR>Pah-see-ahn-tay voo, see voo play <BR> <BR>Please be patient <BR> <BR>========================= <BR> <BR>Tenez la ligne, s'il vous plait <BR> <BR>Ten-ay lah lee-nyuh, see voo play <BR> <BR>Hold the line please <BR> <BR>======================== <BR> <BR>be sure and say <BR> <BR>====================== <BR> <BR>Merci <BR> <BR>Mehr-see <BR> <BR>thank you <BR> <BR>============= <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR> <BR> <BR>

Laura Biegan May 20th, 2001 02:09 PM

That worked!...I called the hotel and he understood and put me through to her room....thank you very much! Wow...I got the answer I needed within five minutes here!

clairobscur May 20th, 2001 02:14 PM

<BR>Perhaps you should try to just say : <BR> <BR>"Mrs XXX XXXXX, s'il vous plait" <BR> <BR>It should be quite clear....and it's quite a common (though not very formal) way to make such a request. <BR> <BR> <BR>(I can tell you what to say : "pouvez-vous me passer la chambre de XXXXX, s'il vous plait?", but not how to pronounce it, so most probably the man won't understand )

maryvonne Abbott May 23rd, 2001 04:53 PM

Just say : <BR>Bonsoir <BR>Name of your daughter <BR>s'il vous plait ! <BR>Good luck


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