safe trip and enjoy yourself in french

How to say safe journey in french? A Tourists guide

How to say “safe journey” in french and more: 30 essential travel phrases.

How to say safe journey in french? Traveling in France or any French-speaking country can be a delightful experience. Knowing some key phrases in French not only enhances your travel experience but also helps in navigating through various situations smoothly. Here’s a comprehensive list of phrases, starting with how to wish someone a safe journey, followed by other useful expressions for hotels, airlines, and transportation.

1. Safe Journey – “Bon voyage”

• Usage : The classic way to wish someone a safe journey. Suitable in any context, whether it’s someone traveling by plane, train, or automobile.

2. Have a Good Trip – “Bon trajet”

• Usage : Similar to “Bon voyage,” but can be more specifically used for shorter or less significant journeys.

3. Welcome! – “Bienvenue!”

• Usage : Great for greeting someone upon their arrival.

4. Do you speak English? – “Parlez-vous anglais?”

• Usage : An essential question that can help bridge the language gap.

5. I don’t speak French very well. – “Je ne parle pas très bien français.”

• Usage : A humble way to inform others of your language proficiency, often met with understanding and patience.

6. Where is the bathroom? – “Où sont les toilettes?”

• Usage : An indispensable question for any traveler.

7. Can you help me, please? – “Pouvez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît?”

• Usage : Whether you’re lost or need assistance, this phrase is very useful.

8. I would like to book a room. – “Je voudrais réserver une chambre.”

• Usage : Essential for making hotel reservations.

9. Is breakfast included? – “Le petit-déjeuner est-il inclus?”

• Usage : Good to know when booking a hotel stay.

10. Can I have the bill, please? – “L’addition, s’il vous plaît?”

• Usage : Use this phrase at the end of your meal at a restaurant or to check out of your hotel.

11. Where is the airport? – “Où est l’aéroport?”

• Usage : Crucial for ensuring you’re heading in the right direction.

12. My flight is delayed. – “Mon vol est retardé.”

• Usage : Useful to communicate travel changes or to inform a hotel of a late arrival.

13. I lost my passport. – “J’ai perdu mon passeport.”

• Usage : An unfortunate situation where you’d need assistance immediately.

14. I need a doctor. – “J’ai besoin d’un médecin.”

• Usage : Important in case of a medical emergency.

15. How much does this cost? – “Combien ça coûte?”

• Usage : Essential for shopping or using services.

16. Can I pay by credit card? – “Puis-je payer par carte de crédit?”

• Usage : Good to know in a country where cash is less commonly used.

17. Please take me to this address. – “S’il vous plaît, emmenez-moi à cette adresse.”

• Usage : Useful when taking a taxi or ride-share.

18. Do you have any vacancies tonight? – “Avez-vous des chambres libres ce soir?”

• Usage : For finding last-minute hotel accommodations.

19. Is there Wi-Fi in the room? – “Y a-t-il du Wi-Fi dans la chambre?”

• Usage : In today’s connected world, this is a must-ask question.

20. Could you please clean my room? – “Pourriez-vous nettoyer ma chambre, s’il vous plaît?”

• Usage : When you need housekeeping in your hotel room.

21. I’m allergic to… – “Je suis allergique à…”

• Usage : Essential for dining out or when shopping for food.

22. A table for two, please. – “Une table pour deux, s’il vous plaît.”

• Usage : For making a reservation or being seated at a restaurant.

23. How do I get to…? – “Comment puis-je aller à…?”

• Usage : For directions to any location.

24. Can I see the menu, please?

• “Puis-je voir le menu, s’il vous plaît?”
• Usage : When you’re ready to order at a restaurant.

25. I missed my flight. – “J’ai raté mon vol.”

• Usage : Necessary for rebooking or explaining your situation.

26. Can I have a map? – “Puis-je avoir une carte?”

• Usage : Useful for navigating the city on your own.

27. What time is check-out? – “À quelle heure est le check-out?”

• Usage : Important to know to plan your departure accordingly.

28. Do you offer shuttle service? – “Offrez-vous un service de navette?”

• Usage : Convenient for getting to and from airports or major attractions.

29. Where can I rent a car? – “Où puis-je louer une voiture?”

• Usage : For those looking to explore on their own terms.

30. I would like to change my reservation. – “Je voudrais modifier ma réservation.”

• Usage : For adjusting travel plans, whether it’s for a flight, hotel, or car rental.

This list should serve as a comprehensive guide to help travelers communicate effectively while in French-speaking countries. Knowing these phrases not only makes the journey more enjoyable but also can help in navigating through unexpected situations with ease. Safe travels, or as the French say, “Bon voyage!”

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How Do You Say Safe Travels in French

If you’re planning a trip to France, you might be wondering how to say "safe travels" in French. Well, look no further! In this article, we’ve got you covered with common phrases and useful expressions for wishing someone a safe journey in French. So whether you’re embarking on an adventure or sending someone off on their trip, we’ve got the words to help you convey your well wishes en français. Let’s dive in and explore the world of French travel phrases together!

Key Takeaways

• "Bon voyage!" and "Bonne route!" are common phrases used to wish someone safe travels in French.
• Other phrases include "Soyez prudent!" (Be careful!), "Bon périple" (Good adventure), and "Que la route te soit douce" (May your journey be smooth).
• Being able to communicate in the local language enhances the travel experience and shows care for others.
• Saying "Bon voyage" is a polite and caring way to wish someone a safe trip, and it conveys the hope for exciting experiences and wonderful memories.

Common Phrases for Safe Travels

To wish someone safe travels in French, you can say "Bon voyage!" It’s a common phrase used to express well wishes for someone embarking on a journey. When traveling, it’s important to have a sense of freedom and adventure. You want to experience new cultures, meet interesting people, and create lasting memories. Being able to communicate in the local language can enhance your travel experience and make it more enjoyable. In addition to "Bon voyage!", here are some other phrases you may find useful: "Bonne route!" which means "Have a good trip!", or "Soyez prudent!" which means "Be careful!". These phrases not only show your concern for the person traveling but also convey your desire for their safety and freedom throughout their journey.

Translations for "Safe Travels" in French

When traveling to France, it’s common to wish someone ‘Bon voyage’ for safe travels. But if you want to dive deeper into the language and culture, here are some other translations for ‘Safe Travels’ in French:

• Bonne route: Wishing someone a good journey.
• Voyage sécurisé: Wishing someone a secure journey.
• Déplacement en toute sécurité: Wishing someone a safe trip.
• Bon périple: Wishing someone a good adventure.
• Que la route te soit douce: May your journey be smooth.

As you explore the beautiful streets of France, may these phrases serve as reminders of freedom and the joy of traveling. Remember, language is not just about communication, but also about embracing different cultures and experiences. So go forth and immerse yourself in the beauty of France!

Useful Expressions for Wishing Safe Travels in French

Immerse yourself in the beauty of France by using these useful expressions to wish someone a secure journey or a good adventure. When you want to say "safe travels" in French, you can use the phrase "bon voyage." It’s a common expression that conveys your well wishes for someone’s journey. Another option is to say "voyage en toute sécurité," which means "travel safely." Both of these expressions are perfect for those seeking freedom and wanting to explore the wonders of France without any worries. So go ahead and embrace your adventurous spirit while also showing care for others by using these phrases when bidding farewell to your fellow travelers. Bon voyage!

How to Say "Have a Safe Trip" in French

Before embarking on your journey, make sure to wish others a secure trip by using the phrase ‘bon voyage’ in French. This simple expression is commonly used to express good wishes for someone’s travel. When you say ‘bon voyage,’ you are essentially saying ‘have a safe trip.’ It is a polite way of showing that you care about their well-being while they are away. Here are five items that can help paint a picture of what it feels like to wish someone a safe trip in French:

• The warm smile on your face as you bid them farewell.
• The excitement in the air as they prepare for their adventure.
• The anticipation of new experiences and discoveries.
• The feeling of joy knowing that you have sent them off with good wishes.
• The sense of freedom and liberation as they embark on their journey.

