From Wikitravel
French (
français) is a Romance
language originating in
France
but spoken in many other parts of the Europe including
Luxembourg, Southern
Belgium (
Wallonia and
Brussels) and Western
Switzerland. There are also small French
speaking regions in northwestern alpine Italy. In North America,
French is spoken primarily in
Quebec and
New Brunswick, but is present in almost
every other province in
Canada. It is also found in parts of the US
state of
Louisiana. The
majority of Quebec is francophone and the only bilingual province
in Canada is New Brunswick. Although Canada is a bilingual nation,
French is spoken by a tiny minority of citizens in all the other
provinces and territories. Other countries speaking French include
former French colonies in
North Africa and
West Africa; in
Haiti,
Martinique and
Guadeloupe in the Caribbean; in
French Guiana in
South America; in
Tahiti and numerous other
islands in the
Indian
Ocean and in
Oceania. It
has long been the language of international diplomacy and
communication, and although largely supplanted by English since
World War II, it remains
de rigueur (of obligatory
requirement) for educated people in many societies around the world
to have some level of basic French ability. It is also an official
language of the UN and the EU.
There are many differences between French spoken in Québec and
that spoken in France. The two main differences are that Québec has
retained many 18th & 19th century French words, while French
spoken in France has incorporate many English words. Furthermore,
aside from Europe & Québec, many French-speaking regions have
incorporated many local words or formed a distinctive
dialect/language known as creole.
Francophonie can help you locate French-speaking regions.
Pronunciation
Like that of English -- and unlike almost all the other Romance
languages -- French spelling is not necessarily phonetic. The same
letter used in two different words can make two different sounds,
and many letters are not pronounced at all. In general, it's not
impossible to sound out words, but suffice it to say that many
experienced non-native French speakers -- and some native speakers
-- mispronounce words often.
One thing to note is that final consonants of a word are usually
dropped: allez (go) is pronounced ahl-AY, not
ahl-AYZ; tard (late) is pronounce tar,
not tard. Also a final "e" is usually silent. But if the
next word begins with a vowel, the consonant may be pronounced;
this is called liaison.
Stress is fairly even in French, but the stress almost always
falls on the last syllable.
For many French words, it is impossible to write something
which, when pronounced as English, sounds like the French word. Use
the transliteration as a guide to liaison and the French
spelling to pronounce the vowels.
Vowels
Vowels in French can have accent marks, which generally have no
noticeable impact on pronunciation, but they often distinguish
between homophones in writing (ou, meaning or, and
où, meaning where, are pronounced the same). The only
really important one is é, which is always pronounced
"ay", and changes the meaning of the word.
- a, à, â
- like "a" in "father"
- e
- in most cases a central neutral vowel ("schwa") like "a" in
"about", sometimes not pronounced at all, sometimes like "é" or
"è"
- é, è, ai, -er, -es, -ez
- é is a bit like "ay" in "day", è is more towards "e" in "set",
but many French people don't even distinguish them, you can
consider them equivalent
- i, î
- like "ee" in "see" but shorter and tenser
- o, ô, au, eau
- generally like "oa" in "boat" or "aw" in "law", can be
considered equivalent
- u, ù
- like a very tight, frontal "oo" sound (purse your lips as if to
say "oo" as in "soon" but try and say "ee") - uu in
transcriptions
- ou
- like "oo" in "food", but a pure vowel
- y
- like "ee" in "see"
- eu
- between "ew" in "dew" and "ur" in "burp"; written eu
in transcriptions
- oi
- like "wa" in "walk"
- oui
- like "wee" in "week"
- ui
- like "wee" in "week", but with a French uu instead of the
w
- œ
- a bit like "eu" but more "open"
Consonants
Note: Most final consonants are silent except for c, q, f, l,
and r (except in the combination "-er", normally found in verb
infinitives). Note that the "-ent" ending for verbs is
never pronounced, though it may be pronounced in other
places.
