40 French phrases to learn before moving to Paris

Learning some basic French phrases will get you far when you touch down in Paris.

While many Parisians speak English, just as many don’t, and it is not only helpful but also respectful to master some basic French phrases that you will use each and every day.

Being able to introduce yourself, greet others, ask common questions, order food, find your way around and ask for help are all key to finding your feet in Paris. Of course, French is a complex language and it can take many years to become fluent in it, but our guide to 40 French phrases to learn before you move to Paris will make your transition into your new life a lot easier! Pronunciations included!

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Common French greetings  

Bonjour! (hello) bon-joor

Salut! (hi!) saloo

Bonsoir! (good evening!) bon-swa

Au revoir (until we meet again) oh-rev-wa

Ça va? (how are you?) sa-va?

This is an informal way of asking how someone is.

Comment-va tu? (how are you?) come-on va too?

A slightly more formal way of asking how someone is.

Bienvenue (welcome) Bee-en-ven-oo

Je vais bien, merci (I am fine, thank you) juh vay bee-en, meh see

Enchanté (delighted / nice to meet you) on-chon-tay

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Introducing yourself in French

Je m’appelle [insert name] (my name is…) juh ma-pell

J’habite à / Je viens de [insert name of your country / city] (I live in / I am from…) jah-beet uh / juh vee-en duh

Je parle [insert language] (I speak [insert language]) juh parl

Common languages include anglais (English – on-glay), allemand (German – ally-mond), Italien (Italian – it-ell-ien), espagnol (Spanish – es-pan-yol), arabe (Arabic, ar-aab), etc.

J’ai [insert age in digits] ans (I am [insert age].) jai {insert age] ahn.

For this you will need to know your numbers in French. These are quite easy to learn and you’ll find common repetition as you get into double digits. The wording of this phrase is like saying “I have 16 years” etc.

Je suis (I am) juh swee

This is a common phrase starter, and a handy one to learn. You can use this to say many things, for instance, je suis anglais (I am English), je suis malade (I am unwell) and je suis fini (I am finished).

Comment tu t’appelles? (What is your name?) come-on tap-elle too?

This can also be spoken in reverse – comment t’appelles tu?

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French phrases for getting around

Je ne comprends pas (I don’t understand) juh nuh com-prond pa

Je ne parle pas français (I don’t speak French) juh nuh parl pa fron-say

Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?) parl-eh voo on-glay?

Où se trouve? / Où est… ? Where can I find? / Where is? oo se troov? / oo eh?

This is a good French phrase to learn, as you can end the sentence with any number of places or things. Hotel (hôtel), grocery store (épicerie), hospital (l’hôpital), museum (musée) etc.

Quelle heure est-il? (what time is it?) kell err et ill?

Un billet, s’il vous plaît (a ticket, please) uh bill-ette, see voo play.

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Ordering food in French

Combien ça coûte? (how much is it?) comm-bee-en sa coot?

Je voudrais un… (I would like a…) juh voo-dray uh…

Pardon / excusez-moi (Pardon / excuse me) par-don / ess-coo-zay mwah

Merci (thank you) Mare-see

S’il vous plaît (please) Seel voo play

C’est délicieux (it’s delicious!) seh dell-iss-yuh

L’addition, s’il vous plait (the bill, please) lah-diss-ion, see voo play

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More common French phrases and words to learn

Au secours! (Help!) oh sec-oor!

Appelez la police! (call the police!) – app-elle-ay lah police

Je suis désolé(e) (I am sorry) juh swee dess-olay

Oui / non (yes/no) wee/no

Allez! (let’s go!) al-ay!

Chaud / froid (hot / cold) sho/ fwa

Aujourd’hui (today) oh-joord-wee

Le métro (the train station / metro / subway) luh metro

Rue (road / street) roo

Mange (eat) monj

Gauche / droit (left / right) go-shh / dwat

Gare (train station) garr

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