Saying "Bon Voyage" in French

Go ahead and spread some positivity by wishing others a ‘bon voyage’ in French – it’s a polite and caring way to send them off on their journey. Saying "bon voyage" is like giving someone a warm hug before they embark on their adventure. It’s a phrase that carries the hope for safe travels, exciting experiences, and wonderful memories. By using this expression, you not only show your support but also encourage the person to embrace new opportunities with an open heart. So next time you bid farewell to someone about to set off on their journey, remember to say "bon voyage" with genuine enthusiasm. Your words will uplift their spirits and remind them that they have your well wishes as they explore the world with freedom and joy. Bon voyage!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any other commonly used phrases in french to wish someone a safe journey.

There are indeed other commonly used phrases in French to wish someone a safe journey. These expressions convey well wishes and hope for a secure trip.

What Are Some Other Ways to Say ‘Have a Safe Trip’ in French Besides the Ones Mentioned in the Article?

There are several other ways to say "have a safe trip" in French besides the ones mentioned in the article. Some alternatives include "bon voyage" and "voyage en toute sécurité."

Are There Any Specific Cultural Customs or Gestures Associated With Wishing Someone Safe Travels in France?

When traveling in France, it’s important to be aware of cultural customs and gestures associated with wishing someone safe travels. These customs vary, so it’s best to do some research before your trip. Stay open-minded and respectful!

Can You Provide Any Tips on How to Pronounce the French Phrases for ‘Safe Travels’ Correctly?

To pronounce the French phrase for "safe travels" correctly, remember to emphasize the first syllable of each word. Repeat the phrase slowly and practice enunciating each sound clearly. You’ll get it!

Are There Any Particular Situations or Contexts Where It Would Be More Appropriate to Use ‘Bon Voyage’ Instead of Other Expressions for Wishing Safe Travels in French?

In certain situations or contexts, it may be more fitting to use "bon voyage" instead of other expressions for wishing safe travels in French. It adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your well-wishes.

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Home » Articles » 60+ Essential French Phrases for Beginners to Start Speaking Now

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. ?

written by Benny Lewis

Language: French

Reading time: 18 minutes

Published: Jan 11, 2021

Updated: Jun 6, 2024

60+ Essential French Phrases for Beginners to Start Speaking Now

What are some French sayings? What are the most common phrases in French? And can learning a few powerful French phrases really help you start speaking right away?

Absolutely!

Even if you'll only be spending a short time in the country, learning a few basic French phrases can be very rewarding and make a big difference to your trip.

Let’s start by mastering some of the most common French phrases you need to know as a beginner:

I've long advocated that set phrases are the best thing for beginners to learn when starting out.

After all, isn't the goal of language learning to communicate?

How do you expect to communicate with anybody if the only thing you've learned so far is a verb table?

So whether you're planning to travel to Paris for a week or move to Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! for the rest of your life, here are the most important and useful French phrases that you should learn A.S.A.P.

Listen to the French Phrases:

Here's a quick “French phrases” video I made that will help you with pronunciation for most of the phrases in this article:

Before we get started, if you’re looking for an online French course, here’s the course I recommend: French Uncovered – Learn French Through the Power of Story, a course with a fascinating new method by my friend Olly.

French Greetings and Polite Phrases

Bonjour – “hello”.

There are many ways in French to say “hello” , but bonjour is undoubtedly the most well-known. It's universally polite and friendly, whether the situation is formal or informal.

Bonjour is a combination of the words bon (“good”) and jour (“day”).

In the evening, you could also say bonsoir (“good evening”). A more casual way to greet people is salut , which can mean either “hi!” or “bye!”.

S'il vous plaît / s'il te plaît – “Please”

As a tourist, the last thing you want to be is rude. So when in France, remember what your mother taught you, and say s'il vous plaît (“please”) when making a request.

You can also say s'il te plaît. What's the difference? It's all about “you”:

In French there are two ways of saying “you”.

Tu is what you'd use when addressing a friend. Vous is a more polite and formal version, best used when talking to a stranger or older person.

( Vous is also what you should use when addressing a group of people in any situation, similar to saying “you guys” or “you all” in English).

So s'il vous plaît and s'il te plaît both mean “please” (literally, “if it pleases you”), but s'il vous plait is the more polite version. If in doubt, use s'il vous plaît .

(Why is it s'il te plait and not s'il tu plait ? It's a grammatical thing that you don't need to worry about as a beginner. Just learn the phrase as a whole for now, and things will become clear later.)

In fact, when asking for something in French – e.g. asking a stranger for directions or asking to see a menu in a restaurant, you should start with “ Bonjour. S'il vous plaît… ” It literally means “Hello, please…”, which would sound a bit strange in English, but it's the normal way to start a polite request in French.

Comment vous appelez-vous? / Comment t'appelles-tu? – “What’s your name?”

When meeting anyone, one of the first things you'll want to know is their name.

In French, you can find it out by asking “ Comment vous appelez-vous? ” (formal) or “ Comment t'appelles-tu? ” (informal).

Literally, these questions mean “what do you call yourself?”. You could also ask “ c'est quoi ton nom? ” – which is a more literal translation of “what's your name?”

If you're on the receiving end of this question, answer with “ Je m'appelle… ” (“my name is”, literally “I call myself”) or a simple “ Je suis… ” (“I am…”).

Oui/Non/Si – “Yes/No”

Two essential words to learn in any language are “yes” and “no”. In French, “yes” is oui and “no” is non .

Informally, it's also common to say ouais or ouaip instead of oui – like saying “yeah” or “yep” in English.

Then you have si . This is a handy little word that has no direct equivalent in English. Use it to say “yes” when someone asks you a negatively phrased question.

To illustrate what I mean, imagine that someone asks you, in English, “haven't you been to Paris?”

If you reply “yes”, it's not exactly clear what you're saying. Do you mean “yes, I have been to Paris – contrary to your assertion” or “yes, you're correct: I haven't been to Paris”?

French avoids this confusion with the word si . It means “yes”, but more specifically it contradicts the assertion in the question. In the above example, if you say si , it clearly conveys that you have, in fact, been to Paris.

Si is one of many linguistic features that I sorely miss when I speak English.

Comment allez-vous? – “How are you?”

This is the polite way of saying “how are you?” in French. Note the use of the polite vous rather than the informal tu .

Another, more informal way to say “how are you?” is ça va ? This phrase is extremely common – when in France you'll likely hear it several times per day.

If someone asks you “ ça va? ”, you can respond with a simple “ ça va bien ” – “it's going well”.

Excusez-moi – “Excuse me”

To get someone's attention, whether they're a waiter in a restaurant or a stranger on the street, say “ excusez-moi ”, “excuse me”.

This is also the polite way to ask someone to get out of your way. For example, if you're trying to exit a crowded train, a soft “ excusez-moi ” should (hopefully) be enough to make people step aside.

Pardon – “Sorry”

Picture getting off a crowded train, being careful you don't bump into anyone as you walk through the crowded metro station. But if a collision does occur, it's fine. Just say pardon , “sorry”, and all will be forgiven.

“ Pardon? ” is also how you'd ask someone to repeat themselves if you didn't hear or understand what they said. In this case, you should say it with a rising tone to indicate that it's a question.

Another way to say this is “ pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?” – “Could you repeat, please?”

Merci beaucoup – “Thanks a lot”

And of course, don't forget to say thank you!

The French word for “thank you” is merci . Or you can make it stronger by saying merci beaucoup – “thanks very much”.

Use merci in all the same situations you'd say “thank you” in English.