- b
- like "b" in "bed"
- c
- like "k" in "kill" (before "a", "o", and "u" or before a
consonent), like "s" in "sun" (before "e", "i", and "y")
- ç
- like "s" in "sun" (this letter can only be written before "a"
,"o", or "u")
- d
- like "d" in "death" (but a bit heavier than in English, and
pronounced on the tongue)
- f
- like "f" in "fun"
- g
- like "g" in "go" (before "a", "o", and "u" or before a
consonent), like "g" in "sabotage" (before "e", "i" and "y").
- gu
- like "g" in "goose" (before "e", "i", "y")
- gn
- like "ny" in "canyon". This is particularly difficult (even for
little French kids) when followed by oi, as in
baignoire (beh-NYWAR) "bathtub".
- h
- usually silent, but may sometimes prevent a liaison
with the former word
- j
- like "g" in "sabotage"
- k
- like "k" in "kill" (not native to French)
- l, ll
- like "l" in "like"; some exceptions for "ll" in the combination
"ille" (pronounced ee-yuh)
- m
- like "m" in "me"
- n
- like "n" in "nurse" (but see Nasals below)
- p
- like "p" in "push" (unaspirated like the t)
- q(u)
- most of the time like "k" in "kill" (not like
"qu" in "quick"); in some words like "qu" in "quick" (generally
before an "a") or the same but with a French u (generally before an
"i")
- r
- guttural; kind of like coughing up a hairball (similar to a
German "ch")
- s
- like "s" in "sun"; like "z" in "zero" (between two vowels)
- ch
- like "sh" in "bush"; sometimes like "k" in "kill" (in words of
Greek origin mostly)
- t, th
- like "t" in "take" (unaspirated, it should sound dry and on the
tongue, like a spanish speaker)
- v
- like "v" in "value"
- w
- only in foreign words, mostly like "w" in "wise" and sometimes
like "v" in "value" (in particular, "wagon" is "vagon" and "WC" is
"VC"!)
- x
- either ks (like "x" in "exit") or gz
- z
- like "z" in "zero"
- ph
- like "f" in "fun"
- an, en, em
- nasal a (not always pronounced as a nasal, especially if the n
or m is doubled: emmental is pronounced as a normal "emm"
sound)
- on
- nasal o - distinguishing between this and "an" is tricky, it's
a deeper, more closed sound
- in, ain
- nasal è
- un
- nasal eu (almost always pronounced the same as 'in')
- oin
- nasal "wè" (thus, coin is a nasalised "cwè")
- ail
- like "i" in "fight"
- ill
- either literally, or like "y" in "three years", with some
exceptions (ville is veel, fille is
fiy)
- When there is an accent mark on "e", it prevents diphthongs.
Letters should be pronounced separately, following the rule for the
accented letter. Example: énergumène, (rowdy character),
réunion (meeting).
- A diaeresis (") may also be used to prevent diphthongs on "e",
"u" and "i". Example: maïs (maize).
- In the combinations "gue" and "gui", the "u" should not be
pronounced, it is there only to force the prononciation of "g" as
in "go". If the "u" is pronounced, a diaeresis is added on the 2nd
vowel : aiguë (sharp).
- In the combination "geo", the "e" should not be pronounced, it
is only there to force the prononciation of "g" as in "sabotage"
(in the case the "e" should be pronounced, it is indicated with an
accent mark as in géologie).
Note you should try not to pronounce the "G" where "NG" is used
in the prononciation hint.
- Hello.
- Bonjour. (Bohn-zhur)
- Hello. (informal)
- Salut. (SAH-lu)
- How are you?
- Comment allez-vous ? (koh-mahn t-AH-lay voo)
formal; Comment ça va ? (koh-mahn sah vah)
informal
- Fine, thank you.
- Bien, merci. (bee-uhn, MEHR-see)
- What is your name?
- Comment vous appellez vous ? (koh-mahn vooz AP-lay
VOO?); lit. "How do you call yourself?"
- What is your name?
- ("informal") Comment t'appelles-tu? ("koh-mahn tah-pell
tew?")
- My name is ______ .
- Je m'appelle ______ . (jeh MAH-pell _____)
- Nice to meet you.
- Enchanté(e). (ehn-shan-TAY)
- Please.
- S'il vous plaît. (SEE voo PLEH); Je vous prie.
(ZHUH vous PREE)
- Thank you.
