Essential French Phrases for Travel (with Pronunciation)
French is spoken in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec and across West and Central Africa — over 300 million speakers. In France especially, starting with "Bonjour" before anything else changes how people respond to you. Here are the essentials, with an English-friendly pronunciation.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | oh ruh-VWAHR |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLEH |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE |
| Yes | Oui | wee |
| No | Non | nohn |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excusez-moi / Pardon | ex-kew-zay MWAH / par-DOHN |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas | zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ? | par-lay voo ahn-GLEH? |
At the restaurant
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît | ewn TAH-bluh poor DUH, seel voo PLEH |
| The menu, please | La carte, s'il vous plaît | lah KART, seel voo PLEH |
| Water, please | Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît | ewn kah-RAHF DOH, seel voo PLEH |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît | lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH |
| It's delicious | C'est délicieux | say day-lee-SYUH |
Getting around and shopping
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ? | oo sohn lay twah-LET? |
| Where is the station? | Où est la gare ? | oo eh lah GAR? |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ? | say kohm-BYAN? |
| Can you write it down? | Pouvez-vous l'écrire ? | poo-vay voo lay-KREER? |
Emergencies and health
| English | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Au secours ! | oh suh-KOOR! |
| I need a doctor | J'ai besoin d'un médecin | zhay buh-ZWAN dun mayd-SAN |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie ? | oo eh lah far-mah-SEE? |
| Call the police! | Appelez la police ! | ah-play lah poh-LEES! |
| I'm lost | Je suis perdu(e) | zhuh swee pair-DEW |
Practical tips
- Always start with "Bonjour" (or "Bonsoir" in the evening) before asking anything — skipping it is considered rude.
- Ask for "une carafe d'eau" in restaurants: tap water is free in France.
- Use "vous" with strangers; "tu" is for friends, family and children.
- Service is included in French restaurant prices; leaving a little extra is nice but not required.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and French, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in French. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
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Frequently asked questions
Will people in France answer me in English?
Often, in Paris and tourist areas — especially if you start in French. Outside big cities, English is less common, so a few French phrases really help.
Can my phone speak French for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in French, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.