In case you are going on a vacation to France, or are learning French as a hobby, it is essential for you to remember the following common phrases which can help you when conversing with the natives. Even if you are visiting for a very few days, these phrases can be quite a great help on your tour and can be quite rewarding.
Common phrases to remember
Following are some phrases which remembered correctly can be quite useful.
This is one of the most popular ways to say “hello” in French. It is friendly and universally polite, no matter whether the situation is informal or formal. The word “Bonjour” is a combination of the terms “bon” meaning good and “jour” meaning day. In the evening while one can wish bonsoir. Another casual way to greet people is “salut”, which means bye or hi.
You definitely do not want to be rude. So, it is essential to remember when in France that please is to be said whenever a request is being made. Say, “S’il vous plait”. You can also say “S’il te plait”.
You should definitely be able to know about a person’s name when you first meet them. In French you can ask their name by using the phrase, “comment vous appelez-vous?”
Yes, “Oui” and no, “Non” are two of the most important words to learn in any language. Si is another phrase which is used as an equivalent of yes, when an individual is asked a negatively phrased question.
The most acceptable and polite way to say “how are you?” in French is “comment allez-vous?”. For a more friendly relation comment allez-tu can also be used. Or in short, if any one asks “Ca va?”. It means “how is it going?”.
The French are overly protective of their language. Sometimes, they can even get impatient with Anglophones and also replies in English to the imperfect French questions. It is therefore essential to remember, that speaking in English is a no go when you are speaking a foreign language. In such cases you can use the phrase, “je voudrais parler francais” to tell them that you wish to converse in French.
To get attention, no matter whether you are talking to a waiter in a restaurant or a stranger in the streets, you should say “excusez-moi”.
Another most common phrase which any individual needs to know is pardon. In case you make any mistake, this phrase can make it all right.
The best way to explore French as a language is by speaking to the native people. It is therefore essential to familiarize yourself with French phrases before visiting France the next time. An independent driving tour and conversations during a B&B accommodation with friendly hosts can provide plenty of opportunities to get better.
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