- Merci. (MEHR-see)
- You're welcome.
- De rien. (der ree-en); lit. "of nothing".
- Yes.
- Oui. (WEE)
- No.
- Non. (NOH)
- Excuse me.
- Pardon. (pahr-DOHN); Excusez-moi. (ehk-SKEW-zay
MWAH)
- (I am) Sorry.
- (Je suis) Désolé(e). ("Zhuh swee DEH-soh-LAY); Excusez-moi.
(ehk-SKEW-zay MWAH)
- What's the time?
- Quelle heure est-il ? (kel euhr ay-teal?);
- Goodbye
- Au revoir. (oh Ruh-vwahr)
- Goodbye (informal)
- Salut. (SAH-loo)
- I can't speak French [well].
- Je ne parle pas [bien] français. (zhuh nuh PAHRL pah
[byahn] frahn-SEH)
- Do you speak English?
- Parlez-vous anglais ? (par-lay VOO
lahng-LEH?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un ici qui parle anglais ?
(ess keel-ee-AH kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL
lahng-LEH ?)/ Y a-t-il quelqu'un ici qui parle
anglais ? (ee ah-TEEL kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL
lahng-LEH)
- Help!
- Au secours! (oh suh-koor)
- Look out!
- Attention ! (ah-TAHN-see-ohn)
- Good Day
- Bonjour ("BOHN-zhoo(r)")
- Good morning.
- Bon matin. (bohn MAH-tahn)
- Good evening.
- Bonsoir. (bohn SWAHR)
- Good night.
- Bonne nuit. (buhn NWEE)
- Good night (to sleep)
- Bonne nuit. (bohn NWEE)
- I don't understand.
- Je ne comprends pas. (ZHUH nuh kohm-PRAHN pah)
- Where is the toilet?
- Où sont les toilettes ? (OOH sohn lay
twa-LEHT?)
- How do you say _____?
- Comment dit-on _____ ? (koh-mahn dee-TON
_____ ?)
- What is this/that called?
- Comment appelle-t-on ceci/ça ? (koh-mahnt ah-pehl-TON
suh-SEE/SAH?)
- Leave me alone.
- Laissez-moi tranquille ! (less-ay mwah
trahn-KEEL!)
- Buzz off.
- Dégage ! (Day-GAZH!)/ Va t'en ! (va
TAHN)
- Don't touch me!
- Ne me touchez pas ! (nuh muh TOOSH-ay PAH!)
- I'm calling the police.
- J'appelle la police. (zhah-PELL la poh-LEE-SS)
- I'm going to hurt you, if you don't go.
- Je vais vous casser la figure si vous ne vous en allez pas.
(slightly vulgar)
- Police!
- Police ! (POHL-ees)
- Stop! Rapist!
- Arrêtez! Au viol!
- Stop! Thief!
- Arrêtez ! Au voleur ! (ah-reh-TAY! OH
vo-LEUR!)
- Help!
- Au secours ! (OH suh-KOOR!)
- I need your help.
- Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît ! (ay-day MWAH, SEEL voo
PLAY!)
- It's an emergency.
- C'est une urgence ! (seh tuun uur-ZHAHNS)
- I'm lost.
- Je suis perdu. (ZHUH swee pehr-DUU')
- I've lost my bag.
- J'ai perdu mon sac. (ZHAY pehr-DUU mon sak)
- I've lost my wallet.
- J'ai perdu mon portefeuille. (ZHAY PEHR-duu mon
POHR-tuh-fuhye)
- I'm sick.
- Je suis malade. (ZHUH swee MAU-laHD)
- I've been injured.
- Je suis blessé. (zhuh swee bless-AY)
- I need a doctor.
- J'ai besoin d'un médecin. (ZHAY bez-WANG dun
mayd-SON)
- Can I use your phone?
