Lesson Notes PDF

Survival Phrases - French
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lesson and arm you with cultural insight and other information to utterly shock and amaze your
friends travel companions and people you meet along the way.
In Survival Phrases - French you will master French and protocol for the following situations:
Basic Greetings, etiquette and manners
Basic survival communication for every situation
Ordering the food you want at restaurants
Table manners that will impress!
2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

Basic Counting
Internet Cafe, not as easy as you think!
Finding your way in the local market and SHOPPING
Money exchange and tips on money usage
Taking the subway, long distance trains, and buses with confidence
Be sure to read the lesson notes for additional tips and information that will make learning basic
French and French culture even easier.
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Lesson 1: Thank You!
Merci!
LESSON NOTES
In French, there is only one word you need for expressing gratitude: "merci." And for emphasis,
"merci beaucoup". In either case, there is no situation in which "merci" and "merci beaucoup" are
inappropriate. They can be used as often as you like without regard for age difference, gender
difference, formality or casualness. However, since there is no other way to express gratitude
in speech, "merci" is often said in a mechanical way. We will look at two ways in which to make
"merci" more personal.
PHRASES
French English
Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.
VOCABULARY
French English
Merci. Thank you. / Thanks
Monsieur Sir
Madame Madam
QUICK TIP
As mentioned, you can never say merci too much in France. Showing gratitude, especially for
newcomers, can be a very successful way to have the French warm up to you. So one way to
make merci more personal is to you use it generously. For instance, in a shop or restaurant, if
you ask a question, it is a good idea to make eye contact and say merci or merci beaucoup
at the end of the exchange. This is the same when getting off the bus or out of a taxi, after an
exchange with a waiter, or really, anyone. If you make the extra effort to to look the person in the
eye and say merci, the person feels acknowledged. It can be refreshing, especially in a culture
that can be quite formal and make gratitude somewhat automatic. However, on the flip side, dont
be surprised if you dont have as many mercis coming back to youat first.

QUICK TIP 2
Showing gratitude with people you don't know personally is done by adding the word "Monsieur"
or "Madame" at the end. For instance, if someone helps you, say a shopkeeper, and you want to
show youre appreciation while keeping a distance, say "Merci, monsieur" (Thank you, sir) for a
man, and "Merci, madame" (Thank you, madam) for a woman. In fact, you can add "Monsieur"
or "Madame" at the end of any address to a stranger to make it ring with more politeness and
respect.

Lesson 2: You're Welcome!
Je vous en prie.
LESSON NOTES
In French there are several ways to say "you're welcome," each depending on a particular
context. Essentially, for our purposes, there are two categories of context: formal and informal.
Each has its own form of the word "you": "tu" (informal) "vous" (formal). First we'll take a look at
the informal contexts and then the formal. The difference is quite subtle at times, so if ever in
doubt, use the formal.
In French "You're welcome." is "de rien". The first word "de" means "of". It is followed by "rien",
which in French is "nothing". So all together we have "de rien". Literally this means "of nothing"
Another way of responding to a phrase of gratitude is "Je vous en prie" which is more formal.
The first word "Je" means "I". It is followed by "vous", which in French is the formal "you". So to
recap here, we have "Je vous". Literally this means "I you" The next word "en" means "of it". It is
followed by "prie", which in French is "pray".
PHRASES
French English
Je vous en prie. You are welcome or by all means (formal)
Je ten prie. You are welcome (informal you, but
somewhat formal expression)
De rien. Youre welcome (informal)
C'est moi. The pleasures mine. (informal, personal)
QUICK TIP
We use "tu" in contexts where we know the person personally and the environment is casual.
People of one's own age, classmates, family, and friends are such people. At home, at school,
friendly social settings are such contexts. "Tu" is the most common form of "you" that you
will hear, so don't feel nervous about using it. In fact, over-use of "vous" can come off as
old-fashioned or stuffy. If there is a doubt, start with "vous" and let the other person invite you to
use the "tu" form.

