Essential French Phrases for Travelers

French is an official language in nearly 30 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, making it genuinely useful well beyond a trip to Paris. A focused set of travel phrases goes further than trying to memorise a large generic vocabulary list.

Greetings and politeness

Bonjour (hello, used through the afternoon), bonsoir (good evening), s'il vous plaît (please, formal — use this by default with strangers), merci (thank you), excusez-moi (excuse me) — small courtesies that are genuinely noticed and appreciated in French-speaking countries, more so than in some other cultures.

The tu/vous distinction while travelling

Default to vous (formal "you") with strangers, service staff, and anyone older or in a professional context — using casual tu with someone you should address formally can come across as overly familiar. Wait to be invited to use tu, rather than assuming it's fine by default.

Getting around

Où est...? (where is...?), combien ça coûte? (how much does it cost?), je cherche... (I'm looking for...), à gauche / à droite (left / right) — practical navigation phrases.

Dining

Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît (a table for two, please), l'addition, s'il vous plaît (the bill, please), c'est délicieux (it's delicious) — useful, appreciated phrases in restaurants, where a little effort in French is often warmly received.

Emergencies and help

Pouvez-vous m'aider? (can you help me?), je ne comprends pas (I don't understand), parlez-vous anglais? (do you speak English?) — practical fallback phrases for when things don't go smoothly.

A note on regional French

France, Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland, and many African nations all use French, with some vocabulary and pronunciation differences between regions — a standard dictionary gives a strong foundation understood broadly across all of them, with regional quirks (Quebec French in particular has some distinct vocabulary) as a layer to pick up once you know your specific destination.

A practical pre-trip habit

Look up and practice the phrases you know you'll actually need — check-in, dining, directions — rather than a generic phrasebook, and download your dictionary app before you travel so it works offline once you land.

Look up any French word or phrase instantly, offline, with English French Dictionary →