- Puis-je utiliser votre téléphone ? (Pwee ZHUH
UUT-ee-lee-zay vOt-ruh te-LAY-phun)
- 1
- un (uhn)
- 2
- deux (deu)
- 3
- trois (twa)
- 4
- quatre (katre)
- 5
- cinq (sank)
- 6
- six (seece)
- 7
- sept (set)
- 8
- huit (wheat)
- 9
- neuf (nuhf)
- 10
- dix (deece)
- 11
- onze (ohnz)
- 12
- douze (dooz)
- 13
- treize (trayz)
- 14
- quatorze (kat-ORZ)
- 15
- quinze (cans)
- 16
- seize (sehz)
- 17
- dix-sept (dee-SET)
- 18
- dix-huit (dee-ZWEET)
- 19
- dix-neuf (deez-NUHF)
- 20
- vingt (vang)
- 21
- vingt-et-un (vang-tay-UHN)
- 22
- vingt-deux (vang-DEU)
- 23
- vingt-trois (vang-TWA)
- 30
- trente (trongt)
- 40
- quarante (kar-AHNGT)
- 50
- cinquante (sank-AHNGT)
- 60
- soixante (swah-SAHNGT)
- 70
- soixante-dix (swah-sahngt-DEE) or septante
(set-AHNGT) in Belgium and Switzerland
- 80
- quatre-vingt (katr-VANG); huitante
(wheat-AHNT) in Belgium and Switzerland (except Geneva);
octante (oct-AHNT) in Switzerland
- 90
- quatre-vingt-dix (katr-vang-DEE); nonante
(noh-NAHNGT) in Belgium and Switzerland
- 100
- cent (sahn)
- 200
- deux cent (deu sahng)
- 300
- trois cent (twa sahn)
- 1000
- mille (meel)
- 2000
- deux mille (deu meel)
- 1,000,000
- un million (ung mee-LYOHNG) (treated as a noun when
alone: one million euros would be un million d'euros.
- number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
- numéro _____ (nuu-may-ROH)
- half
- demi (deh-MEE), moitié (mwah-tee-AY)
- less
- moins (mwang)
- more
- plus (pluu)
- now
- maintenant (mat-NAHN)
- later
- plus tard (ploo TAHR)
- before
- avant (AH-vahn)
- after
- après (Ah-PRAY)
- morning
- le matin (luh mat-TAN)
- in the morning
- au matin ("oh mat-AHN"); dans la matinée (dahn lah
mah-TEEN-ay)
- afternoon
- l'après-midi (lah-PREH-mee-dee)
- in the afternoon
- à l'après-midi (ah lah-PREH-mee-dee)
- evening
- le soir (luh SWAHR)
- in the evening
- dans la soirée (dahng la SWAH-ray); au soir (oh
swahr)
- night
- la nuit (lah nwee)
- in the night
- à la nuit (ah lah nwee)
Clock time
(Note on time: the French use the 24 hour clock, with midnight
being 0h00 (note that, except on digital clocks, the in France an
'h' is used as a seperator between hours and minutes as opposed to
a colon in many other countries). However, the 12-hour clock is
making some inroads and saying 1-11 in the afternoon or evening
will be understood.
- hour
- heure (air)
- minute
- minute (ME-noot)
- From 1-30 past the hour / ___ plus ___
- [hour] + plus (ploo') + [number]
- Example: 10h20 dix heure plus vignt (deez air ploo
VAGN)
- For 1-29 until the hour / __ 'til ___
- [next hour] + moins (mwan)
- quarter
- quart/le quart (KAHR/luh KAHR)
- 7h15 = sept heures et quart (set air eh luh KAHR)
- 16h45 = dix sept heures moins le quart (deez SET air mwan
luh KAHR)
- half-past : demie (duh-mee); demi (after midnight
or noon, duh-mee)
- 10h30 = dix heure et demie (deez air eh deh-mee)
- one o'clock AM, 1h00
- une heure du matin (ewn er dew ma-TAN)
- two o'clock AM, 2h00
- deux heures du matin (duz er dew ma-TAN)
- noon, 12h00
- midi (mee-DEE)
- one o'clock PM, 13h00
- treize heure (trays air)
- une heure de l'après-midi (ewn er duh
la-pre-mee-DEE)
- two o'clock PM, 14h00
- quatorze heure (kaht-orz air)