To say "youre welcome" in an informal setting, say "de rien". If you feel you want to express this
more emphatically, you can use the formal phrase we learned "je vous en prie" and replace the
formal, "vous," with the informal "tu" which in this case is "te" (the reflexive from of "tu") . This
makes "je t'en prie". This a more gracious expression than the more common and perfunctory
"de rien". Finally, to express "youre welcome" in a sincere and personal way we can say "c'est
moi" which literally means "it's me (who gives thanks)" and is similar to "the pleasure is mine."
"C'est moi" is considered very touching and authentic, so to use this as a traveler will surely
impress.
QUICK TIP 2
We use "vous" when we want to show respect to the other person or when the context requires
formality. For instance, when meeting someone for the first time, at a shop, at work, with a
professor, or with an older person. However, "vous" is not always required when you meet
someone for the first time if the setting is casual, say at a party with people of your own age.
Younger people, especially, are using "vous" less and less. They often speak directly in "tu" with
each other and even their grandparents. They reserve "vous" for their teachers and bosses. The
use of "vous" is not so much a strict rule as it is a way to create a formal distance with others
and this is at personal discretion. For instance, one can be on a very friendly basis with the local
baker for years and still say "vous". Or two motorists who have a disagreement in the street who
may be angry with each other, will still argue in "vous" form to keep a distance.
To say "Youre welcome" in a formal setting, say "Je vous en prie", as we have learned. This
phrase is very courteous and will work in almost any situation. So to adopt this expression would
be as important for travelers as "de rien", if not moreso. It shows good manners and respect,
which are imperative in French culture.

Lesson 3: Please (This Please)
Sil vous plat
LESSON NOTES
In French, "please" is "s'il vous plat" and is the formal type of the expression. This form is the
most common and can be used in any situation in which you feel you need to express respect,
such as asking for directions on the street and with shopkeepers. However, there is also a
familiar form, "s'il te plat," used between people who are personally acquainted such as friends
and family members. For traveling, this is less useful as you will need language to speak with
people you don't know. It would be good to know "s'il te plat" in any case, so you won't be
confused when you hear it, or so you can say please once you make friends!
In French "please" is "sil vous plat". The first word "sil" is actually the contraction of two words,
"si" and "il". "Si" means "if", and "il," in this case, means "it". So all together we have "sil" which
means "if it". It is followed by "vous", which in French is "you" or "to you". So to recap here, we
have "sil vous". Literally this means "If it you". This is followed by "plait" which means "pleases".
So all together we have "sil vous plat". Literally this means "if it pleases you".
The most rudimentary way of using "please" is pointing at something while saying "sil vous plat
", but let's try and build this up a bit, shall we? Let's start with the expression, "This please."
which in French is "a, sil vous plat". In English, "this" comes before please. In French the word
order is the same. In French the word for "this", "a", precedes "sil vous plat".
Looking at the word for "this", warrants a look at the word for "that" which, for our purposes, is the
same word "a". The phrase "that please" is the same as "this please", "a, sil vous plat".
PHRASES
French English
Sil vous plat Please (formal vous form)
Pardon Pardon me
Veuillez patienter Please wait
Veuillez excuser la gne occassione Please excuse the momentary disturbance.
S.V.P., respectez la silence Please keep quiet.

QUICK TIP
As we have seen, we can use "s'il vous plat" as a polite way to ask for someone's attention like
"excuse me" in English. It can also be a direct way to tell someone you want to get by, also like
"excuse me." This is useful in crowded areas such as the metro. Teachers use "s'il vous plat" to
get their classroom to quiet down. Police officers also use it to control crowds. If someone is in
your way, you can say "s'il vous plat" and they will know to move. Anotherr word for "excuse me"
that is less forceful but equally polite is "pardon" which is obviously close to the English "pardon
me". "Pardon" is generally the better term for when you want to get by as it is less forceful, but
the French are not shy about using "s'il vous plat" ro make their point. Thus, "s'il vous plat" is a
term that you may not say as much as you will have said to you.
QUICK TIP 2
"S'il vous plat" and "s'il te plat" are not as commonly used as the English "please". For instance
in English, announcements and signs would employ "please" where in French they would use
"veuillez": the imperative tense of the verb "vouloir" (to want). For example, "veuillez patienter"
translates as "please wait" and literally means "want to wait". "Veuillez " is always followed by a
verb in infinitive form (verbs with the "er" ending) as in the above example and in the following:
"Veuillez excuser la gne occasione" ("Please excuse the momentary disturbance" a phrase
you will hear a lot in France.) If "s'il vous plat" is used on signs, it is often written like this
"S.V.P." as in "S.V.P., respectez la silence." ("Please keep quiet" or literally "please respect the
silence".) Again, these are not terms you need to use yourself, but you will hear and read them
often.

