MarchMadness

Will be visiting Paris for the firts time in September. Could anyone provide a list of what they consider are the most useful French phrases, ie. Bonjour Madame/Monsieur Merci Beaucoup, Au Voir, Parle Vous Anglais, Si Vous Plais, etc.

Just want to be able to show a little respect for the French people and their language. I've read that this goes a long way and that most French will speak some English.

Merci Beaucoup

cocofromdijon

Bonjour, parlez vous anglais? je ne parle pas français, au revoir, j'aimerais un peu de (I'd like some of)
s'il vous plait, où est le musée (where is the museum?) où sont les toilettes?
I'm sure PalQ or many other members will find more expressions.
bonne chance et bienvenue en France!

Barbara_in_FL

Here's a list:

http://www.fodors.com/language/llres...d=2&cid=14

margot55

IMHO, based on our travels there last year, the French very much appreciate being greeted and being thanked, and take umbrage when neither of those is offered. Therefore, "bonjour/bon soir" and "merci beaucoup", though seemingly basic, are extremely important. And...don't forget to say them with a smile!

Travelbug13

Just to help you out a little. But it is not Au voir for good bye, it is Au revoir. Also it is more polite to say Parlez-vous Anglais. Also it is not Si vous Plais, it is S'il vous plait.

Also:
Ou est la salle de bains? (where is the bathroom)?

Combien coute t-il (How much does it cost)
Pouvons nous avoir la facture (can we have the bill or cheque please)
Nous sommes perdus (we are lost)
Je cherche...... (i'm looking for.....)
It etait delicieux (It was delicious)

I think those are pretty basic and ones you will use quite a bit. I think it is great that you want to try and speak the language. Most people who love France and never have issues with the people are the ones who make an effort!!

Have a great trip!

Michel_Paris

You've got a good start.

Upon arriving at resto/shop, 'bonjour/bonsoir madame/monsieur'.
'Au revoir' on leaving
'Merci' and 's'il vous plait' as thank you and please.
'Pardonner moi' (excuse me)as a preface to asking someone a question.
'L'addition, s'il vous plait' for asking for the bill.
'Je cherche...' which means 'I'm looking for'
'J'aimerais acheter' means I would like to buy
'J'aimerais le...' means 'I would like the', for example an item from the menu
' A quelle heure ouvrez-vous?" at what time do you open
'Je veux aller à.." I would like to go to...
'Quelle est le prix de...' What is the price of...

wally34949

Saying, "we we" a lot when you order your food in a restaurant will get you more food.

MissZiegfeld

<i>Ou est la salle de bains?</i>

Wouldn't it just be simply &quot;toilette&quot;? Isn't salle de bains more of an actual BATHroom?

ps1111

&quot;Je vous en prie&quot; is an especially gracious way to say you're welcome.

Travelbug13

&quot;ou est la salle de bains&quot; is how we say it here in Canada. In school kids would laugh whe you said toilettes...
But of course you can say:
Ou sont les toilettes. We were just told it was more polite to say salle de bains.

Either one works though and will get you to the bathroom.

kappa

If you allow me for a few corrections.

- Pardonner moi &gt; Pardonnez-moi.

- Je veux aller = I would like to go to &gt; That's &quot;J'aimerais&quot; aller or &quot;Je voudrais&quot; aller.

&gt; Ou est la salle de bains? (where is the bathroom)?

Do you mean at a bar or a restaurant?
Then that's &quot; Ou sont les toilettes?&quot;

Salle de bains is bathroom but it's usually in hotel rooms and private houses.

kappa

Well, I don't know Canadian French. I think it sounds funny if you say that in France.

Michel_Paris

Toilette would be correct, in my experience. I would also use that in Quebec, for public facilities.

&quot;Pardon, les toiletes sont...?&quot; would be how I would phrase it.

&quot;Pardon, pouvez-vous m'aider?&quot; is excuse me, could you please help me?

LuckyLuc

Kappa is right. If you ask for the salle de bain in France they will tell you there is no bath in there!!

The proper way to ask is &quot;Les toilettes s.v.p.&quot; or Les WC (pronounce VC)&quot; s.v.p.

Bon voyage.

Michel_Paris

or...
'Pardonnez-moi, ou sont les toilettes?&quot;

MissZiegfeld

LuckyLuc, I'm a french student, and I have a question about that:

would &quot;WC&quot; really be pronounced &quot;VC&quot;? Why not &quot;doub-le-vay&quot;, the way the letter &quot;W&quot; is pronounced?

Michael

VC or double VC works. In French, &quot;w&quot; is pronounced like a &quot;v&quot;, as in <i>wagon</i>.

blackduff

I hear VC around my bars I frequent.

Blackduff

MissZiegfeld

Thanks for the replies--always something new to learn!

brandie346

Or, for when you screw up, for instance you tell the woman at the Eiffel Tower that you want 3 tickets, but what you really meant was you wanted one ticket to the 3rd level...

Je suis desole - I am sorry.