- deux heures de l'après-midi (duz er duh
la-pre-mee-DEE)
- six o'clock PM, 18h00
- dix-huit heure (deez-wheat air)
- six heures du soir (sees er dew SWAR)
- half past seven, 19h30
- sept heures et demi
- dix-neuf heures trente
- midnight 0h00
- minuit (mee-NWEE)
Duration
- _____ minute(s)
- _____ minute(s) (mee-NOOT)
- _____ hour(s)
- _____ heure(s) (air)
- _____ day(s)
- _____ jour(s) (zhoor)
- _____ week(s)
- _____ semaine(s) (SUH-men)
- _____ month(s)
- _____ mois (mwa)
- _____ year(s)
- _____ an(s) (ahng), année(s) (ah-NAY)
- daily
- quotidienne (ko-ti-dyen)
- weekly
- hebdomadaire (eb-doh-ma-DAYR)
- monthly
- mensuel (mang-suu-ELL)
- yearly
- annuel (an-oo-EL)
Days
- today
- aujourd'hui (aw-zhoor-DWEE)
- yesterday
- hier (EE-EUR)
- tomorrow
- demain (duh-MAN)
- this week
- cette semaine (set SUH-men)
- last week
- la semaine dernière (lah SUH-men dehr-NYEHR)
- next week
- la semaine prochaine (lah SUH-men proh-SHEN)
Note: French calendars normally start on Monday.
- Monday
- lundi (luhn-DEE)
- Tuesday
- mardi (mahr-DEE)
- Wednesday
- mercredi (mehr-kruh-DEE)
- Thursday
- jeudi (juh-DEE)
- Friday
- vendredi (vahn-druh-DEE)
- Saturday
- samedi (sahm-DEE)
- Sunday
- dimanche (dee-MAHNSH)
Colors
Note: Like other romance languages, nouns in french are either
"masculine" or "feminine" and adjectives vary accordingly.
- black
- noir/noire (nwahr)
- white
- blanc/blanche (blahng/blahnsh)
- gray
- gris/grise (gree/greez)
- red
- rouge (roozh)
- blue
- bleu/bleue (bluh)
- yellow
- jaune (zhawn)
- green
- vert/verte (verre/vehrt)
- orange
- orange (oh-RAHNZH)
- purple
- violet/violette (vee-oh-LEH/vee-oh-LET)
- brown
- brun/brune (bruh/bruhn); marron
(MAH-rohn)
Transportation
Bus and Train
- How much is a ticket to _____?
- Combien coûte le billet pour _____ ? (kom-BYAN koot
luh bee-YEH poor)
- One ticket to _____, please.
- Un billet pour _____, s'il vous plaît. (ung bee-YEH poor
____ see voo pleh)
- Where does this train/bus go?
- Où va ce train/bus ? (oo va suh trahn/boos?)
- Where is the train/bus to _____?
- Où est le train/bus pour _____ ? (oo eh luh trahn/boos
poor ____)
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- Ce train/bus s'arrête-t-il à _____ ? (suh trahn/boos
sah-ret-TEEL ah _____)
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- Quand part le train/bus pour _____ ? (kahn par luh
trahn/boos poor _____)
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- Quand ce train/bus arrivera à _____ ? (kahn suh
trahn/boos AH-reev-ehr-AH ah _____)
- the/this shuttle
- la/cette navette (lah/set nah-VET) (also means a
tatting shuttle)
- a one-way ticket
- un aller simple (uhn AH-leur SAM-pluh)
- a round trip ticket
- un aller-retour (uhn AH-leur REH-tour)
Directions
- Where is _____?
- Où se trouve _____ ? (oo suh tr-OO-v _____)
- ...the train station?
- ...la gare ? (lah gahr?)
- ...the bus station?
- ...la gare routière ? (lah gahr roo-TYEHR?)
- ...the airport?
- ... l'aéroport ? (lehr-oh-POR?)
- ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy?
- ...l'ambassade
americaine/canadienne/australienne/anglaise ? (lahm-bah-SAHD
a-may-ree-KEN/ka-na-DYEN/os-trah-lee-EN/ahn-GLEZ)
Taxi
- Taxi!
- Taxi ! (tahk-SEE!)
- Take me to _____, please.