Other Must-Know French Greetings and Polite Phrases:

• Nice to meet you – Enchanté
• How’s it going? – Comment ça va?
• And you? – Et toi?
• Are you well? – Vous allez bien?
• What’s new? / What’s up? – Quoi de neuf?
• Good, thanks! – Bien, merci!
• So-so / It’s okay – Comme ci, comme ça (Literally: “like this, like that”)
• Same as always – Comme d’hab
• It could be worse – Ça pourrait être pire
• You’re welcome – Je t'en prie
• Don’t mention it / You’re welcome – De rien
• Goodbye – Au revoir
• See you soon – À bientôt!

French Phrases for Maintaining a Conversation

Je voudrais parler français – “i would like to speak french”.

The French are famously protective of their language. Sometimes they can be a bit impatient with us anglophones, and reply in English to your imperfect French questions.

It's frustrating when this happens, but if you ever want to make progress in a foreign language, you absolutely must stop speaking English !

Be polite but firm when someone tries to speak English with you – tell them “ Je voudrais parler français ” – “I'd like to speak French.”

Note that, unlike in English, names of languages are not written with a capital letter in French.

Je ne comprends pas – “I don’t understand”

Sometimes pardon doesn't quite cut it. If you really can't figure out what the other person is saying, try telling them “ je ne comprends pas ” – “I don't understand.”

There's no shame in being a beginner! Just remember not to fall back to English when the going gets tough. If you don't understand something, persevere in French anyway – it's the only way you'll learn.

Que veut dire ça? – “What does that mean?”

Maybe the reason you didn't understand is because there was a specific word you didn't recognise. If that's the case, say “ que veut dire X? ” – “What does X mean?”

You can also phrase this as “ ça veut dire quoi? ” – “What does that mean?”

Plus lentement – “More slowly”

Sometimes, vocabulary isn’t the problem. You’d know the words if you could make them out, but you can't because the other person is talking too fast!

In this case, try saying plus lentement – “more slowly”.

Better yet, say a full sentence: “ Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît? ” – “Can you speak more slowly, please?”

Comment dit-on __ en français? – “How do you say __ in French?”

What if you need to say something in French, but the exact word escapes you?

Just fill in the blank in the above sentence: “ Comment dit-on X en français? ” means “How do you say X in French”?

A side note: the pronoun on , seen above, is an interesting one. It’s a colloquial alternative to nous (“we”). However, on is also used to refer to an unspecified person or people in general, like the word “one” is sometimes used in formal English. (If you speak German, note that on in this sense is like the German word man .)

One doesn't use the word “one” very much in modern English – one finds it rather old-timey and stuffy. These days you normally use “you” when you're talking about people in general.

Comment ça s'écrit? – “How do you spell that?”

If you learn a new French word using the phrase above, you might want to write it down before you forget it.

Unfortunately, French spelling isn't the easiest.

The relationship between spelling and French pronunciation can be complicated. Generally, it's easier to figure out a word's pronunciation from its spelling than it is to know its spelling from its pronunciation. I wrote a guide to help you with French pronunciation here .

So if you're not sure, ask someone “ comment ça s'ecrit? ” – “How do you spell that?” Literally: “How does that write itself?”

Or if you don't trust your own transcription abilities, try asking them to write it for you: say “ Est-ce que vous pouvez l'écrire? ” – “Can you write it (down)?”

Other Helpful Phrases for Maintaining a French Conversation:

• Can you speak more slowly please? – Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement s'il vous plaît?
• Can you say it one more time? – Pouvez-vous le dire une fois de plus?
• Do you speak French? – Parlez-vous français?
• Do you understand? – Comprenez vous?
• What do you do for a living? – Qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la vie?
• How old are you? – Quel âge as-tu?
• I’m _ years old – J’ai _ ans
• Where are you from? – D'où êtes-vous?
• I’m from… – Je viens…
• Are you married? – Es-tu marié?
• Are you single? – Es-tu célibataire?
• When can we meet? – Quand pouvons-nous nous rencontrer?
• What’s your phone number? – Quel est ton numéro de téléphone?

French Phrases for Getting Around

Où est… – “where is…”.

Struggling to find your way around? Not to worry. Just get a stranger's attention (remember what phrase would you use to do this?) and ask “ où est X ” – “Where is X?”

“X” could be many things: la Tour Eiffel, le Louvre, Notre Dame … or perhaps something less exotic, like le metro or un restaurant .

Où se trouve la station de métro la plus proche? – “Where is the closest metro station?”

Another way of saying “where is it?” is où se trouve , literally “where is (it) found”.

Here's an example of où se trouve combined with another handy phrase to know: la station de métro la plus proche means “the closest metro station”.

One more piece of useful vocabulary: once you're in the metro station, you might want to ask someone “ où est le guichet? ” – “Where is the ticket window?”

Je voudrais acheter un billet – “I would like to buy a ticket”

Now that you've found the guichet , you probably want to buy a billet – a ticket. But what type of ticket do you want?

• un billet aller simple – a one-way ticket
• un billet aller retour – a round-trip ticket

Make your decision, and tell the assistant “ je voudrais un billet aller simple/retour pour X ” – “I would like to buy a one-way/round-trip ticket to X”, where X is your destination.

C'est combien? – “How much is it?”

France isn't the cheapest of countries – so whether you're at the guichet or elsewhere, it doesn't hurt to be price-conscious.

To ask how much something costs, say “ c'est combien? ” – “how much is it?” You can also say “ Combien ça coûte? ” – literally, “how much does it cost?”

Où sont les toilettes? – “Where are the toilets?”

It's worth learning this phrase, because you might need it in a hurry! Où sont les toilettes means “where are the toilets?”

Although if you want to use a public toilet, you could be searching for a long time.

They aren't very common in France – and if you do find one, you'll probably have to pay to use it. You're probably better off buying something in a café and using their toilets instead.

(Why is it “ où sont “, when previously we used “ où est “? Easy: sont means “are” while est means “is”. Since toilettes is plural, you must use sont , not est – “where are the toilets?”, rather than “where is the toilets”, which wouldn’t make sense.)

À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? – “What time is check out?”

If you're checking into a hotel in a French-speaking country, one useful thing to know the checkout time.

One way to find this out is to ask “ à quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? ” – “What time must we check out?”

Another similar expression is: “ quelle est l'heure limite d'occupation? ” (Lit: “What is the occupancy cut-off time?”

La carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît. – “The menu, please.”

France is famous for its food, so while you're there, you'll probably want to dine in a restaurant or two!

When dining out in any language, there are usually a few subtleties around how to order. Here I'll explain one of the more important things to know in French: the words for “menu”.

I say “words” because there are two main ways to say “menu” in French.

The general word is carte , which you may recognise from the expression à la carte .

A carte is what you typically think of when you hear the word “menu”. It's a list of individually-priced options; you pick and choose what you want, then add up the prices to get your total bill.

But you can also ask for a menu , which is usually called a “fixed-price menu” in English. When ordering from a menu , you pick an option for each course (starter, main course, etc.) and pay the same, fixed price no matter what you selected.

Whichever option you choose, inform the serveur/serveuse (“waiter/waitress”) by saying “ la carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît ” – “the menu/fixed-price menu, please.”

Je ne peux pas manger… – “I can’t eat…”

This doesn't apply to everybody, but for those to whom it does apply, it's very important: informing the waiter about your dietary restrictions.

The simplest way to do this is to say “ je ne peux pas manger de X ” – “I can't eat X”. Here are some of the more common ways to fill in the blank:

• cacahuètes – peanuts
• noix – nuts
• gluten – gluten
• fruits de mer – shell fish
• œufs – eggs
• poisson – fish
• produits laitiers – dairy products
• viande – meat

If you're vegetarian, say so with “ je suis végétarien ” (for men) or “ végétarienne ” (for women.)

A vegan is a “ végétalien(ne) “, although végan/végane is sometimes used too.

You could also explain “ je ne consomme pas de produits animaux .” – “I don't consume animal products”

Nous voudrions commander maintenant. – “We would like to place an order now.”

