Non-French speaking American heading to Paris on vacation, any simple phrases that will hellp me get by?

Question

I do not speak French but I am a chef by trade and know French when it comes to food. Are there and simple phrases that will help me get by while in France? I don't want to offend anyone by just blurting out questions in English.

Answer 1

wee wee - will help you buy a new nintendo

Answer 2

La prise de courant ne marche pas-- the electrical outlet doesn't work.  When I saw this phrase in a phrase book, I lol.  Guess what, the first wk in France, I had to use this phrase!  Ou se trouve le wc (vay say)-- Where is the water closet (restroom)?

Answer 3

I would recommend getting a phrase book. You can look over it on the plane ride en route to Paris. French at a Glance is good.

Bonjour--Hello

Au revoir--Goodbye

Bonne nuit--Good night

Excusez-moi--Excuse me

Pardon--Excuse me (if you bump into someone or need to squeeze by them)

Parlez-vous anglais?--Do you speak English?

Desole--Sorry

J'aime Paris--I love Paris

Ou est...--Where is...

Ou sont let toilettes?--Where are the toilets? (Great if you get in trouble)

Je voudrais...--I would like

Un carafe d'eau--a pitcher of tap water (will save you money since it's free...if you ask for water, you'll get expensive bottled water)

L'addition, s'il vous plait.--The check, please.

Combien?--How much?

Repetez, s'il vous plait.--Repeast, please.

Ecrivez, s'il vous plait.--Write it, please. (If you can't understand something, like the price of your food, have them write it down--carry a small notebook and pen for this sitch.)

Je ne comprends pas.--I don't understand.

Merci--Thank you.

Merci beaucoup--Thank you very much.

Comment-allez vous?--How are you?

When you enter a small souvenir shop or what-have-you, always greet the person with "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur" and when you leave, say "Au revoir."

The Parisians aren't really rude...more reserved. I've never had a problem...in fact, I've had nothing but good luck while in Paris.

Answer 4

when asking for a napkin say serviette not napkin because that means that you want a snaitary feminine product. ALso if you are full when you have had enough food. Say that you are satisfied and not full. FUll means pregnant or full wiht child!

Ur welcom

Answer 5

be like :

je ne pas compris . tu parle anglais . and say sorry ( i forgot how)

it means i dont understand , do you speak english .

Answer 6

my friend,

the Parisians are notoriously rude when it comes to foreigners and non-French speakers.. Myself, while I can speak some Canadian French I have been received with disdain for the accent..

best you can do is make an honest effort - and expect a bit of resistance to English...Some may appreciate that you are TRYING at least..

"Lentment s'il vous plait, je m'excuse, mais je ne parle pas francias" = slowly please, sorry but I don't speak French

"oui, je suis American - mais je ne fit pas voter pour Bush!" = yes, I'm American but I didn't vote for Bush

(trust, me even if you did - this might come in handy.. George W's not so popular over there)

Answer 7

Bonjour/Bonsoir = Goodmorning/night

Comment allez-vous?= How are you?

Est-ce que vous avez besoin d'aide?= Do you need help?

Je suis american.=I am American. (carry the 's' sound over when you say the 'a')

Desole=(day-sol-ay) I'm sorry

    -or-

Je regret mais...=I'm sorry but...( a bit more formal)

Je ne te compren pas=I don't undersand. ( is that the right congragation?)

Answer 8

Bon jour (bon-zhoor) - Hello

Au revoir (oh ruh-vwar) - goodbye

S'il vous plait (seel voo play) - please

Merci (mare-see) - thank you

Parlez-vous anglais? (par-lay voo zon-glay) - Do you speak English?

Comment vous appellez-vous? (kom-mohn voo-za-peh-lay voo) - What is your name?

Je m'appelle... (juh mah-pell...) - My name is...

Je ne comprends pas (jhuhn kom-prohn pah) - I don't understand.

Comment allez-vous? (kom-mohn tah-lay voo) - How are you?

Answer 9

s`il vous plait...merci....pardon....je suis disole...madame....monseiur...bonjour bon soir.....je voudrei...au revoir...

politeness goes a long way in any language

bon chance

Answer 10

well you can always ask "parlez-vous anglais" first. That means "Do you speak English".

Answer 11

Hi from France !

The respons before are right but I think it's better if you purchase a little book, just for to have numerous phrases within reach ...

Have a nice day and welcome to France,

Cat.

Answer 12

Strange, but when I was in france last year, several times people approached me to ask for directions.  I responded je n'parle pas de fracais, Anglais seullement  (not sure of the spelling).  This translates as I don't speak French, only English.  What was remarkable is that almost every time, I would then learn that the other person was Dutch or Italian or American or otherwise spoke english, and I was able to help them out.

You should know that the rest room is "les toilets," pronounced twa-let.  You can simply raise an eyebrow and say "les toilets?" or you can can say "ou se trouve les toilets?"  -- where does one find the rest rooms --.  You should know that many rest rooms in bars and restaurants are for both genders.  

A packet of ten tickets for the subway (very handy) is called "un carnet," -- car-nay.  One need only approach the ticket seller at the bigger subway stations and say "Un carnet, s'il vous plait."  and then pay the money.  I found the subway system very efficient and convenient and easy to learn.  Have fun.

Answer 13

Hello there,

My father is a French Chef and I can understand how the world of food preparation in a busy kitchen can be different from just making conversation.

Being French myself I would caution you against some of the advise given by one or two people here so far. They have generalized the whole French population. Not everyone is against Americans or into politics.

Paris is a very cosmopolitan city and you will see that depending where you go, you will find yourself in Africa and next in China or Italy. Certain districts are known for that diversity and it can be quite fun to visit the world in one day.

You do not need to speak french to be understood, but it will be noticed and appreciated. We tend to be more friendlier and go out of our way to those making an effort. You would do the same, wouldn't you?

Writing a few sentences with a basic phonetic would not help you for long. Truly, it would be useful if you could visit some of those websites. I have recommended them to an American friend and she found them very good.

Some have interactive videos and dialogues. You will need broadband and real player. Others will teach you about the towns, habits, who we are.

Bonne chance et surtout profites de ton sejour (good luck and make the most of your stay)...

Oh and with our without voting Bush, you will be just fine...Dont pay attention to that silly answer.

1/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/in...

2/ http://www.frenchassistant.com/default.a...

3/ http://www.bonjour.com/

4/ http://www.frenchtutorial.com/

5/ http://www.france-pub.com/french/

Answer 14

Yes. First of all, know that the French EXPECT COURTESY. So it's best to preface any question with "s'il vous plait" (please). No matter what. Also 'excusez-moi' = excuse me.  Also it's custom to greet sales people with either "Bonjour" (good day) or "Bonsoir" (good evening) as you enter the store, even the little shops with just a cash person. It's considered rude not to do that. Always use your courtesy phrases such as please and thank you (merci), or thank you very much (merci beaucoup), and know your numbers and your colors. Why you ask? Well you'll need to know numbers so you don't get shortchanged, I've seen it happen, also knowing colors comes in handy when asking for directions. One time a lady told me where something was but I couldn't understand her completely. She was pointing in one direction that had a red door and I said "La ba? La porte rouge?" (there? the red door?) and she smiled and said, "Oui!" Sounds crazy but it's not. Get the pocket idiot's guide to French phrases, and the black one by berlitz, and you should do okay. If you want to say "Okay" in French, it's "D'accord" with a silent d at the end. To say "where is" say "ou est" (oo eh). The books should really help. Bon chance!

To say "I don't know" it's "Je ne sais pas".

I don't understand = Je ne comprend pas"

I'm sorry = Desole' or je regret.