This practice scene takes place at Passa Porta Bookshop, which describes its shelves as multilingual and lists novels among its books. The dialogue below is an example, not a conversation with its staff or a claim that a particular title is in stock. Check the shop’s current details before visiting.

Six lines to take into the shop

Start with bonjour and use vous with someone you’ve just met. You can point to a book as you ask about its edition and price.

Ask for a local writer, then narrow the choice

The request Vous me conseillez un auteur ou une autrice de Bruxelles ? asks for the bookseller’s judgement. Add a genre you actually read: Je cherche un roman policier. means you’re looking for a crime novel. If length matters, ask Vous avez quelque chose de court ? You may hear Vous cherchez quel genre ? — “What genre are you looking for?” — before the bookseller suggests a title.

Passa Porta’s October 2026 programme included Thomas Gunzig and his novel Spectres; the bookshop describes him as born in Brussels. That gives you one name to bring up if you want a starting point. Ask what the bookseller recommends today rather than assuming that book or another local title is on the shelf.

Check the edition and the price

Once the bookseller shows you a book, check the language of the copy in your hands. Vous avez une édition en français ? asks for a French-language edition. If you want to know whether a book is a translation, ask C’est une traduction ? — “Is it a translation?” Look at the title and publisher page as well; a familiar title doesn’t tell you which language this copy uses.

Point to the copy and ask Combien coûte ce livre ? You may hear Le prix est indiqué au dos. — “The price is shown on the back.” If the number isn’t clear, ask Vous pouvez me montrer le prix ? — “Can you show me the price?” This avoids guessing at a spoken number.

A short exchange at the counter

This exchange is for practice. The bookseller’s replies are possible answers, not a script from Passa Porta.

• You: Bonjour. Je cherche un roman policier. Vous me conseillez un auteur ou une autrice de Bruxelles ? — Hello. I’m looking for a crime novel. Can you recommend a Brussels writer?
• Bookseller: Vous cherchez quelque chose de court ? — Are you looking for something short?
• You: Oui, si possible. Vous avez une édition en français ? — Yes, if possible. Do you have a French-language edition?
• Bookseller: Oui, celle-ci est en français. — Yes, this one is in French.
• You: Combien coûte ce livre ? — How much does this book cost?
• Bookseller: Le prix est indiqué au dos. — The price is shown on the back.
• You: Merci. Je peux le feuilleter ? — Thanks. May I leaf through it?

Here celle-ci means “this one” and points to the edition the bookseller holds. Le in the last line refers to the book. If you don’t want to buy it, Merci, je vais réfléchir. — “Thanks, I’ll think about it.” — closes the conversation politely.

Follow the bookseller’s language

Brussels has French and Dutch as its official languages. A multilingual bookshop can also carry books in English, but that doesn’t tell you which language the person at the counter prefers. Begin with the language you can use, listen to their reply, and follow their lead when you share another language.

If they answer in Dutch and you speak Dutch, switch to it. If you don’t, you can ask Vous préférez qu’on parle anglais ? — “Would you prefer that we speak English?” — and wait for the answer. If English isn’t shared, show the title or write your genre and the edition language you want. For another Brussels first-contact scene, see the Brussels café guide.

If you miss the reply

Say Pardon, vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ? If the title or writer’s name still escapes you, ask Vous pouvez l’écrire, s’il vous plaît ? — “Could you write it down, please?” You can then check the spelling on the cover before you leave.

For a rough pronunciation cue, the ou in vous sounds like “oo” in “food,” and the ç in français sounds like “s.” The final s in vous is silent. These cues aren’t a recording of Brussels French. A fluent Brussels French speaker hasn’t reviewed this full exchange yet, and there’s no inline audio because a Belgian French voice and its playback haven’t been checked by ear. Practise the genre, edition and slower-repeat questions before you go. For more first-contact lines, see the French survival phrases guide.

This guide follows the beginner Macaron Collection workshop at Le Cordon Bleu Paris. As checked on 16 October 2026, its site describes a six-hour class taught in French with consecutive English interpretation. You can listen to the French and still use the interpreter to settle a missed step. The practice exchange below isn’t a transcript of that class. Check the current workshop details before booking.

Six lines for the workbench

Use vous with the chef. Point to the tool or mixture as you ask; your question then has a clear subject even in a busy kitchen.