To “order” in French is commander , when you're talking about ordering something in a restaurant.

Don't confuse this with ordonner , which is used in the sense of “to order a person to do something”, such as in the military.

After receiving the carte or the menu , and perhaps informing the waiter of your dietary restrictions, you may be given some time to make a decision. When you're ready, say “ nous voudrions commander maintenant ” – “we'd like to order now.”

It’s also acceptable in nearly any restaurant to use on instead of nous for we, as I mentioned earlier: On voudrait commander maintenant.

Or if you're by yourself, say je voudrais (I'd like) instead of nous voudrions (we'd like). Bon appétit!

L’addition, s’il vous plaît. – “The bill, please”

One final bit of restaurant-related vocabulary – the bill (or “check” if you're American) is l'addition .

So when you're ready to leave, say l’addition, s’il vous plaît – “the bill, please”.

You’ll often hear la facture used in Quebec instead of l’addition – however both are perfectly understandable to waitstaff.

Other French Phrases for Out and About in France:

• Can you help me please? – Pouvez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît?
• I would like… – Je voudrais…
• I’d like one of those please – J'en voudrais un s'il vous plait
• Three: Trois
• Four: Quatre
• Five: *Cinq

Learn more: French Numbers: Counting in French from 1 – 100+

Romantic French Phrases

Je t'aime – “i love you”.

Finally, let’s talk about love.

They say that French is a romantic language, so maybe in your travels you'll find love on the road? Or maybe after you get home, you'll want to use your newfound French skills to woo that special someone.

So how do you say “I love you” in French?

The French word for “to love” is adorer – but you generally only use this word when talking about things rather than people, for example to say that you love a place, book, or song.

When talking to a person, say je t'aime . Aimer usually means “like”, but in this context it means “love” in the most romantic of senses. Use it wisely!

Here are some other romantic French phrases:

• My heart – Mon cœur
• My love – Mon amour
• You’re beautiful – Tu es belle (to a woman); Tu es beau (to a man)
• You’re too cute – Tu es trop mignon
• I like you (Lit: “You please me”) – Tu me plais

Bonus: French Slang

Wondering what a famous French saying is that you could use in everyday life? Or how do you say “cool” in French slang?

Here are some bonus French sayings and slang to level up your French:

• Cool – Cool (yes, really! Just say it with a French accent 😉)
• Awesome – Génial
• That sucks – C’est nul
• That’s great – C’est top
• Don’t worry – T'inquiète
• Losing my mind – Perdre la tête

Over to You

Can you think of any other useful French phrases for tourists? What are the most important words and phrases for beginners to know? Let us know in the comments.

And if you’re ready to learn more French, check out the 111 core French words that are commonly used. Or learn some more fun French slang !

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

Have a 15-minute conversation in your new language after 90 days

Enjoy in French: 7 ways to translate it

Translating ‘enjoy’ in French can be confusing. France is known for its ‘douceur de vivre’, that is to say its relaxed and laid-back lifestyle. It’s also known that French people like to enjoy life in many ways, which translates differently in language. Depending on the context, you’ll have to chose a very different expression. Are you enjoying your time, some food, a party, having proper fun? To avoid the faux-pas, read on:

1/ To enjoy something / doing something : aimer, adorer, apprécier 

• J’ai bien aimé faire du surf à Biarritz le week end dernier. I enjoyed surfing in Biarritz last weekend.
• Tu as aimé lire le dernier livre de Leïla Slimani ? Oui, j’ai adoré ! Did you enjoy reading the latest book of Leïla Slimani ? Yes, I really enjoyed it / I loved it!
• J’adore écouter les chansons de Pomme . I really enjoy (I love) listening to Pomme’s songs.

2/ To enjoy oneself / to have fun : bien s’amuser

• Je me suis bien amusée à la fête ! Il y avait de la bonne musique et une bonne ambiance. I had fun / I enjoyed myself at the party! There was good music and a good atmosphere.
• On s’est bien amusés avec Jay dans la voiture. On a chanté des chansons françaises pendant tout le trajet ! We had fun with Jay in the car. We sang French songs during the whole trip!
• Amuse-toi bien au mariage de Teona et Rémi / pendant tes vacances / au concert ! Enjoy yourself / Have fun at Teona and Remi’s wedding / during your holiday / at the gig !

Many students have difficulties to choose between “s’amuser” et “aimer/adorer/apprécier”. Here is my tip: always ask yourself if you’re talking about something really fun such as a gig, a birthday, etc — > if yes, then use “s’amuser” and if it’s not that fun, then you should use “aimer, adorer, apprécier”.

3/ To enjoy the use of something : profiter de / en profiter

• On est allés à la villa de ma tante à Nice. On a profité de la piscine, c’était super ! We went at my aunt’s villa, in Nice. We enjoyed the swimming pool, it was great!
• Ma soeur a un jacuzzi. J’en ai profité quand j’étais en vacances chez elle ! My sister has a jacuzzi. I enjoyed it when I was at her place!

In this case, you should ask yourself if you’re taking pleasure in using this special thing, that normally you don’t have.

4/  To enjoy food : se régaler

• J’ai préparé une tarte aux fruits. Régale-toi bien ! I prepared a fruit tart. Enjoy it!
• On a mangé au Coq d’Argent samedi soir. On s’est régalés ! We ate at the Coq d’Argent last Saturday evening. We enjoyed the food!

If you’d like to mention less enthusiastically that you liked the food, you could just say ‘J’ai apprécié / j’ai aimé le repas’.

5/ Enjoy ! : Profiter / En profiter (bien)!

If you want to translate ‘enjoy!’ as an interjection, you should use the verb ‘profiter’ or the expression ‘en profiter’ in the imperative form, and emphasise it with ‘bien’ : 

• Tu pars en vacances ? Profites-en bien! You’re going on holiday? Enjoy!
• Vous allez au mariage de Rémi ? Profitez(-en bien) ! You’re going to Remi’s wedding? Enjoy!
• Tu pars au Carnaval de Rio ? Profite ! You’re going to Rio’s Carnival? Enjoy!

If you remove the pronoun ‘en’ and the adverb ‘bien’, your sentence will just sound more more colloquial, not rude though!

6/ Enjoy the film, your holiday, your meal, etc…! : Bon + noun !

Bon film ! Enjoy the film!

Bonnes vacances ! Enjoy your holiday!

Bon appétit ! Enjoy your meal!

7/ Both enjoy something and enjoy oneself in a colloquial and young way : kiffer

Tu as aimé la série Vernon Subutex ? J’ai trop kiffé ! Did you like the series Vernon Subutex? I loved it!

Alors le concert de Christine and the Queens ? J’ai kiffé ! So the gig of Christine and the Queens ? I really enjoyed it! I really enjoyed myself!

Note that only young people use the verb ‘kiffer’.

And now, check if you know how to translate ‘enjoy’ in French with our short quiz !

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How to Say Safe Travels in French: A Comprehensive Guide

By Happy Sharer

Introduction

Wishing someone a safe journey is a common courtesy, especially when they are travelling long distances. The phrase “safe travels” can be translated into many different languages, including French. In this article, we will explore how to say safe travels in French, as well as other commonly used phrases and expressions.

Exploring French Phrases for Safe Travels

The most common way to wish someone safe travels in French is to say “bon voyage”. This phrase literally translates to “good journey”, and conveys the same sentiment as “safe travels”. Other phrases that can be used to wish someone a safe journey include “bonne route”, which means “have a good trip”, “bonne chance”, which means “good luck”, and “bonne continuation”, which means “have a good continuation”.

Bon Voyage: How to Say Safe Travels in French

The phrase “bon voyage” is pronounced “bohn vwah-zahj”. It is commonly used to wish someone a safe and pleasant journey. It can be used when someone is taking a plane, train, boat, or car, as well as when they are simply going for a walk. It is also commonly used to say farewell to someone who is leaving for an extended period of time.