Lesson 4: Basic Greetings
Bonjour.
LESSON NOTES
In French the phrase "bonjour" can be used as a universal greeting. The first word "bon" means
"good". It is followed by "jour", which in French is "day". All together that makes bonjour which
literally means good day.
Afterwards, we have the evening greeting which in French is "bonsoir". The first word "bon"
means "good", as we saw with bonjour. It is followed by "soir", which in French is "evening".
Bonjour and Bonsoir are the only greetings you will need on your trip, but there are a couple
more that might be useful, if only for knowing what someone is saying to you. For saying hello
in a very sweet and endearing way, the French say "coucou." This is reserved for your closest
friends and romantic partners, so don't say it to a police officer unless you have personal
intentions! When on the phone, everyone answers with "all", and not "bonjour" or "bonsoir." As
we will see in the following quick tip, "bonjour" or "bonsoir" are used to open up conversation
while "all" is more like asking "is someone there?" After one says "all" on the phone, then you
can say "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir". The exchange goes something like this:
The phone rings. PERSON 1 picks it up
PERSON 1: All?
PERSON 2: Bonjour, Marc. C'est Julien. (Hello, Marc. It's Julien.)
PERSON 1: Bonjour.
Now the conversation can continue.
VOCABULARY
French English
Bonjour. Hello.
bon good
jour day
soir evening
Bonsoir. Good evening.
bisous kiss hello

QUICK TIP
When it comes to customer service, the French have earned a reputation for rudeness. But this
is due to travelers who have not learned the magic word Bonjour. To politely get someones
attention, first say Bonjour, but dont just rush into your question. Wait for the reply Bonjour.
Now the person is all ears and you can ask away. Its the difference between being ignored in a
shop, and being served. But remember, after 6 o clock say Bonsoir.
This little French custom of saying Bonjour or Bonsoir to open up conversation is widely
overlooked by foreigners, much to French irritation. The bonjour or bonsoir acts like the
question may I have your attention please, establishing that you recognize the other person
as an equal, and not just a source of information that you can order around. The bonjour
in response acts like Yes, you may and establishes the other person recognizes you as an
equal. If Bonjour or Bonsoir is not said, it is interpreted as quite rude because it takes away the
other persons right to decide whether they want to talk to you or not, and therefore, is does not
establish equality. This is doubly true in customer service situations such as shops, restaurants
and hotels, where service employees feel their equality with customers must be asserted. It may
sound strange to the outsider who may be used to the motto the customer is always right, but
France does not subscribe to that philosophy. If this little custom is upheld, service people almost
always respond. If it is overlooked, they can make things quite hard on you.
QUICK TIP 2
When meeting someone in France, one of the first questions a traveler asks him or herself is do
I shake hands or do I do the French bisous ( kiss hello)? This is an awkward spot for many a
newcomer so dont feel bad if you dont figure it out right away. Here are some guidelines to help
you.
Traditionally, the bisous is reserved only for social situations:
- in which you are introduced to someone by a third person
- in which you already know the other person, such as a friend, and you are seeing them for the
first time that day.
The bisous is performed like this: you and the other person touch cheek to cheek, usually
starting on the left, and kiss the air. Then again on the other side. The number of kisses depends
on the region, but most often its just two, one for each side.
While women kiss each other hello, there is no strict rule between men, though when they meet
for the first time, they often shake hands. If youre not sure what to do, follow the other persons
lead. If you are not comfortable with a kiss hello, a handshake always works, especially if you are
foreign. The French are quite used to travelers in their country (its the number tourist destination
in the world!) and adapt this customary greeting easily to newcomers. Lastly, in a professional
setting, everyone shakes hands.

Lesson 5: Parting greetings (Goodbye)
Au revoir.
LESSON NOTES
Customs for greeting and parting are essential in French culture. How you leave things, perhaps
more than how you start them, can truly mark the moment. In the following quick tips we will
cover some of the varying ways of saying goodbye. If you can't master them all, don't worry.
There are way too many to remember. "Au revoir" works fine for any situation.
PHRASES
French English
Au revoir. Good bye.
bientt See you soon.
la prochaine Until next time.
plus tard See you later.
plus See ya.
ciao Bye
demain See you tomorrow.
tout a l'heure See you later. (today)
tout de suite See you very shortly / see you in a minute.
la semaine prochaine See you next week.
Bonne journee Have a good day.
Bon aprs midi Have a good afternoon.
Bonne soire Have a good evening.
Bonne nuit Good night.
Bonne fin de journe Have a good end to your day.
Bonne fin d'aprs midi Have a good end to your afternoon.
Bonne fin de soire Have a good end to your evening.
Bon travail Enjoy your work.
Bonne course Enjoy your shopping.
Bon repas Have a good meal.
Bonne continuation All the best.
Bon courage Best of luck.
Bonne chance Good luck.

