If you are planning on visiting a French-speaking country or city in the near future, you should, of course, learn about their history, culture and most interesting activities but you should also learn a few basic words. We’ve compiled a list of 17 basic words to learn right away for ANYONE visiting a French-speaking country.
You’re lucky, some words in English and French are the same: menu, restaurant, information, television, communication, etc. Here are basic words to learn. And if you find this article useful, you should read the one about the 200 most used French words.
Basic Words to Know if You’re Visiting a French-Speaking Country
S’il vous plait (please)
This is maybe THE most important word you can learn. A please can take you far and honestly no one likes rude people, wherever you travel to. (see-voo-play)
Merci (thank you)
This might be the other most important word you can learn. Do you want spit in your soup? Someone to scream at you? People to hate you? Then say merci. (mair-see)
De rien (you’re welcome)
De rien is a word you might not use as much as merci or s’il vous plait but you should still know this word.
Désolé/Pardon/Excusez-moi (sorry)
Another very important word. French people use all three, but désolé is seen as more formal than the two others. If you are trying to weave in between a crowd you can use pardon and if you’re trying to wave down a waiter use excusez-moi.
Petit-déjeuner (breakfast)
When you’re looking for someplace to eat breakfast, look for this word on the menu. (peuti – dayzheurnay)
Toilette (toilet)
This is pretty easy. They are almost written the same way so you shouldn’t get mixed up. (lar twa-lette)
Banque (bank)
If you need to take out money, you need to know where the closest bank is. (une bonk)
Aéroport (airport)
When you take a taxi back to the airport, or if you’re taking the subway or bus to the airport and you’re not sure where to do, it’s a good idea to know this word. (l’aero-por)
Supermarché (supermarket)
The supermarché is a good word to know if you’re staying in an apartment or you’re renting a friend’s place. You pretty much find everything you need a the supermarket so it’s a good word to learn. (supair-mar-shay)
Au revoir/bye (goodbye)
You need to know how to say goodbye! (oh-reu-vwar)
Bonjour/Salut/Allô (hello)
Another very important word. Most of your interactions will start with this word so you need to know what it means. (bon-zhour)
Bonsoir (good evening)
Same as bonjour, if you go have dinner at a restaurant they will probably greet you with this word so learn it!
Bonne nuit (good night)
When you leave a place and it’s nighttime, you know what to say when you leave.
Perdu (lost)
If you’re lost (which tends to happen when people visit new places) then this is an important word to master. (pair-dju) And if you’re travelling in a French-speaking country, here are some basic sentences to know.
Droite (right)/Gauche (left)
If you’re lost, you want to know your left and right in French or else you won’t go very far!
Enchanté (nice to meet you)
This is a nice word you might not use often if you don’t meet a lot of people on vacation since it’s not really something you say to a waiter or a museum attendant. But, no one will judge you if you practice and say it to everyone you cross paths with! They will find you quite polite.
Do you know any other basic words to learn in French? If you think this list is too basic for a trip abroad, you should download one of the best translation apps for smartphones! It will be useful.