Wishing Safe Travels with French Phrases

In addition to “bon voyage”, there are several other phrases that can be used to wish someone a safe journey. “Bonne journée”, which means “have a good day”, is often used when someone is going out for a short trip. “Bon retour”, which means “have a good return”, is used when someone is returning from a long journey. “Prends soins de toi”, which literally translates to “take care of yourself”, is another phrase that can be used to wish someone a safe journey.

Saying Bon Voyage: How to Wish Someone Safe Travels in French

When saying “bon voyage”, it is important to consider the context. For example, if you are saying goodbye to someone who is leaving for a long trip, you may want to add an additional phrase such as “bonne chance” or “bonne continuation”. If you are saying goodbye to someone who is going for a short trip, you may want to use a more casual phrase such as “bonne journée” or “prends soins de toi”.

A Guide to Saying Safe Travels in French

When using French phrases to wish someone a safe journey, it is important to use them correctly. To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the proper pronunciation and context of each phrase. Additionally, you should be aware of any regional variations or dialects that may affect the way the phrases are used. With this knowledge, you can confidently use French phrases to wish someone a safe journey.

In conclusion, knowing how to say safe travels in French is a great way to extend your courtesy to someone who is travelling. The most common phrase for wishing someone a safe journey is “bon voyage”, but there are several other phrases and expressions that can be used as well. By familiarizing yourself with the proper pronunciation and context of these phrases, you can confidently wish someone a safe journey in French.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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All About the Phrase “Bon Voyage” – and the Travel Habits of the French

August 10, 2020

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French people have been wishing each other Bon voyage (Have a nice trip) for centuries. The saying is so common that it’s one of those French phrases that’s been adopted into other languages, including English .

Despite how frequently you might hear it, like any ultimate travel destination, bon voyage offers a lot more to discover than you might expect.

Let’s take a guided tour of Bon voyage  and learn about the travel habits of the French along the way!

What does bon voyage mean?

Bon voyage means “Have a good trip”. But as you can see, there aren’t quite as many words to it. Literally, it’s just “Good trip/voyage”.  So, how did we get there?

Wishes in French with bon(ne)(s)

Bon voyage is a shortened form of a phrase like Je vous souhaite un bon voyage. (I wish you a good trip.) or Fais bon voyage (Have a good trip.).

Both of these sentences are still used today, but they tend to be more formal (for the first) or uncommon (for the second).  This is because the French like to keep things brief, so why not just say it in two words?

Bon voyage isn’t the only phrase that expresses a wish like this. There’s a whole list of them, and you may know at least a few already.

These include:

• Bonne année  – Happy New Year
• Bonnes vacances – Have a nice vacation
• Bon appétit – Enjoy your meal
• Bonne journée / Bonne soirée – Have a nice day/evening
• Bon weekend – Have a nice weekend
• Bonne route – Have a good/safe drive
• Bon anniversaire – Happy birthday! This is a less common equivalent of Joyeux anniversaire .

You’ll frequently hear and see these phrases – and you may discover some others, as well. In French, you can add Bon , Bonne, Bons, or Bonnes to a noun (often a gerund (a noun that describes an action)) to say “Have a good….” or “Enjoy…”.

For instance, if you run into someone as you’re headed to the movies, they might tell you << Bon film !>> (“Enjoy the movie!”).

Or you could hear Bonne baignade ! (Have a nice swim!),  and so on.

The structure Bon(ne)(s) + noun works for so many situations, but it can be tricky for us non-native speakers sometimes. For instance, if you want to say “Enjoy the book!”, you can’t use the word livre (book); it would be Bonne lecture! (Happy reading!).

Expressing a complex wish, like “Have a nice day at work!” can also be confusing. You can’t just say Bon travail ! – that literally means “Good work/Good job!”. 

So, what can you do to be sure you get these phrases right?

Sometimes, using these expressions is something that will come from listening to and absorbing French.

Other times, you might be able to correct yourself if you realize you’re using an expression that already means something, as in the case of Bon travail . 

And when it comes to one of those complex wishes, like “Have a good day at work,” it’s probably best to just say it in a different way – it’s not a simple idea, after all.

So, “Have a good day at work” could be Passe une bonne journée au bureau! or in a more formal conversation, Je te/vous souhaite une bonne journ é e au bureau!

….Then again, since the French prefer to keep things concise, you could probably just say Bonne journ ée and leave it at that.

If this seems overwhelming, don’t worry. The phrases with bon(ne)(s) that I’ve listed, as well as a few others , are the most common ones, and are important to know. But if you feel unsure about using bon(ne)(s) + noun otherwise, remember that there are always other ways to say what you want.

For example, I could say «  J’esp è re que tu passeras une bonne journée au travail. » (I hope you’ll have a good day at work) or « J’esp ère que ce livre te plaira. »  (I hope you’ll like this book.). Just think about the meaning behind the wish.

Other ways to wish people well in French using bon(ne)(s)

The expressions we’ve just learned about translate to “Have a good____”. But there are some other expressions in French that use bon(ne)(s) to wish people well in a slightly different way.

In these cases, instead of talking about something concrete or expected, these expressions refer to things like luck or the future.

You’ve probably come across one of the most famous before:

Bonne chance – Good luck

Other common phrases like this include:

• Bonne continuation   – Keep it up! or Good luck with your future endeavors!
• Bon rétablissement – Get well soon
• Bon courage – Hang in there (Although this phrase isn’t necessarily as informal is “Hang in there,” and can be used in most situations)

There’s no major difference between these expressions and others like them , and the ones we looked at earlier, but there are two subtle ones you may come across:

• These well-wishes tend to stay in their original structure. Whether they’re stand-alone statements, or used in a longer phrase (ex: Je vous souhaite une  bonne continuation ), you wouldn’t replace Bon/Bonne with Super in any of these phrases.

• When you’re talking about events, like your continued career or your path back to health, you add un or une before bon/bonne when it’s used in a sentence, as you can see in the example in the previous paragraph. But when you talk about a totally abstract concept or feeling like luck or courage, you don’t use an article (ex: Je te souhaite bon courage. ) .

How to take bon voyage to the next level

Although you can’t add to or change the core phrases we saw in the last section, you can modify bon voyage and its closest cousins a bit.

Most of the time, Bon voyage is a perfectly normal way to wish someone a good trip. But maybe you want them to know you hope they have an EXTRA good trip.

In this case, you can add tr è s (very), like so: Passe(z) un tr è s bon voyage. or Je vous/te souhaites un tr è s bon voyage.

In informal situations, like when you’re talking to a friend, you could replace tr ès bon or just tr ès with super.  For example: Passe(z) un super voyage OR Passe(z) un super bon voyage.

For more formal situations, excellent would be a good replacement.  For example: Je vous souhaite un excellent voyage.

You’ve probably realized that when you add tr ès, super , or excellent , you can’t just use Bon voyage on its own, though.

Do the French say Bon voyage a lot?:  The French and travel

The average working French person gets five weeks of paid vacation a year, plus about a week’s worth of personal days. There are also a number of national holidays in France, and schools have two-week vacations every six weeks, plus two months of summer vacation. Train tickets are usually affordable, and low-cost airlines operate out of many French airports. So it’s no wonder that the French are among the nationalities that travel the most . 

Where and when do the French travel?

But where do they like to go?  It turns out that most French people tend to travel primarily within France .

Part of this can be explained by the French rail system, which is highly developed and fairly affordable. It’s easy to go to major cities or even small towns, and since many trains are high speed, a trip like that might only take a few hours. Add to this the wide range of landscapes to be found in mainland France alone – from the warm beaches of the Côte d’Azur, to the ski slopes of the Alps, to attractions in major cities like Paris. France is even home to Europe’s only Disney theme park.

And of course, many French people use at least some of their vacation time to visit family and friends who also live in France.

