Essential French Vocabulary for Travelers

Basic French Words for Travel : Traveling to a French-speaking country? Whether you are jetting off to Paris, exploring Morocco, or lounging in Martinique, knowing even a few basic French words can go a long way. Let’s dive into the must-know travel vocabulary to help you navigate your trip with confidence!

Top Tips from a Paris Travel Planner

Why Learn Basic French Words for Travel ?

Benefits of Speaking French While Traveling

Imagine stepping off a plane and instantly connecting with locals, ordering croissants with ease, and asking for directions without stress. That’s the power of learning basic French. It shows respect, opens doors, and helps you avoid common travel blunders.

Where Is French Spoken?

French is not just for France! It’s an official language in over 29 countries, including Canada (Quebec), Belgium, Switzerland, parts of Africa, and many Caribbean islands. You’ll be surprised how global French really is.

French Greetings and Politeness

Common French Greetings

  • Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) – Hello / Good morning
  • Salut (sa-loo) – Hi (informal)
  • Bonsoir (bon-swahr) – Good evening
  • Au revoir (oh ruh-vwar) – Goodbye

Polite Phrases Every Traveler Should Know

  • S’il vous plaît (seel voo pleh) – Please
  • Merci (mehr-see) – Thank you
  • De rien (duh ree-ehn) – You’re welcome
  • Excusez-moi (ex-kew-zay mwah) – Excuse me
  • Je suis désolé(e) (zhuh swee day-zo-lay) – I’m sorry

Essential Basic French Words Travel Vocabulary

Basic French Words for Travel for Transportation Terms

At the Airport Must-Know French Terms for Travel

  • Un billet (uhn bee-yeh) – A ticket
  • Le vol (luh vol) – The flight
  • La porte d’embarquement (la port dahm-bar-kuh-mahn) – Boarding gate
  • Les bagages (lay bah-gahzh) – Luggage

Taking a Taxi or Public Transport

  • Un taxi (uhn tak-see) – A taxi
  • Le métro (luh meh-troh) – The subway
  • Le bus (luh boos) – The bus
  • Où est l’arrêt de bus ? (oo eh la-ray duh boos?) – Where is the bus stop?

Renting a Car Quick French Vocabulary Guide for Tourists

  • Une voiture de location (ewn vwah-tyur duh lo-ka-syon) – Rental car
  • Le permis de conduire (luh pair-mee duh kon-dweer) – Driver’s license
  • L’assurance (la-syoo-rahns) – Insurance

Hotel and Accommodation Basic French Words for Travel

Checking In and Out

  • J’ai une réservation (zhay uhn ray-zair-va-syon) – I have a reservation
  • À quelle heure est le check-out ? (ah kel ur eh luh check-out?) – What time is check-out?
  • La clé (la klay) – The key

Room Essentials and Requests

  • Un lit simple / double (uhn lee sampl / doob-luh) – Single / double bed
  • La salle de bain (la sal duh ban) – Bathroom
  • Le Wi-Fi (luh wee-fee) – Wi-Fi
  • Est-ce que je peux avoir… ? (es kuh zhuh puh ah-vwar?) – Can I have…?

Eating Out in Basic French Words for Travel

Ordering Food

  • Je voudrais… (zhuh voo-dray) – I would like…
  • L’addition, s’il vous plaît (la-dee-syon seel voo pleh) – The check, please

Understanding the Menu

  • Le plat du jour (luh plah doo zhoor) – Dish of the day
  • Entrée / Plat principal / Dessert – Starter / Main / Dessert
  • Eau plate / Eau gazeuse – Still / Sparkling water

Dietary Restrictions and Preferences

  • Je suis végétarien(ne) – I’m vegetarian
  • Sans gluten – Gluten-free
  • Je suis allergique à… – I’m allergic to…

Asking for Directions with Basic French Words for Travel

Directional Words and Questions

  • Où est… ? (oo eh…?) – Where is…?
  • À gauche / À droite – Left / Right
  • Tout droit – Straight ahead

Places Around Town

  • La gare – Train station
  • L’hôpital – Hospital
  • Le musée – Museum
  • Le centre-ville – City center