Read the grams, then listen for the next step

Le Cordon Bleu’s separate public macaron technique recipe lists 65 g (2.3 oz) of poudre d’amandes (ground almonds) and 110 g (3.9 oz) of sucre glace (icing sugar). Those amounts teach you how to read a French ingredient list; they aren’t a promise about the workshop’s batch. Ask Combien de grammes faut-il peser ? when the chef gives an amount you didn’t catch, then check the number on your own recipe sheet.

The recipe says Tamisez les amandes en poudre et le sucre glace. — “Sift the ground almonds and icing sugar.” Tamisez is an instruction addressed to you or the group. A recipe can stay on the bench while the chef changes the order, shows a technique or corrects your mixture. Listen for the next action rather than treating the page as a complete live script.

Name the tool and ask to see the movement

In the school’s technique recipe, a tamis is a sieve, a spatule folds the mixture, and a poche à douille is a piping bag fitted with a nozzle. The shells go onto a plaque de cuisson, a baking tray. Keep these names close to the object in front of you; the chef may hand you a different size of nozzle or tool.

Macaronage is the folding stage that changes the mixture’s texture. Le Cordon Bleu’s chefs describe the goal as lisse et brillante — smooth and glossy. Ask Est-ce que la pâte est assez lisse ? and show the bowl. If the chef says Pas encore. (“Not yet”), watch another movement before you continue. Pouvez-vous me montrer le geste encore une fois ? asks for that demonstration, rather than another verbal description.

Check the oven instruction before moving the tray

On enfourne maintenant ? asks whether it’s time to put the shells in the oven. You may hear Pas encore, laissez croûter les coques. — “Not yet; let the shells form a skin.” The school’s public recipe says to wait until the shells no longer stick to a finger before baking. Follow the chef’s check for the batch you made.

Ask À quelle température ? Et pour combien de temps ? — “At what temperature? And for how long?” The public recipe gives 140 °C (285 °F) for about 12 minutes, but a class may use another method, filling or oven. Don’t set the oven from an unrelated recipe. Let the chef confirm the temperature and timing, and ask before handling a hot tray.

Hear both sides of a short exchange

This is a practice exchange built from the school’s published technique, not a report of what a Paris chef said to a student.

• Chef: Tamisez la poudre d’amandes avec le sucre glace. — Sift the ground almonds with the icing sugar.
• You: Pardon, c’est bien le tamis ? — Sorry, is this the sieve?
• Chef: Oui. Ensuite, mélangez avec la spatule. — Yes. Then mix with the spatula.
• You: Pouvez-vous me montrer le geste encore une fois ? — Could you show me the movement again?
• Chef: Bien sûr. Regardez la texture : elle doit être lisse et brillante. — Of course. Look at the texture: it should be smooth and glossy.
• You: On enfourne maintenant ? — Do we put it in the oven now?
• Chef: Pas encore. Attendez que les coques ne collent plus. — Not yet. Wait until the shells no longer stick.

When a direction runs past you

Say Pardon, pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement ? France Éducation international recommends asking for a repeat or slower speech when you miss a direction. If a number still isn’t clear, point to the line on the recipe and ask the chef or interpreter to confirm it before weighing, piping or heating anything.

For a spelling cue, the final -ez of tamisez sounds like “ay”; the final -s of grammes stays silent. These aren’t a substitute for hearing Paris French. A Paris French speaker hasn’t checked the full practice exchange, and there’s no inline audio because a French (France) voice and its playback haven’t been checked by ear. Practise the slower-repeat request and the oven question before class. For ordering the finished pastries at a counter, see the French bakery phrase guide.

The Ivorian government lists the Grand Marché de Treichville as an operating market, and local reporting has documented cloth sellers there. This is a practice scene, not a promise that a particular stall or fabric will be there when you visit.

The first four lines

Use vous with a seller you’ve just met. Point to one piece so ce tissu (“this fabric”) has a clear referent.

Check what you’re buying

Tissu means fabric. At a cloth stall you may also hear pagne, a word used for cloth and for a garment made from it. Ask the seller what a particular piece is called rather than assuming that every print has the same material or origin. C’est du coton ? asks “Is it cotton?” Vous avez ce motif dans une autre couleur ? asks “Do you have this pattern in another colour?”