As for when the French travel, there are some traditions around that. But it turns out they don’t totally reflect reality.

For instance, French people typically go on their longest or even only vacation in summer. August is considered a month when everything shuts down (well, except in vacation/tourism destinations, of course). Entire businesses will close their doors because everyone is on vacation.

But with globalization, as well as new, strategic ways of thinking, that’s changed in recent years. According to recent statistics, 69% of the French population takes a summer vacation. But many companies have at least a few employees who stay behind in August – and those people aren’t always disappointed about it. Some French people prefer to work during this time because their offices are usually calmer since so many of their coworkers and bosses are away. They take a vacation another time – when most destinations will be less crowded and pricey, besides.

Similarly, in winter, especially during the winter school holidays, French people traditionally go on ski trips. And yet, it turns out that only 1 in 10 French people go skiing every year.

Part of these lower-than-expected numbers is due to cost. Not everyone can afford to travel – especially taking a ski trip, which involves a lot of expenses beyond room and board.

Which countries do the French travel to most?

Although France itself is the number-one travel destination for French people, the French do go abroad, as well. And when you think about it, with all of the vacation time they have, a majority of a French person’s travel might be national, but they might go beyond their borders for at least one of those trips.

The top countries visited by the French in 2019 include Spain, Greece, Italy, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, and Russia, as well as Canada and the United States.

What do people think of French tourists?

All of this traveling has earned the French  a reputation in the hospitality and tourism industries, as well as with locals in certain places. The typical French tourist is known to be critical, curious, cheap, and seductive.

As some of the people interviewed in this article suggest , seemingly negative traits like being critical may also make them have a more in-depth travel experience. For instance, a tour guide in India explains that instead of saying that they like or don’t like an ice cream flavor, a French tourist will often ask about what’s in it.

They might also make suggestions for how its taste might be improved, which goes with another way the French are perceived: as comparing everything to how good it is or how much it costs back in France.

None of this is to say that the French are terrible tourists (even though they often joke about this amongst themselves). After all, tourists from every country have their good and bad points , and a lot of times it has to do with how well their culture meshes with the local one.

For what it’s worth, one thing I’ve noticed about French people who travel to other countries is that whether or not they complained or made comparisons to France on-site, they generally seem to see their experience as positive, even as a way to expand their knowledge and perspective on the world. Whether they spent a week sunbathing on a beach somewhere, or visited a new city or monument, they come home with a sense of having learned something, and (understandably) often nostalgia for the place they left.

This Egyptian tour guide agrees with me. She loves French tourists because [ i]ls sont très cultivés, ils s’intéressent aux monuments. Ils ne voyagent pas seulement pour prendre des photos (They’re very educated, they’re interested in monuments. They don’t travel just to take pictures.).”

A recent survey shows that 53% of French people see taking a vacation as important and something they’re willing to make sacrifices for.  In addition to self-care and getting away from it all, I think some of this could also be chalked up to wanderlust and a natural curiosity and fascination with other places.

Do you have a favorite place to travel? How about somewhere you dream of going – particularly in France? Whether you’re planning a trip or just armchair traveling, Bon voyage!

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108 French Travel Phrases

Having essential French travel phrases on hand can totally transform your trip. If you meet people, get lost or just need to ask a local some questions , these expressions and sayings will help you out in most  scenarios and make your time in France truly memorable.

I’ll introduce you to 108 basic French phrases for travelers, as well as tips and cultural context so they’re easier to memorize ahead of time.

Common French Words and Phrases

French phrases to introduce yourself, questions for traveling in france, french for getting around, clarifying french phrases, basic french phrases for shopping, phrases for dining out in french, french words for a night out, how to prepare for traveling to france, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Let’s start with the absolute basics.

Bonjour (Hello) Add a monsieur (sir) or madame (ma’am) to be polite.

Salut ! (Hi/Hey!) This is a more casual version of “hello.” You’ll hear the young folks throwing this one around.

Au revoir (Goodbye)

À plus / À plus tard ! (See you/See you later!)

À la prochaine ! (See you next time!)

Bisous / Bises ! (Kisses!) This is a casual way to say goodbye.

Bonsoir (Good evening)

Bonne journée ! ([Have a] good day!)

Bonne soirée ! ([Have a] good evening!)

Vous me manquez déjà ! (I miss you already!)

Pardon (Excuse me)

Merci (Thank you)

S’il vous plaît (Please)

Excusez-moi monsieur / madame (Excuse me sir/ma’am)

Parlez-vous anglais ? (Do you speak English?)

Comment dit-on … en français ? (How do you say … in French?)

These phrases will help you out when meeting locals and trying to make French-speaking friends.

Je m’appelle… (My name is…)

Moi, c’est… (Me, I’m…) This is a more casual way of introducing yourself.

Comment vous appelez-vous ? (What is your name?)

Tu t’appelles comment ? (What’s your name?) Use this one for when you want to keep things casual, with the  tu  form .

Comment allez-vous ? (How are you?)

Ça va ? En forme ? (How are you? You good?)

Nous sommes arrivés / arrivées…  (We arrived…) Use this phrase to let someone know when you got into town.

Nous restons… (We’re staying…) Use this phrase to explain to your new friends where you’re staying, as well as how long you’re staying.

Je vous présente… (lit. “I present you…”) This is another way of saying “This is [my]…” when you want to introduce two people to each other.

Enchanté/Enchantée. (Pleased to meet you.)

Je suis ravi / ravie de faire votre connaissance.  (I am glad/delighted to meet you.) You’ll raise some impressed eyebrows if you bust out this fancy French “nice to meet ya.”

Je parle un peu français. (I speak a little French.)

If you’re learning French, chances are you’ll want to practice your language skills when you go out there. However, it can be intimidating approaching a native—letting them know that you’re not fluent will really put your mind to rest!

Saying je parle un peu français  will enable you to continue practicing your speaking skills, while at the same time alleviating any pressure you might feel to talk fluently. Use this phrase when you’re first starting a conversation, or want to continue talking to someone in French.

J’apprends le français depuis… (I’ve been learning French for…)

People are sure to notice your French accent and they’ll probably want to know how long you’ve been learning the language of love.

Je suis là pour les vacances / le travail.  (I’m here for vacation/work.)

After you’ve made your initial introductions, it’s likely that a person with whom you’re speaking will ask about the time you’re spending in France. While many people travel to the country for vacation, this isn’t always the case, so informing the other person of your reasons for traveling can help fuel the conversation you have.

It’s likely that the other person will want to expand on the topic, so having a few words ready about your future itinerary or your job wouldn’t go amiss.

Où est… ? (Where is…?)

This is a phrase that you’ll need to use a lot in France, and it pays to memorize the names of a few places so you can get by if you’re stuck.

Here are some French phrases for travelers to build off of  “où est.”

Où est…

l’hôtel ? (the hotel?)

la banque ? (the bank?)

l’aéroport ? (the airport?)

le guichet ? (the ticket window?)

la plage ? (the beach?)

Quel temps va-t-il faire aujourd’hui ? (What will the weather be like today?)

Don’t forget that much of the time, the weather in France is described using the verb faire .

Learning some French vocabulary for weather is a great idea before you venture out—being able to understand what sun and rain are in French will help you to listen out for all the right words.

Il fait beau aujourd’hui (It’s beautiful weather today)

Il pleut (It’s raining)

Il fait chaud (It’s hot)

Il fait froid (It’s cold)

Il fait soleil / Il y a du soleil (It’s sunny)

Il fait venteux / Il y a du vent (It’s windy)

Est-ce que vous pourriez prendre ma photo, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you take my photo, please?)

Everyone loves a souvenir, and it’s likely that you’ll take your camera along with you to capture precious memories. In touristy zones, natives are used to being asked to take photos, but if you’re going to do it, it’s especially nice to be able to inquire in French.

If there are a group of you, replace ma photo (my photo) with notre photo (our photo). And to be polite, start your request with excusez-moi monsieur/madame .