Emergency and Medical Phrases

Getting Help

  • Appelez une ambulance ! (ah-peh-lay uhn ahm-byoo-lahns!) – Call an ambulance!
  • J’ai besoin d’aide (zhay buh-zwan dehd) – I need help

Describing Symptoms

  • Je suis malade – I’m sick
  • J’ai mal à la tête / au ventre – I have a headache / stomachache
  • C’est une urgence – It’s an emergency

Basic French Words for Travel for Numbers, Dates, and Time

Counting in French

  • Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq – One, two, three, four, five
  • Dix, vingt, trente – Ten, twenty, thirty

Telling Time and Asking About Time

  • Quelle heure est-il ? – What time is it?
  • Il est midi / minuit – It’s noon / midnight

Shopping and Currency

Useful Phrases for Shopping

  • Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?
  • C’est trop cher – It’s too expensive
  • Avez-vous une taille plus grande ? – Do you have a bigger size?

Dealing with Money and Payments

  • Je paie en espèces / par carte – I’ll pay in cash / by card
  • Un reçu, s’il vous plaît – A receipt, please

Tech and Connectivity Terms

Asking for Wi-Fi

  • Quel est le mot de passe Wi-Fi ? – What’s the Wi-Fi password?
  • Le Wi-Fi est-il gratuit ? – Is the Wi-Fi free?

Using Your Phone in France

  • J’ai besoin d’une carte SIM – I need a SIM card
  • Avez-vous une prise pour charger ? – Do you have a charging plug?

French Slang and Idioms for Travelers

Fun Phrases You Might Hear

  • C’est top ! – It’s awesome!
  • Bof – Meh / Not impressed
  • Ça roule ? – How’s it going?

Phrases to Sound Like a Local

  • Pas de souci – No worries
  • Ça marche – That works
  • J’ai la dalle – I’m starving

Tips to Practice Your French Before Traveling

Apps and Online Tools

Try Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone to build vocabulary quickly.

Conversational Practice

Use language exchange apps like Tandem or HelloTalk to chat with native speakers.

Mistakes to Avoid When Speaking French Abroad

  • Don’t speak too fast—French is a rhythmic language.
  • Avoid assuming everyone speaks English.
  • Don’t ignore accents—they matter in French.
  • Always greet with “Bonjour” before asking anything!

Basic French Words for Travel Conclusion

Learning even a few basic French travel words can make your journey smoother, friendlier, and way more fun. You don’t have to be fluent—just a few polite phrases, travel terms, and questions can totally change your travel experience. So start practicing, pack your bags, and get ready to say, “Bonjour, l’aventure !”

FAQs

  1. What is the most useful French word when traveling?

“Bonjour.” It opens almost every conversation. It’s respectful, friendly, and essential.

  1. Can I get by in France with basic French?

Yes, especially in touristy areas. A few key phrases and a smile go a long way!

  1. How do I ask for the bathroom in French?

Say, “Où sont les toilettes, s’il vous plaît ?” (Where is the bathroom, please?)

  1. Is French difficult for English speakers?

It can be tricky with pronunciation, but basic phrases are pretty manageable.

  1. What’s a quick way to learn French travel phrases?

Use mobile apps like Duolingo, or flashcard decks focused on travel vocab.

Enjoy a personalized Trip to Paris thanks to a custom Paris Travel Package upon your aspirations and profile.

Contact for free quotation

Contact PARIS BY EMY

Email contact@parisbyemy.com Tel WhatsApp +33767389625

Please, share when, how many person, options you are interested in, Must-Do, Must-Have. We will go over the details once the final quotation is approved and the booking is confirmed. You will receive a first quotation or an estimated total cost. The price varies based on the range of services, level of customization, duration of stay, and number of travelers. As a small business, PARIS BY EMY offers bespoke tours and Paris travel packages with limited availability. Merci.

First and Last name
First and Last name
First
Last
Customized Paris Private Tours
Bespoke Paris Travel Package MINIMUM 4 OPTIONS From 1,250 Euros
Phone Consultation deducted from your total invoice if you take a travel package

Thank you for your request. By sending your email and in accordance with Article 5 of the GDPR, you expressly consent to the use of your personal data for the purpose of being contacted for a Paris trip project. For more information, see the privacy policy.