QUICK TIP
In French, one very common way to construct a parting phrase is to start with the article ""
("until") and follow it with a future moment in time. This ranges from the general to the specific.
These are rather perfunctory and can be used in formal and informal contexts, unless otherwise
noted. Here is a list of such expressions.
Informal:
a bientt: see you soon
a la prochaine: until next time
plus tard : see you later
plus: literally "until more" which is translated as "see ya"
ciao: bye
Neutral:
demain: see you tomorrow
tout a l'heure: see you later (today)
tout de suite: see you very shortly / see you in a minute.
________ : here you put in the exact time, date or period of time you'd like such as " la
semaine prochaine" which is "see you next week".
Formal
dieu : quite, until God. This is only said when you believe you will never see the person again in
this lifetime and is never used except in literature. Only the French would have such a dramatic
parting expression.
Again, as with any extra language I give you, this is good to know not so much for future use, but
so you know what you hear or read.
QUICK TIP 2
A way to leave things on a more positive note is to wish the other person, or persons, a good
day, afternoon, evening, etc.. This is done by starting the phrase with the word "bon" (masculine)
or "bonne" (feminine) depending on the gender of the following noun. Then add the time of day or
activity that is coming after your departure. As with the other parting phrases, these can be used
in formal or informal situations, unless indicated otherwise.
Bonne journee: have a good day
Bon aprs midi: have a good afternoon

Bonne soire: have a good evening
Bonne nuit: good night. This is strictly used for saying good bye right before going to bed.
In france, you can get even more precise about the time of day you want to talk about by adding
"fin" ("end") to the phrase. "fin" is feminine, so it always takes "bonne"
Bonne fin de journe: have a good end to your day
Bonne fin d'aprs midi: have a good end to your afternoon
Bonne fin de soire: have a good end to your evening
You can also specify the activity that the other person is going to engage in following your
parting.
Bon travail: enjoy your work
Bonne course: enjoy your shopping
Bon repas: have a good meal
Bon / bonne _______: put in the noun of your choice.
There are other more general well-wishing phrases that you might hear.
Bonne continuation: literally "good continuation" (with whatever it is we talked about) which is
translated as "all the best!"
Bon courage: literally "good courage" and translates as "best of luck"
Bonne chance: good luck

Lesson 6: Where is the Bathroom?
toilette
LESSON NOTES
Finding the bathroom in France is a snap. All you really need is the words "les toilettes" and
someone will show you the way. However, one common mistake is to say the phrase in singular
form "la toilette" which means, essentially, "washing and grooming" and not bathroom. So be
sure to say "LES toilettes", as in general there are more than one.
In French "where is the bathroom?" is "o sont les toilettes?"
Let's take a look at the components. The first word "o" means "where". It is followed by "sont",
which in French is "are". So to recap, we have "O sont". Literally this means "where are" The
next word "les" means "the". It is is followed by toilettes, which means toilets.
So all together we have "O sont les toilettes?". Literally this means "where are the toilets?".
A shorter way of asking for the bathroom is to say les toilettes, sil vous plat, which means the
bathroom, please. Thankfully, is made of words we have already learned.
VOCABULARY
French English
toilette toilet
wc (pronounced WC
la commode toilet (more colloquial)
salle de bains bathroom (not toilet)
salle d'eau bathroom
papier toilette toilet paper
Hommes Men's
Femmes Women's
chez les hommes mens (area)
chez les femmes womens (area)
messieurs Gentlemen
dames Ladies

QUICK TIP
In French, there are several words for toilet that you may hear or read. Other than "toilette" you
will often see and hear "wc" which is pronounced "vay-say". A very gruff way of saying toilet is "la
commode". You can impress your close French friends with this one. Another word for bathroom
is "salle de bains" but this is not the toilet. "Salle de bain" literally means "room of baths" and is
translated as bathroom. This room has sinks, showers and baths but no toilets. The French often
keep showers and toilets separate. Another term for "salle de bains" is "salle d'eau" or "water
room" but this is rare.
Lastly, if you are looking for toilet paper, the term is "papier toilette".
QUICK TIP 2
Men's and women's bathrooms are marked in different ways. Most commonly, the men's is
marked "Hommes" and the women's "Femmes". Sometimes this is shortened to just "H" and "F".
Remember which is which so you don't make a mistake! In general, to express the men's area
and the women's area, say for dressing rooms, the French say "chez les hommes" for the men
and, "chez les femmes" for the women. Another more fancy way to write and say it is "messieurs"
for men and "dames" for women. You may find this in more upscale places like restaurants.