Length needs its own question. Ivorian cloth maker Uniwax lists one printed cotton product in cuts of two, four, or six yards; that doesn’t tell you how a market seller prices another piece. A two-yard cut is about 1.8 m (2 yd) long. After Quelle longueur fait cette coupe ?, you may hear a length in yards or metres. If it isn’t what you need, say Il me faut une coupe plus longue. (“I need a longer cut piece.”) Check the width too if you’re buying fabric for a particular sewing project: Quelle est la largeur ? (“What’s the width?”)

Confirm the price and payment

Ça coûte combien ? is an ordinary spoken price question; TV5MONDE teaches the same wording. A quoted amount may apply to one cut, a length, or several pieces, so confirm what it covers before agreeing. The sample amount below is for practice, not a current market price.

Ask Vous acceptez quel moyen de paiement ? (“What payment method do you accept?”) and follow the seller’s answer. Don’t assume a card, cash, or a phone payment will work at every stall. If you don’t want to buy, Merci, je vais réfléchir. (“Thanks, I’ll think about it.”) lets you leave without starting a price negotiation. If you do want to ask whether the quoted amount can change, Le prix est fixe ? (“Is the price fixed?”) asks the question without treating bargaining as a rule.

A short exchange at the stall

You: Bonjour. Je peux voir ce tissu, s’il vous plaît ? Hello. May I see this fabric, please?
Seller: Oui, bien sûr. Yes, of course.
You: Quelle longueur fait cette coupe ? How long is this cut piece?
Seller: Deux yards. Two yards.
You: Ça coûte combien ? Le prix est pour la coupe entière ? How much is it? Is that for the whole cut piece?
Seller: Six mille francs pour la coupe. Six thousand francs for the cut piece.
You: D’accord. Vous acceptez quel moyen de paiement ? Okay. What payment method do you accept?
Seller: En espèces. Cash.
You: Merci. Je la prends. Thanks. I’ll take it.

Here la refers to la coupe, the cut piece. If the seller quotes a different length or price, pause and check the number rather than repeating this script.

If you miss the answer

Say Je n’ai pas bien compris. Vous pouvez répéter plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? (“I didn’t quite understand. Could you repeat more slowly, please?”) For a price, add Vous pouvez me montrer le montant ? (“Could you show me the amount?”) A written number on a calculator or phone can help you confirm it before paying.

For approximate pronunciation, pagne has one syllable, /paɲ/; its gn is close to the ny in “canyon,” without a hard g. Coupe is /kup/, close to “koop.” These are rough cues, not recordings of Abidjan French. This guide has no inline audio because a Côte d’Ivoire French voice and its playback haven’t been checked. You can practise the price question with TV5MONDE’s recording, while remembering that it isn’t a model of every Abidjan voice.

French is one language you may hear

French is Côte d’Ivoire’s official language, but Abidjan is multilingual. Research published by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie describes Dioula in markets alongside French and other languages. It also describes local forms of French, including Nouchi. The lines here stay with broadly understood French; they don’t ask a newcomer to imitate speech they haven’t learned from local speakers. If someone uses another language, follow their lead and ask politely what works for the exchange.

Before you go, practise the sequence aloud: ask to see the cloth, check its length, confirm the price, then ask how to pay. For more first-contact phrases beyond this stall, see our French survival phrases guide.

For a real setting, Librairie Gallimard de Montréal on boulevard Saint-Laurent lists a Québec literature section. The conversation below is a practice example, not a transcript of its staff or a promise that a particular book is in stock. Check the shop’s current hours and catalogue before you go.

Seven lines to take into the shop

These lines suit a conversation with a bookseller you don’t know. Use vous for a courteous request. The English-switch question asks for agreement; it doesn’t presume the person speaks English.

Start with French, then say what you need

Québec’s government describes French as the province’s official and common language, including in commerce and daily life. Montréal’s shops don’t all greet customers in the same language: an Office québécois de la langue française study of 2023 shop visits recorded French, English, and bilingual openings on the island. Start with Bonjour, then listen to the person in front of you rather than guessing what else they speak.

Je cherche un roman québécois names the kind of book without asking the bookseller to read your mind. If you want a quick read, add Vous avez quelque chose de court ? A bookseller may ask Vous aimez quel genre ? (“What genre do you like?”). You can answer Un roman policier, si vous en avez (“A crime novel, if you have one”), or show a title you’ve saved.

