The polite essentials
Bonjour. — Hello / good morning. Bonsoir. — Good evening. Merci. — Thank you. S’il vous plaît. — Please. Excusez-moi. — Excuse me.
Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? Je ne comprends pas. — I don’t understand. Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? — Could you speak more slowly?
Ordering without ingredient surprises
Je suis végétarien / végétarienne. — I am vegetarian. Je ne mange ni viande ni poisson. — I eat neither meat nor fish. Je ne mange pas d’œufs. — I don’t eat eggs.
Est-ce qu’il y a du bouillon de viande, de la gélatine ou de la présure animale ? — Does it contain meat stock, gelatine or animal rennet?
Je ne mange ni oignon, ni ail, ni légumes-racines. — I eat no onion, garlic or root vegetables. Adapt this sentence to your actual requirements; Jain practices vary. Ask the kitchen to check rather than relying on a menu label.
La viande est-elle certifiée halal ? — Is the meat halal-certified? Sans alcool, s’il vous plaît. — Without alcohol, please. Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît. — A jug of tap water, please. L’addition, s’il vous plaît. — The bill, please.
Directions and access
Où est la station de métro ? — Where is the metro station? Ce train va-t-il à l’aéroport ? — Does this train go to the airport? Quel billet dois-je acheter ? — Which ticket should I buy?
Y a-t-il un ascenseur ? — Is there a lift? Peut-on y accéder sans escaliers ? — Can we get there without stairs? Où sont les toilettes ? — Where are the toilets?
When you need help
J’ai perdu mon passeport. — I have lost my passport. On m’a volé mon téléphone. — My phone has been stolen. Appelez la police, s’il vous plaît. — Please call the police.
J’ai besoin d’un médecin. — I need a doctor. Je suis allergique à… — I am allergic to… Voici l’adresse de mon hôtel. — Here is my hotel address. For immediate danger or a serious medical emergency, call 112.
A small conversation trick
Show one short sentence at a time and allow the person to answer. For a dietary restriction or allergy, ask them to verify with the kitchen. Translation tools help, but a confident screen is not a substitute for an ingredient check.
A smile and “Bonjour” are a good start. They will not make you fluent, but neither will apologising for your French for three minutes.
Sources & official links
Original editorial guidance. Check current procedures and opening hours with the linked organisations before travel. French phrases are our own translations; suggested days are editorial plans.