- Déposez-moi à _____, je vous prie. (DAY-poh-zay-MWAH ah
_____, zhuh voo PREE)
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- Combien cela coûte-t-il d'aller à _____ ? (kahm-BYENG
suh-LA koo-TEEL dah-LAY ah _____?)
- Take me there, please.
- Amenez-moi là, je vous prie. (ah-MEHN-ay-mwah LAH, zhuh voo
PREE)
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- Acceptez-vous les dollars
américains/australiens/canadiens ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO leh
doh-LAHR ah-may-ree-KANG/aws-trah-LYAHNG/kah-nah-DYAHNG?)
- Do you accept British pounds?
- Acceptez-vous les livres Sterling ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO
leh leevr stehr-LING?)
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Acceptez-vous les cartes de credit ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO
leh kahrt duh kray-DEE?)
- Can you change money for me?
- Pouvez-vous me faire le change ? (poo-vay-VOO muh fehr
luh SHAHNZH?)
- Where can I get money changed?
- Où puis-je faire le change ? (oo PWEEZH fehr luh
SHAHNZH?)
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- Pouvez-vous me faire le change sur un traveler's chèque ?
(poo-vay-VOO muh fehr luh SHAHNZH suur ung trahv-leurz
SHECK?)
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- Où puis-je changer un traveler's chèque ? (oo PWEEZH
shahng-ZHAY ung trahv-leurz SHECK?)
- What is the exchange rate?
- Quel est le taux de change ? (KELL eh luh TAW duh
SHAHNZH?)
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- Où puis-je trouver un distributeur de billets ? (oo
PWEEZH troo-VAY ung dees-tree-buu-TEUR duh bee-YAY?)
- fixed-price meal
- menu (muh-NUU)
- à la carte
- à la carte (ah lah KAHRT)
- breakfast
- France:' petit-déjeuner
(ptee-day-zheu-NAY);
Belgium/Canada/Nord-Pas-de-Calais (north of
France): déjeuner (day-zheu-NAY)
- lunch
- France: déjeuner (day-zheu-NAY);
Belgium/Canada/Nord-Pas-de-Calais (north of
France): dîner (dee-NAY)
- tea (meal)
- thé (tay)
- dinner/supper
- France: dîner (dee-NAY);
Elsewhere: souper (soo-PAY)
- I would like _____.
- Je voudrais _____. (zhuh voo-DREH _____)
- I would like a dish containing _____.
- Je voudrais un plat avec _____. (zhuh voo-DREH ung plah
ah-VEK _____)
- chicken
- (du) poulet (duu poo-LEH)
- beef
- (du) boeuf (duu BUFF)
- deer
- du cerf (dü SEHR)
- fish
- du poisson (duu pwa-SONG)
- salmon
- du saumon (duu saw-MONG)
- tuna
- du thon (duu TONG)
- whiting
- du merlan (duu mehr-LANG)
- cod
- de la morue (duh lah moh-RUU)
- seafood
- des fruits de mer (deh frwee duh MEHR); literally:
"fruits of the sea"
- dulse
- de la dulse (duh lah DUULS)
- lobster
- du homard (duu oh-MAR)
- clams
- des palourdes (deh pah-LOORD)
- oysters
- des huîtres (dez WEETR)
- mussels
- des moules (deh MOOL)
- snails
- des escargots (dez es-car-GOH)
- frogs
- des grenouilles (deh gruh-NOOEY)
- ham
- du jambon (duu zhahng-BONG)
- pork
- du porc/cochon (dü POHR/dü coh-SHONG). cochon
is much less formal.
- boar
- du sanglier (dü sahng-GLYAY)
- sausage
- des saucisses (deh saw-SEESS)
- cheese
- du fromage (duu froh-MAHZH)
- eggs
- des oeufs (dehz UH)
- one egg
- un oeuf (un UF)
- salad
- une salade (uun sah-LAHD)
- (fresh) vegetables
- des légumes (frais) (deh lay-guum FREH)
- (fresh) fruit
- des fruits (frais) (frwee (freh))
- bread
- du pain (pang)
- toast
- rôtis (roh-TEE)
- coffee
- café (kah-FAY)
- tea (drink)
- thé (tay)
- juice
- jus (zhuu)
- (bubbly) water
- eau gazeuse (oh gah-ZUHZ)
- water
- eau (oh)
- Note: If you ask for "water", you will get mineral water. To
specify "tap water", say "eau du robinet" (OH doo
roh-bee-NEH) or ask for a carafe of water "une carafe d'eau"
(OON cahr-AHF doh).