To find the right shelf, ask C’est dans quel rayon ? (“Which section is it in?”). A reply such as Au fond, à droite means “At the back, on the right.” Look for the direction the bookseller points; you don’t have to understand a long description before you move.

When the answer is too quick

Try a repair in French before changing languages: Pardon, pouvez-vous répéter plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? Québec’s French-learning curriculum gives pouvez-vous répéter and parler plus lentement as beginner ways to signal that you missed something. You can ask only Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? if the full line feels too long.

If you still can’t follow, Est-ce qu’on peut continuer en anglais, si ça vous convient ? asks whether a switch works for the other person. They may say Oui, bien sûr (“Yes, of course”), Un peu (“A little”), or Je ne parle pas anglais (“I don’t speak English”). Accept the answer. A written title, a book cover, or Je peux vous montrer ce que je cherche ? can finish the search in French.

Practise both sides of the conversation

Here is a possible exchange in a shop with a Québec literature section. The replies show what to listen for; the actual bookseller may word them differently.

If a staff member replies in English first, you can use that shared language. If they stay in French, don’t treat an English book on the shelf as a promise of English service. The same sequence—greet, make one request, ask for a repeat, then ask about switching if you need it—works at another kind of small shop.

A Québec word to recognise

The Office québécois de la langue française records magasiner as an everyday Québec verb for visiting shops to compare or buy things. You may see magasinage on a Montréal shopping page. You don’t need either word to ask the bookseller for a book; je cherche tells them exactly why you’re there.

For a first pronunciation pass, say québécois roughly “kay-bay-KWA”; the final s is silent. In répéter, say each accented é clearly. These English spelling hints can’t teach a Montréal accent. There’s no inline audio here because a Québec French voice and its output haven’t been verified by ear.

Before you enter, write one book request and keep a title handy on your phone. Practise that request with the slower-repeat line. For more everyday greetings, see the French travel phrase guide; its existing audio uses a France French voice, so listen to Montréal speakers for local pronunciation.

First lines for a taxi

Use vous with a driver or a stranger. Say bonjour before the request, then name a place the driver can recognise. Here the example destination is Place de l’Indépendance in central Dakar.

Vous pouvez… ? is a polite, direct request. If the driver asks Vous allez où ?, they mean “Where are you going?” You can answer À la place de l’Indépendance, s’il vous plaît. Show the full address if you have a particular entrance or building in mind.

Agree on the fare before you go

The US State Department’s Senegal travel advice tells passengers to agree on a taxi fare before the trip begins. Ask Combien pour aller à… ? while you’re still at the curb. Repeat the amount you heard, then ask C’est bien le prix total ? if you need to confirm it covers the whole ride. Fares depend on the trip, so this guide gives no sample price.

Here’s a short exchange. The driver’s price is left out because you need to listen to the actual quote:

You: Bonjour. Combien pour aller à la place de l’Indépendance ? Hello. How much to go to Place de l’Indépendance?

Driver: Vous allez où, exactement ? Where exactly are you going?

You: Je vous montre l’adresse sur mon téléphone. I’ll show you the address on my phone.

After the driver quotes a fare, confirm it:

You: C’est bien le prix total ? Is that the total price?

If you miss the number, say Pardon, vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ? — “Sorry, can you repeat that more slowly?” Agree only after you understand the quote. If it doesn’t suit you, Merci, je vais demander à un autre taxi means “Thanks, I’ll ask another taxi.”

Ask for a landmark after the ride

Once you’ve been dropped off, a named landmark can make a walking question clearer. For example, ask Où est la gare de Dakar ? — “Where is Dakar railway station?” Au Sénégal places the station in Dakar Plateau. The question below is practice, not a route from Place de l’Indépendance to the station.

Try a second exchange: Où est la gare de Dakar, s’il vous plaît ? — “Where is Dakar railway station, please?” A passerby might say C’est à droite. — “It’s on the right.” If you’re unsure, ask À droite ? — “To the right?” or use the slower-speech request above. These are example replies, not directions for a particular street.