Lesson 7: Can You Speak English?
Parlez-vous anglais?
LESSON NOTES
As mentioned, English is taught very early on in French schools, so almost everyone will know
some basic English. However, it is not advised to rely on this everywhere you go. Older people,
and rural people tend not to speak it very much. Younger people, on the other hand, tend to
speak quite a lot of English as popular culture like movies, music and the internet, is more and
more Anglophone. The Acadamie Franaise, the government institution that regulates the French
language, sees this change as a problem. There are laws controlling how much English can be
broadcast in the media. For instance, all radio stations and movie theaters must have a majority
of French language content, that is to say, no more than 50 % of it can be in English, and most
stations and movie theatres push this quota to the limit. So if you are looking for an English
break on your trip, the movie theatre and the radio have plenty. If you are looking for signs or
brochures in English look for the British flag or the letters GB (Great Britain), as most of the
English speakers in France come from England.
In French do you speak English is "parlez-vous anglais ?". The first word "parlez" means
"speak". It is followed by "vous", which in French is "you". Its is followed by Anglais. So all
together we have "Parlez vous anglais". Literally this means "Speak you English?" and is
translated as do you speak English?
Now let's try a different language. How about "German ".
"Can you speak German" is "parlez-vous Allemand?". The word for "German" is "Allemand".
Here just the word for the language changes. The rest is the same.
PHRASES
French English
Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English (formal vous form)
Parlez anglais? Speak English?
Parles anglais? Speak English (informal tu form)
Je parle un peu de franais. I speak a little French.

QUICK TIP
In French, there are two ways of asking someone if they speak English, one is the way we
learned in the podcast. "Parlez-vous anglais?" which is the more common and more respectful
form. The second and more informal form using "tu," is almost never said: "parle-tu anglais?". So
another way to make the expression more informal is to take away the inversion and say simply
"Parlez anglais?" or in the "tu" form, " parles anglais?" Again, the first phrase is the best for our
purposes, but the second two maybe asked of you, since the person you are speaking with may
hear your accent. But we wont let that happen, will we ? :)
QUICK TIP 2
Now that you speak a little French, it may be useful to express this fact in French. For instance, if
someone you meet does not speak English, you will need to find another common language. The
obvious one is French. To say you speak a bit of French, say "Je parle un peu de franais" Here
is a conversation you may have.
You: "Parlez-vous anglais?"
French person: "Non"
You: "Parlez-vous allemand?"
French person: "Non"
You: "Ok, je parle un peu de franais."

Lesson 8: I Don't Understand.
Je ne comprend pas.
LESSON NOTES
Not understanding what you hear when visiting a foreign country is a normal part of the process.
So dont be frustrated if you dont understand. The French know that their language is not easy,
and they often appreciate seeing a foreigner make a sincere effort to speak it, no matter how
incorrect. So if you dont understand, they are likely to be patient if you show you are trying.
However, if on the contrary, you show no effort in speaking French and say je ne comprend pas
as an excuse to speak in English, they may not accept it and continue in French, just to show
you what for. It is important to show a respect for the language and customs, as the French are
raised to hold them somewhat sacredly.In French I dont understand is "Je ne comprend pas".
The first word "Je" means "I". It is followed by "ne", which in French is put before a verb to
make it negative, similar to "don't" in English. So to recap here, we have "Je ne". Literally this
means "I dont". The next word "comprend" means "understand". It is followed by pas which,
along with the ne completes the negation of the verb.
So all together we have "Je ne comprend pas". Literally this means "I dont understand".
Another short way to express this is to say "comment?" This literally means how? and is similar
to Im sorry?. The person will repeat what they said following this response.
PHRASES
French English
Je ne comprend pas. I do not understand.
Je ne parle pas Franais. I dont speak French.
Non, merci. No thank you.
QUICK TIP
Even though we often do not like not understanding, it can come in handy, for instance, if you
wont to be left alone by someone peddling wares or asking for money, as is very common in
France. Being that it is the number one tourist destination in the world, clandestine souvenir
sellers are there in droves. Sometimes they can be hard to shake, especially since they are often
immigrants and speak better English than most French people. To give them a little surprise say
"I don't understand. I don't speak French." in French. This combines the two phrases we have
recently learned "Je ne comprend pas. Je ne parle pas franais."