- beer
- bière (byehr)
- red/white wine
- vin rouge/blanc (vang roozh/blahng)
- May I have some _____?
- Puis-je avoir du _____ ? (pweezh ah-VWAHR
duu)
- salt
- sel (sel)
- black pepper
- poivre (pwavr)
- butter
- beurre (bur)
- Excuse me, waiter/waitress?
- S'il vous plaît, monsieur/madame ? (seell voo PLEH muh
syuh/madam)
- Note: "garçon" (boy) is offensive and should be avoided.
- I'm finished.
- J'ai fini. (zhay feenee)
- It was delicious.
- C'était délicieux. (setay delisyuh)
- Can you please clear the plates?
- Pouvez-vous débarrasser la table, s'il vous plaît? (poovay
voo DEH-bahr-a-seh lah tah-bluh see voo play)
- The check, please.
- L'addition s'il vous plait. (lah dee syohn seel voo
play)
- Do you serve alcohol?
- Servez-vous des boissons alcoolisées ? (sur-VAY voo
day bwa-sson al-co-ol-ee-SAY)
- Is there table service?
- Est-ce que vous servez à la table ? (Ess-ser ker voo
ser-VAY ah lah TAHBL?)
- A beer/two beers, please.
- Une bière/deux bières, s'il vous plait. (...)
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- Un verre de vin rouge/blanc, s'il vous plait.
(...)
- A quarter liter of beer, please
- Un demi, s'il-vous-plaît. (...)
- A pint, please.
- Une pinte, s'il vous plait. (oon peent,
seel-voo-PLEH)
- A bottle, please.
- Une bouteille, s'il vous plait. (...)
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer),
please.
- _____ et _____, s'il vous plait. (...)
- whiskey
- whisky (...)
- vodka
- vodka (...)
- rum
- rhum (...)
- water
- de l'eau (duh loh)
- club soda
- soda (...)
- tonic water
- Schweppes (...)
- orange juice
- jus d'orange (joo d'or-AHNJ)
- Coke (soda)
- Coca (...)
- One more, please.
- Encore un/une autre, s'il vous plait. (ahn-KOHR ahn/oon
oh-truh, seel-voo-PLEH)
- Another round, please.
- Un autre pour la table, s'il vous plait. (...)
- When is closing time?
- À quelle heure fermez-vous ? (ah kell er fer-MAY
voo)
- Do you have this in my size?
- Avez-vous ceci dans ma taille ? (AH-veh-VOO say-SEE
dan sma THAI)
- How much (is this)?
- Combien (ça) coûte ? (COMM-bee-yen (SAH)
coot)
- That's too expensive.
- C'est trop cher. (say-TRO-shair)
- Would you take _____?
- Pourriez-vous accepter _____ ? (poor-yay-VOOZ
ahk-sep-TAY)
- expensive
- cher (shehr)
- cheap
- bon marché (bong mar-SHAY) (not declined. Elles
sont bon marché.)
- I can't afford it.
- Je n'ai pas les moyens. (zhe nay pah leh
mwah-YAHNG)
- I don't want it.
- Je n'en veux pas. (zhe nahng veu pah)
- You're cheating me.
- Vous essayez de me faire avoir. (vooz ess-ey-YE duh muh
fehr ah-VWAHR)
- I'm not interested.
- Je ne suis pas intéressé. (zhen swee
pahz-ann-tay-ress-SAY)
- OK, I'll take it.
- D'accord, je le/la prends. (dah-kor zhe luh/lah
prahn)
- Can I have a bag?
- Pourrais-je avoir un sac ? (poo-REHZH ah-VWAR ung
sahk)
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- Livrez-vous (outre-mer/à l'étranger) ? (leev-ray-VOO
ootr-MEHR/ah lay-trahn-ZHAY)
- I need...