French in a multilingual Dakar

French can start this exchange, but it isn’t the only language you’ll hear. In the Senegal statistics agency’s Dakar regional report, 68.7% of residents aged three and over reported Wolof as the language they used most often; Pulaar, Sereer, Joola and other languages also appear in the results. That measure describes daily use, not who can or can’t speak French. If a French question doesn’t land, show the written address and let the other person choose how to respond.

For more general greetings and requests, see our French travel phrases guide. Its recorded voice is from France, so use the written lines here for Dakar until you’ve heard them from a local speaker. The pronunciation hints above are approximate; this article has no inline audio because a Senegal French voice and its playback haven’t been checked.

This guide uses everyday French for a Geneva stop and one of the city’s short public lake crossings. Read the live display or timetable as well as asking: routes and departure times can change. The examples don’t assume that every person in multilingual Switzerland speaks French.

Six lines to keep on your phone

Use vous with a staff member or a stranger. The questions are brief enough to say while people are boarding, and each asks for one piece of information.

At the tram stop: line, direction, then stop

The operator tpg says its stop information shows the stop name, lines, destinations, timetables, and next departures. Look at the destination as well as the line number: a line runs in two directions. Ask “Ce tram va vers Cornavin ?” if you’re trying to reach Geneva’s Cornavin station. Replace Cornavin with the stop or destination you need.

A reply such as “Oui, mais c’est de l’autre côté” means “Yes, but it’s on the other side.” That tells you to check the opposite platform before boarding. If someone says “Non, prenez le suivant” (“No, take the next one”), look again at the display; don’t treat the first tram you see as yours.

Once aboard, “Quel est le prochain arrêt ?” asks “What’s the next stop?” The written word arrêt can mean a stop, while direction on a display points to where that service is heading. The tpg line and stop pages let you check the current route and timetable before you travel.

At the lake: find the right Mouette

The Mouettes genevoises are public shuttle boats across Geneva’s lakefront, not a general ticket for a sightseeing cruise. Unireso lists the M1 crossing between Pâquis and Molard and the M2 between Pâquis and Eaux-Vives. At Pâquis, “C’est bien la M1 pour le Molard ?” checks both the line and the landing you want. Look for the marked embarkation point before you join a queue.

For the next boat, ask “À quelle heure est le prochain départ pour le Molard ?” (“What time is the next departure for Molard?”). Someone might answer “Dans dix minutes” (“In ten minutes”). That’s a practice reply, not today’s schedule. The tpg app’s route planner includes Mouettes and current departures; check it or the operator’s timetable on the day.

Ask which ticket covers your trip

Within Geneva’s zone 10, tpg lists a 60-minute Tout Genève ticket and a shorter saut de puce ticket. A valid Tout Genève ticket covers tpg trams and Mouettes within its time and zone. The saut de puce covers up to three stops on one tpg line or a single Mouette crossing; it isn’t a tram-to-boat transfer ticket. Check the ticket you actually hold before boarding.

If you’re unsure at a sales point, show the ticket and ask “Je peux prendre le tram et la Mouette avec ce billet ?” (“Can I take the tram and the Mouette with this ticket?”). A staff member may answer “Oui, c’est un billet Tout Genève” (“Yes, it’s a Tout Genève ticket”) or tell you that your saut de puce only covers one leg. Buy the right ticket before travel; ticket rules and prices should be checked again when you go.

A two-way practice exchange

This sample moves from a ticket question to the M1 landing at Pâquis. It shows possible replies, not a promise about a particular departure.

Hear the place name and practise the repair line

In Mouette, the final t is audible: roughly mwet. In billet, the final t is silent: roughly bee-yay. Those English hints don’t replace a Geneva French speaker’s pronunciation. No inline audio appears here because a Swiss French voice and its output haven’t been checked by ear.

Geneva’s cantonal constitution names French as its official language, while Switzerland has several national languages and Geneva residents also use other languages. A French question is a sensible start, not a claim about the person beside you. Practise the direction question and “Pardon, vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ?” together. For more greetings and repair phrases, use the French travel phrase guide.

The short version: “Bonjour. Je voudrais un café filtre, s’il vous plaît. Sur place.” That means “Hello. I’d like a filter coffee, please. To have here.” You can replace café filtre with the drink this café actually sells.

The first five lines to learn

These polite French lines suit a straightforward café order in Brussels. Use vous with staff; it keeps the request courteous without sounding stiff.

