I had a rude awakening when I arrived in Paris in 2022. I studied French for about 10 years on and off since middle school, but my textbook French could only take me so far.
It was the shops that got me the most. It was hard to navigate what they were saying to me — not necessarily their fault, I had arrived fresh off a toxic work situation and my brain was fried. When I’d visit a shop, I tried to listen with my ears and take in what was being said, but by the time I was able to
a) take in what was being said to me,
b) translate it in my brain,
c) formulate a response—
too many seconds would go by, and they would just speak to me in English. Tant pis.
If anyone reading this is planning a trip to France, here are a few tips on how to say things. This can up your street cred and help you speak a little more like a French person. (If you show a little bit of understanding, it can go a long way in most cultures.)
At any place you pay for something (train station, supermarket, shops, restaurants)
When they ask how you want to pay:
En espèces?
Pronounced: awn ess-PESS?
Meaning: cash?
Carte bleu
Pronounced: cart bluh
Meaning: debit card/credit card (though credit card is carte de credit specifically)
Tappez [when paying with card]
Pronounced: tappAY
Meaning: Tap (your contactless card on the machine to pay)
True story: in 2018, I was teaching for a week at the American School in Paris and I went to the supermarket and asked the cashier guy in French: how do you say ‘cash’ in French? He shrugged and said ‘cash!’ with a French accent. It was cute.
After you pay, they will usually ask:
Le ticket? - or - Le ticket de caisse?
Pronounced: luh tee-KAY? — luh tee-KAY duh KESS?
Meaning: Do you want the receipt?
At the department store
Je peux vous aider? (A store employee would ask you)
Pronounced: zhe vuh vooZEDay?
Meaning: Can I help you?
[Store employee will ask] Vous cherchez quelque chose en particulier?
Pronounced: voo shair-shay kell-kuh shoze on par-TICK-you-leeAY?
Meaning: Are you looking for something in particular?
Où est le détaxe?
Pronounced: oo ay luh day-TAHX?
Meaning: Where is the tax refund (VAT) office?
Soldes (This isn’t something that’s said, but you’ll see it on shop signs)
Pronounced: sold
Meaning: sales
NOTE: I’ve written about soldes and détaxe (getting tax refunds) in the past - please look again for valuable information!
At a restaurant
[when ordering] Je voudrais…
Pronounced: zhuh voo-DRAY
Meaning: I would like…
[they ask when you order steak] La cuisson?
Pronounced: lah kwee-SOHN?
Meaning: how do you like it cooked?
NOTE: I’ve written before about ordering steak in France.
Important general phrases
Où est…
Pronounced: oo-ay
Meaning: where is… (usually a place)
Excusez-moi de vous déranger…
Pronounced: ex-KYOO-zay mwah duh VOO day-rahn-ZHAY
Meaning: Sorry to bother you…
(This is a very good phrase if you have to ask a stranger anything)
C’est combien?
Pronounced: say com(b)-bee-ANN?
Meaning: How much is that? (Accompanied by a good ol finger point)
At a bakery that has seating, for example
[After ordering, they will ask] Sur place où emporter?
Pronounced: sir plahss oo ahm-por-TAY?
Meaning: for here or to go/takeaway?
Chaufée? (They’ll ask you if you order something to take away)
Pronounced: show-FAY?
Meaning: heated up? (Quiche, etc)
At the pharmacy
J’ai mal à la tête
Pronounced: zhay mahl ah lah tett
Meaning: I have a headache
J’ai mal aux pieds
Pronounced: zhay mahl oh pee-AY
Meaning: My feet hurt
J’ai mal à la gorge
Pronounced: zhay mahl ah lah gorzh
Meaning: My throat hurts
Douleur
Pronounced: doo-LURR
Meaning: Pain - (or just point to where it hurts and make the ‘it hurts’ face)
Pansement
Pronounced: pawnSS-MAWN
Meaning: Band-aid/plaster
This is just a teeny tiny sample of the things that may come your way on your visit to France. However, I have noticed that over the last few decades, things have changed. A lot more people, in Paris anyway, speak English and even offer to speak English (there’s a distinction).
If you ever have a question about vocabulary, drop me a line and I’ll help you out.
Travel well.