Basic French Words

Words for Tourists

These basic words might come in handy on your daily interaction with the French people you meet.

• Oui/Non (whee/no) – yes/no
• S’il vous plaît (see voo play) – Please
• Parlez-vous anglais? (parlay vooz ong-glay) – Do you speak English?
• Merci (mair-see) – Thank you
• Voici (vwah-see) – Here is
• Voilà (vwah-la)- There is
• De rien (du-rhee-en) – You’re welcome
• Je ne comprends pas (zhe nhe comp-rehn pah) – I don’t understand
• J’ai besoin d’aide (zhay buh-swahn ded) – I need help
• Excusez-moi(escoosay mwah) – Excuse me
• Je ne sais pas (zhe-nhe say paw) – I don’t know
• Il y a (eel ee aw) – There is

Greetings

In France, a greeting is simply being polite. Greet shop owners when you walk into their boutiques, and make sure to say something on your way out as well.

• Bonjour (bon zhoor) – Good morning
• Bonsoir ( bon swar) – Good night/evening
• Bon après-midi (bon ah-pray mee-dee) – Good afternoon
• Madame (mah-dahm) – Miss (or Mrs. preceeded by a last name)
• Monsieur (mihn-see-yuh) – Sir
• Comment allez-vous?(co-mo-tah-lay-voo) – How are you?
• Au revoir (o-rhe-vwa) – Good bye

Informal Greetings

These are not things you would say to someone you don’t know, however these familiar phrases are something you’d use with your buddies or peers.

• Salut (saw-loo) – Hi
• Ça va? (saw-vaw) – How’s it going?
• Ça va bien (saw-vaw-bee-en) – I’m fine

Note: Salut and ça va are often used together as in, “Salut! Ça va?”

Question Words

While traveling, you may find it very helpful to have a good command of basic question words and phrases.

• Combien? (comb-bee-en) – How much?
• Où? (oo) – Where?
• Quand? (kond) – When?
• Quelle/Quel/Quelles/Quels? (kell) – What?
• Pourquoi? (por-kwah) – Why?
• Comment? (co mo) – How?

Original Content: http://french.lovetoknow.com/