Read the room before ordering

The Brussels-Capital Region describes itself as officially bilingual because French and Dutch speakers live there. That status doesn’t tell you which language the person behind a particular counter prefers. Read the menu and listen to the greeting. An English menu also doesn’t guarantee that every staff member works in English.

If the exchange starts in French, answer in French. If someone opens in Dutch and you don’t speak it, try “Pardon, est-ce que vous parlez français ?” (“Sorry, do you speak French?”). If the answer is no and you share English, switch with a simple “Is English okay?” Don’t make the staff member explain their language choice.

Order the coffee you actually want

Visit Brussels lists espresso and filter coffee among the city’s café options and describes drinks served sur place or à emporter. A café’s own menu decides what it offers, so say the drink’s name rather than assuming “un café” gives you the same cup everywhere. If you point to a menu item, “Je voudrais celui-ci, s’il vous plaît” means “I’d like this one, please.”

You may hear “Sur place ou à emporter ?” (“For here or to take away?”). Reply “Sur place, merci” or “À emporter, s’il vous plaît.” The latter is for a drink to go. The city visitor guide uses both terms in its Brussels café descriptions, so they belong in this setting.

Hear the question, then give a short answer

Staff may ask “Vous désirez autre chose ?” (“Would you like anything else?”). You can say “Non, merci, c’est tout” (“No, thanks, that’s all”). If you need another moment to choose, “Une seconde, s’il vous plaît” (“One second, please”) buys you time without a long explanation.

Here is a practice exchange for a café that sells filter coffee. It covers the order, the follow-up, and the choice to stay:

If you don’t catch a question, say “Pardon, vous pouvez répéter plus lentement ?” If it is the price you missed, ask “Vous pouvez me montrer le prix ?” (“Can you show me the price?”). Repeat the amount back before you pay if you are unsure.

Pay, and leave the exchange in good shape

At a table, “L’addition, s’il vous plaît” asks for the bill. At a counter, “Je peux payer ici ?” asks whether you pay there. Ask “Je peux payer par carte ?” before you rely on a card; payment options belong to the café, not the city as a whole. Finish with “Merci, au revoir.”

For pronunciation, say café as two clear syllables, with the final syllable stronger. The final t in plaît is silent.

Practise the greeting, your chosen drink, and “Sur place” as a single exchange. For a broader set of greetings and repair phrases, use the French travel phrase guide.

You do not need long sentences to eat out in French. A few polite, reusable phrases will help you handle most restaurant situations.

If you also want a wider set of survival phrases for everyday situations, take a look at this guide to French Phrases for Everyday Survival (With Audio).

If you also want a wider set of survival phrases for everyday situations, take a look at this guide to French Phrases for Everyday Survival (With Audio)

Quick restaurant cheat sheet

These are the core phrases to know before you walk into a French restaurant. You can use them even if you do not understand the whole conversation. Start with these, then add more specific phrases from the sections below.

Polite basics before you order

In France, it is normal to start with Bonjour. before asking for anything. This matters in restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and shops. Even if the rest of your French is very simple, a polite greeting makes the exchange feel much smoother.

If you also want a wider set of polite phrases, take a look at this guide to French Etiquette Phrases for Polite Everyday Interactions

Getting a table

Use these phrases when you arrive at a restaurant and need a table. You might be asked whether you have a reservation, how many people you are, or whether you want to sit inside or outside. Keep your answer short and clear.

Ordering food and drinks

The easiest ordering phrase is Je voudrais… It means “I’d like…” and works well for food, drinks, and simple requests. Je prendrai… means “I’ll have…” and also sounds natural when ordering from a menu.

Asking what to order

If you are not sure what to choose, asking for a recommendation is completely normal. Qu’est-ce que vous conseillez ? is a useful, polite question that works in most restaurants. You can also ask about a starter or main course if you want more specific help.

Asking for small changes

For simple changes, use sans, which means “without.” This is often easier than trying to build a long sentence. For sauce or dressing on the side, French uses à part, meaning “separately.”

Allergies and dietary needs

If you have an allergy, say it clearly before ordering. Do not worry about making the sentence fancy. The important thing is to name the ingredient clearly and make sure the server understands.

Useful things the server may say

A restaurant exchange is easier when you recognise a few common questions. You do not need to understand every word. Listen for the key phrase, then use a short reply.