- J'ai besoin... (zhay buh-ZWAHN)
- ...toothpaste.
- ...du dentifrice. (duu dahn-tee-FREESS)
- ...a toothbrush.
- ...d'une brosse à dents. (duun bross ah DAHN)
- ...tampons.
- ...des tampons. (day tahm-POHN)
- ...soap.
- ...du savon. (duu sah-VOHN)
- ...shampoo.
- ...du shampooing. (duu shahm-PWAHN)
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or
ibuprofen)
- ...d'un analgésique (aspirine, ibuprofène);. (dun
ah-nal-zhay-ZEEK (ahs-pee-REEN/ee-buu-proh-FEN))
- ...cold medicine.
- ...d'un médicament pour le rhume. (dung may-dee-kah-MAHNG
poor luh RUUM)
- ...stomach medicine.
- ...d'un remède pour l'estomac. (dung ray-MED poor
less-toh-MAHK)
- ...a razor.
- ...d'un rasoir. (dung rah-ZWAR)
- ...batteries.
- ...des piles. (day PEEL)
- ...an umbrella. (rain)
- ...d'un parapluie. (doon pah-ra-ploo-ee)
- ...an umbrella. (sun)
- ...d'une ombrelle. (doon ohm-brehl-ee)
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ...de la crème solaire. (deh lah crehm so-LEHR)
- ...a postcard.
- ...d'une carte postale. (doon kahrt post-AL)
- ...postage stamps.
- ...des timbres. (dayz TAHM-burs)
- ...writing paper.
- ...du papier à lettres. (doo pap-YEH ah LEH-TR)
- ...a pen.
- ...d'un stylo. (doon STEE-loh)
- ...English-language books.
- ...des livres en anglais. (dayz LEE-vruhs ehn
ahngh-LEH)
- ...English-language magazines.
- ...des revues en anglais. (dayz REH-voos ehn
ahngh-LEH)
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- ...d'un journal en anglais. (doon zhoar-NAL ahn
ahng-LEH)
- ...a French-English dictionary.
- ...d'un dictionnaire français-anglais. (uhn
deect-shee-ohn-AIR frahn-SEH ahng-LEH)
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- Je n'ai fait rien de mal. (zhuh nay fay ree-AHN duh
MAL)
- It was a misunderstanding.
- C'est une erreur. (say uhn air-ehur)
- Where are you taking me?
- Où m'emmenez-vous ? (ooh mehm-en-EH voo)
- Am I under arrest?
- Suis-je en état d'arrestation ? (SWEE zhuh ahn EH-tah
dahr-es-tash-ON)
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
(m)
- Je suis un citoyen américain/australien/anglais/canadien.
(zhuh swee uhn see-twa-YAHN
a-may-ree-CAN/os-trah-lee-AHN/ahn-GLEH/ka-na-DYAN)
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
(f)
- Je suis une citoyenne
américaine/australienne/anglaise/canadienne. (zhe s'wee oon
see-twa-YEN
a-may-ree-KEN/os-trah-lee-EN/ahn-GLEZ/ka-na-DYEN)
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian
embassy or consulate.
- Je veux parler à l'ambassade ou le consulat
américain/australien/anglais/canadien. (ZHUH vuh pahr-LEUR ah
lahm-ba-SAHD oo KAHN-sul-aht
a-may-ree-CAN/os-trah-lee-AHN/ahn-GLEH/ka-na-DYAN)
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- Je voudrais parler à un avocat. (ZHUH vood-RAY par-lehr ah
uhn AH-vo-caht) ("avocat" also means "avocado" but people
don't normally talk to avocados!)
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- Pourrais-je simplement payer une amende? (poo-RAYZH
sampl-MANG pay-AY yn ah-MAHND)
- [offering bribe] Will you accept this in place of my
fine?
- Acceptez-vous en lieu de ma amende? (accept-eh voo ehn
lee-YUH duh mah deh-MAND)
- Note: Only do this in 3rd world countries, DO
NOT' try to do this in France or
Canada!
Bienvenue au Département de
français de la Wikiversité !
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