In May, I traveled to France, from the charming streets of Paris to the sunny coast of the South of France, including Nice and some lovely little villages.
As a French teacher, I took notes of essential words and phrases I used along the way. If you’re planning a trip to France soon, here are some super useful expressions to help you order coffee, take public transport, or enjoy a scoop of pistachio ice cream 😄🍦
☕ Ordering Coffee in France (It’s Different Than in Canada!)
In France, if you ask for “un café,” you’ll get a small, strong espresso, not the drip coffee common elsewhere.
Here are common choices:
-Un café = espresso
-Un café allongé = similar to an Americano
-Un cappuccino = usually with cocoa powder on top
-Un noisette = my favourite — espresso with a bit of cream or milk foam
💬 Sample phrase:
– Bonjour, un noisette s’il vous plaît.
– Merci, bonne journée !
🍨 Ordering Ice Cream in Nice
Ice cream is a must-try in the South of France! Here’s a little dialogue I had:
🗨️ Dialogue – À la glace
– Bonjour, je voudrais une boule de pistache, s’il vous plaît.
– Dans un bol ou un cornet ?
– Dans un cornet, merci.
– Ça fait 3 euros.
– Merci, bonne journée !
Useful vocab:
-Une boule = a scoop
-Un cornet = a cone
-Un bol = a cup
-Ça fait... = That comes to...
🚇 Taking the Métro
The métro is the easiest way to get around cities like Paris and Nice. Listen for these announcements:
-Prochaine station... = Next station...
-Correspondance avec la ligne 6 = Transfer to line 6
-Terminus = Final stop
Example:
– La prochaine station est Bastille. Correspondance avec les lignes 1, 5 et 8.
🍽️ Getting a Table at a Restaurant
You usually wait at the entrance to be seated. Here’s what to say:
-Bonjour, avez-vous une table pour deux ?
-La carte, s’il vous plaît. (“La carte” is the à la carte menu)
Le menu often means a fixed-price menu
Une formule is a set menu or combo, often affordable
Asking for the bill:
– L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
✈️ Ready to Travel and Speak Confidently?
These phrases helped me enjoy my trip and will help you too!
If you want to prepare for your travels with more practical vocabulary and real-life conversations, check out our French for Travellers Course, designed for people who want to explore France confidently while improving their French.