Paying the bill

In France, the server will not always bring the bill automatically. When you are ready to pay, ask directly and politely. L’addition, s’il vous plaît. is the standard phrase, and you can use it in almost any restaurant or café.

Useful menu words

French menus have a few words that can confuse English speakers. The biggest one is menu, which often means a set menu or fixed-price meal, not the whole list of dishes. La carte is the word you usually want for the menu itself.

A simple restaurant conversation

This short exchange shows how the phrases can work together in a real restaurant. You do not need to say much to be understood. Practice it out loud a few times so the order of the phrases feels familiar.

Final recap

You do not need perfect French to order in a restaurant. Start with Bonjour., use Je voudrais… for ordering, and ask for the bill with L’addition, s’il vous plaît. If you need a change, sans is your most useful word.

Practice a few phrases out loud before your trip. Even short, simple French can make the whole restaurant experience feel much easier.

A simple pattern is enough for many travel situations:

• Bonjour. Un café, s’il vous plaît. Merci. Au revoir.
• Hello. A coffee, please. Thank you. Goodbye.

You can use the same basic rhythm in cafés, bakeries, shops, hotels, stations, and museums.

A simple polite pattern for French

Polite French often starts with a few small words used in the right order. For travellers, the most useful pattern is: say hello, make your request, say please, then thank the person. You can use this pattern in many everyday situations without needing a long sentence.

Starting an interaction

Use Bonjour. during the day and Bonsoir. in the evening. If you are not sure which one to use, Bonjour. is usually safe earlier in the day.

In France, say hello before asking for something or starting a question. Use Bonjour. during the day and Bonsoir. in the evening, especially when you enter a shop, café, bakery, hotel, or ticket office. A quick hello first makes the exchange feel more natural and polite.

You do not have to use madame or monsieur every time, but they are common in polite service situations.

Asking for help politely

When you need help, start with a greeting or a soft attention phrase. This is useful when asking for directions, finding a product, or getting help at a hotel or station. A short polite opener can make even a very basic question sound more natural.

For a beginner, Vous pouvez m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? is a useful all-purpose phrase. It is simple, polite, and easy to reuse.

Ordering, buying, and paying

In cafés, bakeries, markets, and small shops, you usually do not need a long sentence. A greeting plus one clear request is enough. If you can point to what you want, a short phrase like “that, please” is often the easiest option.

Je voudrais… sounds a little more polished.
Je vais prendre… is very natural when ordering food, coffee, or something from a counter.
Ça, s’il vous plaît. is useful when you can point.

Short payment phrases

Payment conversations are usually quick, so it helps to know a few short replies. These phrases let you answer clearly when staff ask how you want to pay, whether you need a bag, or whether you want anything else. You can keep your answer short and still sound polite.

Ça ira, merci. is useful when someone offers extra help and you want to politely say, “I’m okay, thanks.”

When you do not understand

Even if you start the conversation well, the reply may be too fast or too difficult. These phrases help you stay calm and polite when you miss something. They are especially useful at stations, hotel desks, ticket counters, and busy cafés.

A polite way to ask for English is:

Bonjour, excusez-moi. Vous parlez anglais ?
Hello, excuse me. Do you speak English?

Starting with Bonjour. makes the question sound less abrupt.

Apologies and polite replies

Small apologies are useful in crowded places, on public transport, and in shops. You do not need to explain much. A simple word like Pardon. is often enough when you bump into someone, need to pass, or interrupt briefly.

Ending the interaction naturally

Many everyday French interactions end with a simple thank-you and goodbye. You do not need a special closing sentence. Choose the phrase that fits the time of day, then leave it there.

A natural closing after paying might be:

Merci, bonne journée.
Thank you, have a good day.

Or, in the evening:

Merci, bonne soirée.
Thank you, have a good evening.

Short examples you can practice

It helps to practise full mini-exchanges, not just single phrases. These examples show how the polite pattern works from start to finish. Read the French side out loud a few times so the rhythm feels familiar before you travel.

In a café

Asking for help

Quick reference

This is the short list to practice first. These phrases cover greetings, requests, payment, apologies, and goodbyes. You can use them in many different travel situations.

You do not need perfect French to be polite. In most everyday situations, a simple Bonjour., one clear request, s’il vous plaît, and merci will help you communicate clearly. Practice a few of these phrases out loud before your trip, and they will feel much easier when you need them.