QUICK TIP 2
Another way to shake off someone in French, is simply to say "Non merci," which means "no
thank you". This may prove a more useful phrase in these situations as it is more polite and
easier to say.

Lesson 9: Can You Say It Again?
rptez s'il vous plat
LESSON NOTES
If you've ever traveled in a foreign country like I have, you are sure to come across the problem
of having mastered a few questions, but having no idea what the answer coming back to you
is. However, it is at this opportunity that we really learn the language, with the locals as our
teachers. The phrase "rptez s'il vous plat" will be instrumental in your learning French.
In French "Once again please" is "rptez sil vous plat". The first word " rptez " means
"repeat". It is followed by " sil vous plat ", which we learned in a previous chapter and in French
is "please".
So all together we have "rptez sil vous plat ". Literally this means "repeat if it pleases you".
Another common way of asking someone to repeat what they have just said is to say
"comment?" This literally means "how?" And is similar to "Im sorry?" or "whats that?".
At times, even repetition of what is said isn't enough to understand the speaker, as the words are
still too fast. For situations like this, you can use the phrase "slowly please". In French "slowly
please" is "doucement, sil vous plat". The first word "doucement" literally means "softly or
sweetly" and is translated as "slowly". It is followed by " sil vous plat", which we saw in the
earlier phrase.
So all together we have " doucement, sil vous plat". Literally this means "softly please".
These phrases, "Once again please", "slowly please", can be used together, as in "once again
slowly, please" : "rptez doucement, sil vous plat".
In order to make this phrase even more courteous we can add "can you?" to the front of it,
making, "Can you say it once again please?" Or "Pourriez-vous rptez sil vous plat ". In
French "can you?" is "Pourriez-vous". The first word "pourriez" means "can". It is followed by
"vous", which in French is, as we have learned, "you". So to recap here, we have "pourriez vous".
Literally this means "can you" So all together we have "pourriez vous rptez sil vous plait?".
This can be used together with "Slowly" or "doucement" to make "Can You say it once again
slowly please?" "pourriez vous rptez doucement sil vous plait".

PHRASES
French English
rptez s'il vous plat Once again, please
Excusez moi, je ne comprend pas Excuse me, I don't understand
Pourriez vous rpter s'il vous plat Can you say it once again?
encore again, more (depending on context)
QUICK TIP
In the lesson, the phrase "Once again, please" is translated as "rptez s'il vous plat", literally
"repeat please". I would like to draw our attention to the word for "again" in French. It is "encore,"
a word you may recognize from concerts. "Encore" is used in many ways that "again" is not
used in English and is why we do not directly translate it for the phrase "once again, please." To
literally translate it, we would say "encore une fois, s'il vous plat", or "one more time, please".
This a bit too direct in French and is why we say "rptez s'il vous plat".
Here, "encore" is used is to mean "more", its primary meaning in French. For example, if
someone asks if you want some more, say when he or she is serving you at a dinner, he or she
might say "encore?" which is similar to "more?". Keep your ears peeled for this one, especially if
you do want some more.
QUICK TIP 2
When you dont understand something and you would like the other person to repeat
themselves, there is one way to impress, if you feel revved up for it. You can try putting together
the two phrases we learned from the last two lessons. Together, they go like this "Excusez
moi, je ne comprend pas. Pourriez vous rpter s'il vous plat?" meaning "Excuse me, I don't
understand. Can you say it once again?" If someone repeats, its always a pleasure to show your
gratitude. Say "merci beaucoup"!

Lesson 10: Apologies(I'm Sorry)
Excusez-moi.
LESSON NOTES
In today's lesson we'll cover phrases used for apologizing. Now, as you havent quite mastered
French it's probably very prudent to go over the phrases for apologizing as they just might come
in handy.
Well start with "pardon".
This phrase is used when you want to get by someone, when you want to apologize for bumping
into someone, and when you dont understand what someone says. This phrase is quite common
and you will hear it a lot in crowded places like markets and the metro.
Next well take a look at: "excusez-moi".
This phrase is also used to get by someone, but is a bit stronger and a bit more forceful without
losing any politeness. It is also used to apologize for oneself in a more emphatic way than
"pardon." Whereas "pardon" can be said in passing, like "excuse me" in English, "excusez moi" is
used to communicate directly ones apology to a particular person. "Excusez moi" be said alone,
like "pardon." It always comes before a sentence explaining what you are apologizing for. For
example, "Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas Franais".
Now, what if someone says "excusez-moi to you?" If someone uses this expression towards you,
the proper response is to say the phrase we learned for "youre welcome", which is "Je vous en
prie".
As we have seen, apologizing for bumping into people, or needing to get by someone are a
daily need. However, there are more specific situations in which apologizing needs a different
tone and different words. For example, if you are in an informal situation, say with family and/or
friends, and you want to say "excusez-moi", the other person is familiar and so does not need to
be addressed with the formal "vous." so you say "excuse-moi", which is the tu form. The following
are other situations that call for different phrases.
PHRASES
French English
Excusez-moi. Excuse me. (informal tu form)