Addressing someone by the equivalent of “sir” or “madam” in French is generally expected, so if in doubt, err on the side of being over-polite—the person taking your photo is much more likely to accept your request!

Pouvez-vous m’appeler un taxi, s’il vous plaît ? (Can you call me a taxi, please ?)

Getting home in France when public transport has stopped running can be a real worry, and unless you’re right next to a taxi stand, it can be very difficult to find a cab. If you’re at a venue late, ask this question to one of the staff.

Staff are likely to have all the information about local transport and taxis and normally will be able to supply you with one in no time at all! As usual, address the person in the most polite way you can and thank them for their help.

Learning about other forms of transport will also help you to no end, especially when you’re searching for a way to get home.

Le bus (The bus)

Le train (The train)

Le bateau (The boat)

Le car (The coach)

La voiture (The car)

Pouvez-vous m’aider ? (Can you help me?)

In the unlikely scenario that you get into trouble when in France, it’s really important to have armed yourself with the right words to get out of a bind. Even just knowing this phrase is incredibly handy.

Of course, just because you need help doesn’t mean you’re in trouble—you might just need directions . The above phrase can be used in those scenarios, too, and is a great way to identify people who are able to speak French and who know their way around town.

Où est l’ambassade américaine ? (Where is the American Embassy?)

Again, travel French isn’t just about getting around, eating well and having fun. There are also French phrases to know in case of emergency.

If you run into trouble in France, one good address to have on hand is that of the American embassy .  A stolen U.S. passport or ID card can be replaced at the embassy, and you might need their help if there is ever a political problem in France and you need to exit the country quickly.

That’s a rarity to be sure, but it’s better to be prepared while traveling!

You’ll likely benefit from some further directional guidance while traveling around France. These phrases will come in handy.

Où est le métro ? (Where is the metro?)

Où sont les taxis ? (Where are the taxis?)

Où est la sortie ? (Where is the exit?)

C’est près d’ici ? (Is it close by?)

C’est loin ? (Is it far?)

Est-ce que ce bus passe par… (Does this bus pass by…)

Emmenez-moi à cette adresse, s’il vous plaît. (Take me to this address, please.)

Use this polite phrase with your taxi driver before you hand over that crumpled sticky note with François’ address on it.

Je vous dois combien ? (How much do I owe you?)

After your chauffeur de taxi (taxi driver) has so graciously driven you to François’ place, you’ll have to pay up.

Puis-je avoir un plan de la ville, s’il vous plaît ? (Can I have a map of the city, please?)

Use this phrase when you roll up to the  office de tourisme  (tourist office). You can also ask for a public transit map specifically:

Puis-je avoir un plan du métro, s’il vous plaît ? (Can I have a metro map, please?)

Je cherche… (I am looking for…)

Je cherche is another handy French travel phrase, especially if you’re traveling for the first time in a French city.

Unlike in English, where we say “I am looking for …” the French don’t use a preposition (“for”) after the verb, and simply follow this phrase with what they’re searching for.

Je cherche…

le bus (the bus)

un taxi (a taxi)

les toilettes (the toilets)

l’hôpital (the hospital)

Je ne comprends pas. (I don’t understand.)

A necessity if you’re trying to make conversation with a native, je ne comprends pas will serve you well if you ever get stuck.

Often, French people are so pleased to find a foreigner who’s able to speak their language that they’ll get a little carried away and enthusiastically try to start a complex conversation. While situations like these are incredible if you’re a learner, they can also be very intimidating.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand. Simply excuse yourself, say that you don’t understand and if you would like to continue the conversation, try the following French phrase:

Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you repeat that, please?)

Parlez plus lentement, s’il vous plaît. (Speak a little slower, please.)

For French learners, the coveted native speed of speaking can seem unattainable, and while you can learn to understand it over time, it does take a little adjusting to. If you’re speaking to a local and would like them to speak a little more slowly, it’s better to just ask them, rather than suffering in silence.

Saying parlez plus lentement, s’il vous plaît  will let your speaking partner realize they might be going a little too fast for you, but that you would still like to continue.

If you’d like them to go back over something they’ve been talking about, you can again ask them to repeat themselves to have them re-cover a topic that might have gone over your head.

Don’t worry about seeming rude—French people are often willing to help learners with their language skills, and will likely have no problem adjusting their speed.

If you’re traveling in France, you’ll probably be doing some shopping while you’re there!

Je suis à la recherche d’un… (I’m looking for a…) A great line for engaging the chipper shop girl, practicing your French and finding gifts for the folks back home.

Non, je regarde pour l’instant. (No, I’m [just] looking for the moment.)

C’est pour… (It’s for…)

Combien ça coûte ? (How much does this cost?)

Puis-je commander cela sur l’Internet ? (Can I order this on the internet?)

Je voudrais payer en liquide / espèces. (I would like to pay in cash.)

Est-ce que vous acceptez les cartes étrangères ? (Do you accept foreign cards?)

Be aware that paying for items when abroad may not work the same way as at home.

If you’re in a smaller town in France especially, it’s always worth checking with hotels or shop owners if they accept foreign modes of transaction. Asking est-ce que vous acceptez les cartes étrangères ?  will ensure that you don’t find yourself in any sticky payment situations down the line.

If you’re from North America, asking acceptez-vous les cartes sans puce ? (do you accept non-chip cards?) might be more to the point. Many North American cards don’t have chip-and-pin security, and some stores in France don’t have magnetic strip readers.

Generally, most tourist destinations will be equipped to deal with foreign credit cards, but if you’re ever not sure, it always pays to double check!

À quelle heure est-ce que cela ferme ? (What time does it close?)

Across France, especially in the summer months, it’s worth checking out closing times. To ask when a shop or attraction is closing, use this question.

On the other hand, to inquire when a place will be opening, ask à quelle heure est-ce que cela ouvre ? (what time does it open?). Both of these phrases are really essential when traveling, so make sure you learn them ahead of time!

And remember, French time works a little differently and is often given on a 24-hour cycle, so if someone responds with dix-sept heures   (literally, “17 hours”), they mean 5 p.m.

French cuisine is famous around the world, so what better place to try it than in its country of origin? These French phrases will help you make the most of dining in France.

Une table pour 4, s’il vous plaît. (A table for 4, please.

Le menu, s’il vous plaît. (The menu, please.)

La carte des vins, s’il vous plaît. (The wine menu, please.)

Est-ce que le service est compris ? (Is the tip included?)

C’est trop bon ! (This is so good!)

J’ai bien mangé.   (I ate well/I’m full.)

Je suis répu / repue.  (I’m satisfied/I’m full.) This one will really impress people. This is some real français   soutenu  (formal French) , and you’ll rarely hear a young French person say this.

On prend l’apéro ensemble ? (Let’s have an apéritif together?)

An apéritif is a beverage one drinks before eating—typically something alcoholic like whiskey, vodka or  pastis , for example.

Je voudrais… (I would like…)

Je voudrais is likely to be a phrase that you’ll need to use very frequently—when ordering food , attending new places or just trying to buy something in a shop.

While most phrasebooks will contain the names of most foods and items that you would need to order, it’s worth remembering a few so that you don’t get stuck in a sticky situation! Here are a few you may want to commit to memory.

Je voudrais…

un café (a coffee)

une bière (a beer)

une baguette (a baguette)

de l’eau (some water)

l’addition (the bill)

À votre santé ! (To your health!)

Say this right before you clink glasses with your new French pals. Be sure to make eye contact while doing so .

You can also just say santé !  (health!). À  la vôtre !   (to yours!) is also a good option when you’re with more than one person or having a tête-à-tête  (one-on-one discussion) with a distinguished gentleperson.

À la tienne !   (to yours!) works for casual one-on-one scenarios. Tchin tchin !   (clink clink!)   has the benefit of being pretty cute and onomatopoeic.

