When you decide to spend your vacation abroad or take a language immersion program for juniors, it is essential to be able to communicate with locals in restaurants, at the hotel, in the supermarket, at the train station, or in shops. Therefore, you need to be able to pronounce useful everyday phrases and also understand words you may see on flyers and in newspapers, or that people use on the street, in public transport, etc.
It is well-known that the people of France say "bonjour" multiple times a day! What is the difference between "bonjour" and "bonne journée"? "Bonne journée" is used at the end of a conversation. If I meet a friend on the street and start talking to them, I wish them a good day at the end of the conversation. "Bonjour," on the other hand, is said at the beginning of the meeting. It is the same for "bonsoir" and "bonne soirée." When meeting a stranger for the first time, the French often say: "Enchanté" or "Heureux de faire votre connaissance" ("Nice to meet you"). To respond to a French person who says "merci," you can say "de rien" or "je vous en prie" in a more formal context.
For introductions, here's an example for all students starting their French learning journey in France: "Hello, my name is Paul. I'm 28 years old, I'm French, and I'm married. I live in Antibes, I'm a computer engineer, and I love playing basketball."
Knowing how to ask for directions is especially important when traveling and is a great way to start a conversation with locals.
"Excuse me, I am lost, can you tell me where the train station is?"
"Which way should I take to get to the airport, please?"
To ask for the time during your language stay in France, there are several options. "What time is it, please?" or, in a more formal context, "Do you have the time, please?" are common phrases. The French might say: "It is a quarter to eleven" or "It is ten forty-five."
To ask about the start of an activity, you can say: "What time do you start work?" If the time is approximate, the preposition "around" is often used: "I'll come visit you around nine tomorrow morning." Also, note that times after midnight are considered part of the morning. "I woke up at one o'clock in the morning" is a correct sentence even though the action takes place in the middle of the night!
When you decide to go to a restaurant, don't forget to remember a few very useful phrases!
"I would like to reserve a table for two people,"
"What is the dish of the day?"
"Can you explain what this dish is exactly?"
"Which wine do you recommend with this dish?"
Customers choose the "dish of the day," consult the "menu," or take a look at the "a la carte" menu. Regarding how beef is cooked, remember that it can be "rare," "medium rare," "medium," or "well done," and you need to specify this when ordering: "For me, it will be a medium-cooked ribeye steak!"
At the end of the meal, when it's time to "pay" (= settle the bill), customers ask: "Could I have the check, please?" If you give a little extra money to the server, this is called a "tip." It's quite common in France but not mandatory.
At the hotel, you can book a "single room" or a "double room" and choose between "full board" or "half board." To make sure of your choice, you can ask: "Is breakfast included?" The person at the reception is the "receptionist," and they check if the hotel is "fully booked." Also, know that the "TTC" price is the "All Taxes Included" rate, and a "night" is the price for a room for one night.
If you want to get some useful information during your trip, think of the tourist office. This is where you can ask for a city map or inquire about activities to do during your stay. "Do you have a city map?", "What cultural activities can be done here?", "What time does this museum open?"...
You do your "shopping" at a big "hypermarket" or a smaller "convenience store." In "supermarkets," there are "sections," which are areas designated for specific product categories. "Excuse me, I’m looking for the DIY section." To carry their purchases, customers use a "shopping cart" or a "trolley." "Paying in cash" means using physical money instead of a bank card.
In France, the bus station is called the "gare routière," weird, right? For the plane and train, travelers buy a "ticket," while for the bus or metro, it is called a "ticket." You can buy a "one-way ticket" or a "round-trip ticket" (the better option). To do this, you can choose to go to the "ticket counter": "Hello, I would like a round-trip second-class ticket to Paris." Alternatively, you can go to a "ticket vending machine," but it’s not ideal for communicating and improving your French!