French English
Bonjour/soir. (wait for reply) Excusez moi de Hello. Excuse-me for disturbing you, but I
vous dranger, mais j'ai un problme. have a problem.
Bonjour/soir, excusez-moi. J'ai un problme Hello. Excuse me, I have a problem.
Je suis dsol. Im sorry.
Je suis vraiment dsol. Im really sorry.
QUICK TIP
When traveling, we often find ourselves needing to ask for help from strangers, such as asking
directions. In France, this can be tricky as the French have a very particular way of going about
asking each other for information when they don't know each other. We studied this problem
earlier when we looked at basic greetings. Do you remember the magic word to use to get
someone's attention? It's "bonjour" ("bonsoir" past six o' clock). Well, it's also customary to
apologize for interrupting someone before you ask your question. Here is a phrase that you can
use in almost any situation where you need to do this:
"Bonjour/soir. (wait for reply) Excusez moi de vous dranger, mais j'ai un problme." This means
"Hello. Excuse-me for disturbing you, but I have a problem." Then you say your question. This
phrase will disarm any French person who you need help from. If it seems too complicated, here
is a shorter version that is less fancy, but for a traveler it works great. "Bonjour/soir, excusez-moi.
J'ai un problme." which means "Hello. Excuse me, I have a problem."
QUICK TIP 2
So far we learned how to excuse ourselves for slight problems such as not understanding
someone, or bumping into someone. What about apologizing for more serious mistakes, like
breaking something? For these situations we say "Je suis dsol" which means "I'm sorry." This
is used regardless of formality or gender differences. If we want to be more emphatic we can say
"Je suis vraiment dsol." which means "I'm really sorry."

Lesson 11: Business Greetings
Combien de personnes?
LESSON NOTES
There is a wide variety of French food, and your job as a visitor is to eat as much of as many
things as possible! However, before you start eating you have to get the table! So in todays
lesson we'll cover getting to the table in restaurant. As for ordering...well, you'll just have to hang
on until next week.
When entering a restaurant in France you will be greeted with "Bonjour or Bonsoir".
The first question you'll be asked is "How many people in your party?" which in French is
"Combien de personnes?". The first word "combien" means "how many" or "how much". This is
followed by "de", which in French is "of". Lastly this is followed by "personnes", which in French is
"people".
Now let's go over how to answer.
First, let's just recap numbers here. From one to five they are: "un" "deux" "trois" "quatre"
"cinq" with the word for "person": "une personne", "deux personnes", "trois personnes", "quatre
personnes", and "cinq personnes".
PHRASES
French English
Combien de personnes? How many people in your party?
VOCABULARY
French English
une personne One person
deux personnes Two people
trois personnes Three people

French English
quatre personnes Four people
cinq personnes Five people
QUICK TIP
Another question a restaurant host may ask you after you enter is whether you want to eat or
drink. Many restaurants function as bars at the same time, even high-class establishments. The
question is Cest pour manger ou pour boire?. The key words here are manger (to eat) and
boire (to drink). The waiter needs to know, as restaurants are usually divided into two areas and
he needs to place you accordingly.
QUICK TIP 2
Another way to answer the question "Combien de personnes" is to show fingers. If you have ever
traveled, you will notice that different cultures count differently with the fingers. In France, "one"
is indicated with the thumb. At "Two" you put the thumb back and show the index and middle
fingers. "Three" are the index, middle and ring fingers. At, "four" you add the pinky, and five the
thumb.

