A1 Survival phrases and words in French
The essential French phrases for surviving your first days in France without panic. French culture rewards effort — even an imperfect attempt in French is almost always met with warmth. These phrases help you slow conversations down, manage shops and restaurants, and stay afloat when you've lost the thread. Many of these lean colloquial, as they're actually spoken on the street.
13 phrases · meanings & example sentences
“Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?”
Can you speak more slowly, please? The formal version using 'vous'. If you're talking to a younger person or someone you've become comfortable with, 'Tu peux parler plus lentement ?' works just as well. French people speak fast and often swallow syllables — this phrase is not a sign of weakness, it's practical.
- The receptionist at your Parisian hotel is explaining breakfast times and Wi-Fi rapidly — 'Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?' and she immediately adjusts.
- A shopkeeper in Lyon is describing the different types of cheese and you're catching about half — 'Vous pouvez parler plus lentement ?' and the explanation becomes clear.
- Your Airbnb host is giving you a tour and rattling through the house rules — 'Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?' saves you from missing the important stuff.
“Je ne parle pas encore très bien français”
I don't speak French very well yet. The word 'encore' (yet/still) is key — it signals you're learning, which tends to make people patient and even a little proud to help. This is better than 'Je ne parle pas français' which sounds like a closed door.
- You walk into a boulangerie in Bordeaux and the baker asks you something you don't understand — 'Je ne parle pas encore très bien français' with a smile and he switches to pointing and gesturing helpfully.
- At a dinner in Paris, someone asks you a complicated question about politics — 'Je ne parle pas encore très bien français' is a graceful exit that invites patience.
- A pharmacist is explaining medication instructions quickly — 'Je ne parle pas encore très bien français' and she finds a simpler way to explain.
“C'est combien ?”
How much is it? Short, natural, and completely standard. You can also say 'Ça fait combien ?' at the till, which means the same thing. Both are colloquial and will feel perfectly natural to any French speaker.
- You spot a vintage jacket at a flea market in Paris — you hold it up and ask 'C'est combien ?'
- A crêpe vendor at a market in Rennes has no price board — 'C'est combien ?' before you hand over the cash.
- At an antique shop in Montpellier you pick up a small print — 'C'est combien ?' is all you need to start the conversation.
“Où sont les toilettes ?”
Where are the toilets? Note the plural — 'les toilettes' (always plural in French). 'Le WC' (pronounced 'double-vé-cé') is also widely used and understood everywhere. Avoid 'la salle de bain' for a public bathroom — that means the bathroom in a home.
- You arrive at a restaurant in Toulouse and need the bathroom before sitting — 'Où sont les toilettes ?' to the nearest server.
- At a museum in Lyon during a long visit — 'Où sont les toilettes ?' to a member of staff.
- In a busy brasserie in Paris where the layout is confusing — 'Où sont les toilettes ?' to the barman pointing you past the bar.
“Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?”
Can you repeat that, please? More complete and polite than just 'Comment ?' (which is fine but very bare). French people sometimes speak quietly or with regional accents that take time to tune in to — this phrase is endlessly useful in the first weeks.
- The waiter just listed the day's specials in rapid French and you caught 'poulet' and nothing else — 'Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?' and he goes again more slowly.
- The cashier asks you something you didn't catch — 'Vous pouvez répéter ?' with a smile works every time.
- A museum guide says something fascinating but too fast — 'Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?' and she'll happily say it again.
“Je regarde, merci”
I'm just looking, thanks. Use this when a shopkeeper greets you and you want to browse without being sold to. The 'merci' keeps it friendly. In France, shop staff are trained to approach customers — this is a polite and completely normal response.
- You enter a clothing boutique in Le Marais and the assistant immediately offers help — 'Je regarde, merci' lets you browse freely.
- In a bookshop in Saint-Germain the owner looks up expectantly — 'Je regarde, merci' with a smile.
- A perfume shop in Nice, where commissions are high and assistants are eager — 'Je regarde, merci' buys you peaceful time to smell things.
“L'addition, s'il vous plaît”
The bill, please. This is non-negotiable knowledge for eating in France. Like in Spain, French waiters do not bring the bill until asked — it's considered intrusive to do so. You will sometimes wait a very long time at a table if you don't ask. Raise a hand or make eye contact and say this.