You’re sure to exude a certain  je ne sais quoi  (“I don’t know what”) as well as an ease with pronouns .

You’ve done the museums, the galleries, the restaurants, the cafés… time to party!

Ça te dit d’aller boire un verre ce soir ? (Want to go get a drink tonight?)

J’ai envie de faire la fête ! (I want to party!)

On s’installe là-bas ? (Let’s sit over there?)

Je voudrais une pinte de blonde / un verre de vin.  (I would like a pint of light ale/glass of wine.)

On va prendre la bouteille. (We’ll take the bottle.)

On prend des shooters ! (We’re taking shots!)

Est-ce qu’il y a un after ? (Is there an after party?)

Je suis crevé / crevée, j’y vais.  (I’m spent, I’m leaving.)

Rentrez-bien ! (Get home safely!) A good phrase to keep in your pocket when you’re leaving your party animal friends in the club.

Je me suis vraiment bien amusé / amusée.  (I really enjoyed myself.) Did your new French pals take you on an exhilarating tour of the coins et  recoins (nooks and crannies) of a charming neighborhood? Then let them know that you had fun!

Find a French phrasebook for travelers

Before you travel, you’re going to want to arm yourself with a few essentials, and at the top of your list should be a really great French phrasebook . Although I’ve just given you lots of helpful, common French travel phrases, it’s always good to be ready for any eventuality, and a phrasebook will act as a great backup.

One great phrasebooks for French learners are the “Collins French Phrasebook,” which contains a French dictionary for your convenience.

For more options, you’ll want to explore Lonely Planet   to see what’s available. There are French phrasebooks for every corner of the French-speaking world, and some have additional features like accompanying audio files, travel guides or apps.

Research local customs

Wherever you go in France, you’ll find a whole host of things that make the area unique. Whether it’s local French cooking , events or linguistic differences, it pays to research the place you’re going and, if necessary, learn a few basic French phrases relating to whatever may be going on around you.

In Paris, for example, some museums and galleries are free to all on the first Sunday of the month—a deal worth taking full advantage of! If you want to check out the region to which you’re traveling, France.fr is a great place to do so.

And of course, your French phrasebooks or regional travel guides can offer you insight into customs, culture, etiquette and holidays.

Make a list of activities

Just getting to France may seem like a dream come true, but unless you have some idea of how you want to spend your time, it can pass you by in a haze.

Before you leave for your trip, try making a list of things you’d like to do. This way, you can adjust the phrases you learn accordingly and be ready to ask about certain exhibitions in the area or how to find a place to eat that serves a certain local dish you’d like to try.

Spontaneity is wonderful, but a little planning doesn’t hurt, either!

Use an immersion program

You can get used to hearing the French language before you leave your house with immersion programs. Using an immersion program at home is a good way to get used to the sounds and natural speed of the language. It’s also a way to hear turns of phrases , filler words and slang —basically, parts of the language that are rarely taught in textbooks. Learn these, and your French will sound much more natural.

Learn polite French terms of address

The French take manners very seriously, and if you’re meeting someone for the first time, or talking to a stranger, it’s important that you address them in the right way.

If you’re trying to attract the attention of someone who might be able to help you, say either “hello sir/madam” or “excuse me sir/madam” in French, as given above. Similarly, when you enter a shop, it’s always nice to greet the shopkeeper by saying hello or good morning, also as you learned above.

You can get a head start on polite conversation for practical, everyday matters with ed2go’s Beginning Conversational French course. This is a short online course that prepares you for communication in places like restaurants, hotels and other typical scenarios you may encounter on your travels.

There are also different terms of address in French, and depending on how well you know someone, you’ll have to address them in a certain way. For people you know, you can say tu (you) when talking to them. This can also be used for children and animals.

For strangers, figures of authority or your elders, you must use  vous (you). This is a much more polite term of address, and expected when you haven’t gotten to know someone well yet.

If you’re struggling to know which one to use, always veer on the side of caution and use  vous. The other person will tell you if they want you to say tu to them instead!

Traveling to France is a thrilling and eye-opening experience.

In order to get the most out of the trip, it’s a great idea for tourists and travelers to learn some basic French phrases and words ahead of time.

These French travel phrases will have your back throughout your trip!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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How to Say “Have a Great Time” in French: Formal and Informal Ways, Tips, and Examples

When it comes to expressing wishes for someone to have a great time in French, there are various phrases and expressions you can use. Whether you want to convey a formal or informal tone, we’ll explore different options to help you navigate these nuances of the French language. This guide will provide you with tips, examples, and a few regional variations to keep in mind. So let’s dive in and discover how to express the sentiment of “have a great time” in French!

Table of Contents

Formal Ways to Say “Have a Great Time” in French

When addressing someone in a more formal setting, such as business or professional contexts, it’s important to use phrases that maintain a polite and respectful tone. Here are some formal expressions to wish someone to have a great time:

• “Passez un excellent moment!” – This translates directly to “Have an excellent time!” and is a common way to convey your wishes formally.
• “Je vous souhaite un agréable moment!” – Meaning “I wish you a pleasant time!”, this phrase is another respectful way to convey your well wishes.
• “Profitez pleinement de votre temps!” – This expression means “Enjoy your time to the fullest!” and is a polite way to express your hopes for someone to have a great time.

Informal Ways to Say “Have a Great Time” in French

In more casual or familiar situations, you can opt for slightly different expressions to convey a warm and friendly tone. Here are some informal ways to wish someone to have a great time in French:

• “Passe un très bon moment!” – This translates to “Have a really good time!” and is a common way to express your hopes for someone to enjoy themselves informally.
• “Amuse-toi bien!” or “Amusez-vous bien!” – Both of these phrases mean “Have fun!” and can be used among friends or in less formal settings.
• “Profite bien!” – Meaning “Enjoy yourself!”, this expression is frequently used to wish someone a good time in a relaxed and informal manner.

Regional Variations

While the phrases mentioned above are widely understood throughout the French-speaking world, it’s worth noting that regional variations exist. These variations may add a unique touch to your well wishes, but it’s essential to use them with caution, considering the specific context and audience. Here’s an example of a regional variation:

“Passe un beau moment!” – This expression, while less commonly used in standard French, may be heard in parts of Canada where French is spoken. It conveys the same sentiment of wishing someone to have a beautiful time.

Tips for Expressing Well Wishes

Now that you know different ways to say “have a great time” in French, here are some additional tips to help you express your well wishes effectively:

• Be mindful of your audience: Consider the formality of the setting and adapt your expressions accordingly.
• Use appropriate body language: Pair your verbal expression with a warm smile and friendly gestures to enhance your message.
• Consider cultural differences: Different cultures may have unique expectations and gestures associated with well wishes, so try to be aware of them when interacting with French speakers.
• Practice pronunciation: Pay attention to the pronunciation of the phrases to ensure your message is clear and understandable.
• Take note of context: The occasion, whether it’s a party, a trip, or a special event, can influence the most appropriate way to express your wishes.

Examples in Context

Let’s now see how these phrases can be used in different contexts:

Formal: – “Passez un excellent moment lors de la conférence!” (Have an excellent time at the conference!) – “Je vous souhaite un agréable moment lors de votre voyage.” (I wish you a pleasant time on your trip.)

Informal: – “Passe un très bon moment à la fête ce soir!” (Have a really good time at the party tonight!) – “Amuse-toi bien pendant tes vacances!” (Have fun during your vacation!)

Remember, the key to conveying your wishes effectively is to be genuine and sincere. Your warm thoughts and genuine care will shine through, regardless of the specific phrasing you use. So go ahead and spread joy by wishing someone to have a great time in French!

Related Guides:

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• How to Say Great Grandma and Great Grandpa in Spanish
• How to Say “Great Great Grandfather” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide
• How to Say “Great-Great-Grandma” in Spanish: A Complete Guide
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Bobby Harold

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