This guide focuses on the messages and small conversations travellers actually need: confirming your arrival time, asking about keys, getting the Wi-Fi password, understanding house rules, and reporting small problems politely.

For broader travel backup, you may also like French Phrases for Everyday Survival. This guide stays focused on Airbnb and short-term rental situations.

If you want more everyday travel phrases too, you may also like this guide to French Phrases for Everyday Survival (With Audio)

Before you arrive: messaging the host

A short message before you arrive can make check-in smoother, especially if your arrival time changes. These phrases work well when you are confirming a time, asking to arrive early, or letting the host know you are running late.

Vers means “around.” It is very useful for arrival times.

• Bonjour, j’arriverai vers 18 h. — Hello, I’ll arrive around 6 p.m.
• Bonjour, j’arriverai vers 20 h. — Hello, I’ll arrive around 8 p.m.

Keys, codes, and getting in

For many short-term rentals, you may not meet the host in person. The keys might be in a key box, the building might have a door code, or the host might send instructions through the app. These phrases help you ask for the exact details you need before you arrive.

In Airbnb-style messages, logement is a useful word to recognise. It means the accommodation, rental, or place you are staying.

Instructions d’arrivée means check-in instructions or arrival instructions.

If you meet the host or concierge

These phrases help with Wi-Fi, rules, and small problems.

Sometimes you will meet the host, a cleaner, a concierge, or someone who manages the building. In that moment, you do not need long French sentences. A simple greeting, your name, and the reason you are there will usually be enough.

In France, le rez-de-chaussée is the ground floor. Le premier étage is usually the floor above the ground floor.

Wi-Fi, towels, heating, and house rules

Once you are inside, most questions are practical: Wi-Fi, towels, heating, air conditioning, or how to use the space. These phrases are polite enough for a host message, but still short enough to remember. They are also useful if the information is missing from the listing or house manual.

Consignes means instructions or rules. It is useful for house rules, rubbish, heating, keys, and checkout details.

Checkout and leaving the rental

Checkout instructions can vary a lot from one rental to another. Some hosts ask you to leave the keys on the table, take out the rubbish, or lock the door a certain way. These phrases help you avoid guessing what to do before you leave.

For checkout, French hosts may use départ, which means departure or checkout.

Le départ se fait avant 11 h. — Checkout is before 11 a.m.

If something is not working

Small problems happen in rentals: a door sticks, the Wi-Fi drops out, or there is no hot water. The key is to describe the problem calmly and clearly. These phrases help you explain what is wrong without sounding angry or dramatic.

Ce n’est pas urgent is useful when the problem is minor. It tells the host you need help, but not immediately.

French messages you may receive from the host

Airbnb communication is often written, so it helps to recognize common host replies. You may see short instructions about keys, codes, checkout, rubbish, or where to leave things. You do not need to understand every word if you can recognize the main instruction.

Simple message template for your host

This template is useful if you want to send one clear message before arrival. It gives your name, your arrival time, and the two most important questions: how to arrive and where to get the keys. You can copy it as it is, then change the name and time.

Bonjour, Je m’appelle [votre nom]. J’arriverai vers 18 h. Pouvez-vous m’envoyer les instructions d’arrivée ? Où est-ce que je récupère les clés ? Merci beaucoup.

Hello,
My name is [your name]. I’ll arrive around 6 p.m. Could you send me the check-in instructions? Where do I pick up the keys?Thank you very much.

You can add one more question if you need it:

• Quel est le mot de passe du Wi-Fi ? — What’s the Wi-Fi password?
• Où puis-je me garer ? — Where can I park?
• Est-ce que je peux laisser mes bagages avant l’heure d’arrivée ? — Can I leave my bags before the arrival time?

Mini cheat sheet for Airbnb stays

These are the best phrases to learn first if you only have a few minutes. They cover the most common short-term rental needs: arrival time, keys, access, Wi-Fi, checkout, and help. Practice them out loud once or twice so they feel easier to use when you arrive.

One last tip

For Airbnb messages in French, short and polite is enough. Start with Bonjour, say what you need clearly, and end with merci.

You do not need perfect French to handle check-in well. Practice a few phrases out loud before your trip, especially the ones for arrival time, keys, Wi-Fi, and checkout.