- You've finished a long lunch at a bistro in Paris — you catch the waiter's eye and say 'L'addition, s'il vous plaît'
- After dinner in Strasbourg, you're ready to leave but the waiter has disappeared — when he reappears you say 'L'addition, s'il vous plaît'
- At a café terrace in Nice after two cafés — 'L'addition, s'il vous plaît' and you're done.
“Je suis allergique à ___”
I'm allergic to ___. Fill in with the item: les fruits de mer (seafood), les noix (nuts), le gluten, les produits laitiers (dairy), etc. French cuisine uses many ingredients that aren't obvious from menu descriptions — sauces and dressings often contain hidden allergens, so don't hesitate to ask.
- In a restaurant in Lyon with a complex French menu — 'Je suis allergique aux noix — est-ce qu'il y a des noix dans ce plat ?'
- At a fromagerie in Paris where everything looks amazing but you're lactose intolerant — 'Je suis allergique aux produits laitiers' so there's no confusion.
- In a bakery in Bordeaux — 'Je suis allergique au gluten, avez-vous quelque chose sans gluten ?'
“Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire, ___ ?”
What does ___ mean? The most natural way to ask for a definition in colloquial French. The more formal 'Que signifie ___ ?' works too but sounds a bit stiff in everyday conversation. Use this constantly — it's how you actually build vocabulary in the wild.
- The menu says 'confit de canard' and you're not sure what 'confit' means — 'Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire, confit ?'
- A sign in a shop window says 'soldes' — you ask the assistant 'Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire, soldes ?' and discover it means sales.
- Someone uses the word 'sympa' in conversation — 'Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire, sympa ?' and you learn one of the most common French adjectives.
“Je vais réfléchir”
I'm going to think about it. A polite exit from a sales conversation or any situation where you're being pushed to decide. It's not a 'no', it's a pause — and it's socially acceptable and natural in French. Less abrupt than 'non merci' when a vendor has spent time with you.
- A tour operator at a kiosk in Avignon has just given you a long pitch — 'Je vais réfléchir' lets you walk away without awkwardness.
- A shopkeeper shows you three options and is waiting eagerly — 'Je vais réfléchir' buys you time to compare prices elsewhere.
- A vendor at a Christmas market in Strasbourg is hoping you'll buy the handmade ornament — 'Je vais réfléchir' is gracious and non-committal.
“Une seconde”
One second. Buy yourself a moment to think, find something, or check your phone. Completely natural and casual. 'Un instant' is the slightly more formal version. Both are fine in any context.
- The cashier at a supermarché asks you if you have a loyalty card and you need to check your wallet — 'Une seconde' while you look.
- A server is ready to take your order but you can't find what you want on the menu — 'Une seconde, s'il vous plaît'
- You need to check your translation app before answering a question — 'Une seconde' while you look it up.
“Vous prenez la carte ?”
Do you take card? France is increasingly cashless, but smaller bistros, markets, and rural spots still often prefer cash. Some places have card minimums (typically €10-15). It's always worth checking before you order or commit.
- A crêperie in Brittany with a handwritten menu — 'Vous prenez la carte ?' before you sit down.
- At a marché in Dijon where the stallholders might be cash-only — 'Vous prenez la carte ?' before you pick everything out.
- A small café in a village in Provence — 'Vous prenez la carte ?' before ordering, just to be safe.
“Vous avez une recommandation ?”
Do you have a recommendation? One of the most rewarding phrases you can use in France. French people are proud of their food and regional specialties — asking for a recommendation often leads to a wonderful, enthusiastic answer and sometimes the best thing you'll eat all trip.
- You're in a charcuterie in Lyon and the selection is overwhelming — 'Vous avez une recommandation ?' and the owner selects the best saucisson in the shop.
- At a wine shop in Burgundy, the assistant knows far more than you do — 'Vous avez une recommandation ?' and you walk out with something extraordinary.
- A restaurant menu in Paris has too many options — you ask the waiter 'Vous avez une recommandation ?' and get the dish the chef is proud of.
