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French Travel Phrases


Traveling to a French-speaking country is exciting - but it can also feel a little intimidating if you don’t speak the language. The good news is, you don’t need to be fluent to have a great trip. Learning just a few polite and practical phrases can completely change how people respond to you. A friendly “Bonjour” or a simple “S’il vous plaît” shows locals that you’re making an effort, and that small gesture often leads to warmer, more helpful interactions.

These phrases cover the most common situations travelers face: greeting someone, asking for directions, ordering food, buying tickets, and solving little problems that come up on the road. They are easy to learn, quick to use, and can save you time, money, and stress — especially when you’re in a hurry, in a busy station, or in a small town where English isn’t widely spoken.

Think of them as your essential travel toolkit. With just these words and a smile, you can ask for what you need, show respect for the local culture, and feel more confident as you explore France or any French-speaking region.

Basic French Travel Phrases (with pronunciation)

FrenchEnglishPronunciation (simplified)
BonjourHello / Good morningbohn-zhoor
BonsoirGood eveningbohn-swahr
SalutHi (informal)sah-loo
Au revoirGoodbyeoh ruh-vwar
S’il vous plaîtPleaseseel voo pleh
MerciThank youmehr-see
Merci beaucoupThank you very muchmehr-see boh-koo
De rienYou’re welcomeduh ree-ehn
Excusez-moiExcuse meeks-kew-zay mwah
Désolé(e)Sorryday-zo-lay
Parlez-vous anglais ?Do you speak English?par-lay voo ahn-gleh?
Je ne parle pas bien françaisI don’t speak French wellzhuh nuh parl pah byehn frahn-say
Pouvez-vous m’aider ?Can you help me?poo-veh voo meh-day?
Combien ça coûte ?How much does it cost?kohm-byen sah koot?
Où est … ?Where is … ?oo eh … ?
Où sont les toilettes ?Where is the bathroom?oo sohn lay twa-let?
Je voudrais …I would like …zhuh voo-dray …
L’addition, s’il vous plaîtThe bill, pleaselah-dee-syon seel voo pleh
Un billet pour …, s’il vous plaîtA ticket to …, pleaseuh bee-yeh poor … seel voo pleh
À quelle heure ?At what time?ah kel uhr?
C’est combien ?How much is it?say kohm-byen?
Je ne comprends pasI don’t understandzhuh nuh kohm-prahn pah
OuiYeswee
NonNonohn

Tip for pronunciation:

  • “on” sounds like “ohn” through the nose (soft nasal)

  • “é” sounds like “ay” (like in “say”)

  • “oi” sounds like “wah” (as in “moi” → “mwah”)

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