Lesson 12: Restaurant 1
non-fumeur
LESSON NOTES
Dining in restaurants is one of the favorite activities of the French. Some restaurants are very
popular and you must reserve in advance, whereas some restaurants do not take reservations at
all. Most restaurants do both reservations and walk-ins. If you already know a place you'd like to
eat, be sure to call and find out if you can reserve a table.
Now remember when you enter a restaurant you'll hear "Combien de personnes?". This will likely
be followed by one of the following.
"Non-smoking" in French is "non-fumeur". The first word "non" means "no". This is followed by
"fumeur", which in French is "smoker".
"Smoking" is simply "fumeur".
Together, the question is often asked Fumeur ou non fumeur? which means smoking or
non-smoking?
Now you can beat them to the punch by saying how many people in your party and non-smoking
first. For example, you can say Trois personnes, non-fumeurs sil vous plat.
Now, second-hand smoke may not be the only obstacle on your path towards the perfect meal,
as you may not like the location of the table selected for you. Perhaps you want a table by
the window, or one not next to the kitchen door! The first word "pourrions" means "could". It
is followed by "nous", which in French is "we". So to recap we have pourrions nous?. This
is followed by "sassoir", which in French is "sit". Lastly, we have l which in French means
there.
So all together, we have pourrions-nous sassoir l? which literally means could we sit there?
PHRASES
French English
Bonjour/Bonsoir. J'aimerais une table pour Hello. I would like a table for (X number of)
(X) personnes, non-fumeur (or fumeur) (X) people, non-smoking, (or smoking) at (X) o'
heure. clock.

French English
Excusez-moi de vous dranger, mais pourriez Sorry to disturb you, but can you smoke with
vous fumer avec lautre main / dans lautre the other hand / in the other direction ?
direction ?
VOCABULARY
French English
non-fumeur non-smoking
fumeur smoking
QUICK TIP
You can reserve a table using some of the phrases you have just learned. Say "Bonjour/Bonsoir.
J'aimerais une table pour (X) personnes, non-fumeur (or fumeur) (Y) heure." (Hello. I would like
a table for (X number of) people, non-smoking, (or smoking) at (Y) o' clock.)
For example, "Bonsoir. J'aimerais une table pour deux personnes, non-fumeur, vingt heures."
(Good evening. I would like a table for two people, non-smoking, at eight o' clock.) You may have
noticed that the hour in the example is not "eight" o' clock but "twenty" o' clock. All "pm" hours in
France are spoken using the twenty four hour clock and not the twelve hour clock. For example,
one o' clock in the afternoon is "treize (13) heures." We will take a look at numbers again later.
Lastly, restaurant dinner hours are almost always later than what most travelers are used to. The
earliest dinner service is at eight pm and the last one sometime between eleven and midnight.
So if you walk up to a restaurant at seven pm, you will likely be turned away. However, there are
restaurants that run all day long called "brasseries". The food is never the best, but you are sure
to be served.
QUICK TIP 2
Right behind eating out, smoking is the second favorite activity in French culture and for a
non smoker this can be frustrating. Restaurants have been going to the trouble of creating
non-smoking areas for some years, but these are never truly separated from the smoking
sections. Sometimes, there is simply no escape, and the most we can do is ask someone to
move their cigarette or smoke in another direction. This can be tricky as it means interrupting
someone in their private conversation. Remember that magic phrase we learned? Excusez-moi
de vous dranger, mais This is the perfect opportunity to put it to use. Say Excusez-moi de
vous dranger, mais pourriez vous fumer avec lautre main / dans lautre direction ? (Sorry to
disturb you, but can you smoke with the other hand / in the other direction ?)
However, all this may not be necessary as French law will forbid smoking in restaurants and bars
starting in January 2008.

Monsieur, excusez moi
LESSON NOTES
Restaurant service in France can very widely from highly attentive and welcoming to practically
non - existent. This seems to be due to the fact that French culture does not seem to adhere to
any particular service philosophy. Rather, each waiter is left to run things how he or she sees fit.
I find it useful to see a restaurant or a shop as someone else's home. This person has left his
door open to offer strangers the opportunity to shop or eat in his home. In a sense, he is doing
you, the stranger, a favor by offering this opportunity to enter his territory. The fact that you bring
money does not change this relationship. Therefore, it is important to respect or even ingratiate
yourself with the establishment in order to be well served. Waiters do not walk around looking to
see how they can serve you in every way possible. You have to get their attention a lot. So bone
up on the terms you have learned, and put your nose out a little.
"Excusez-moi" which we learned earlier, means "excuse me". As we said, this phrase can be
used generally to get a strangers attention, including waiters.
Another way to get a waiters attention is to say "Monsieur" which means "sir" or "Madame"
which means "madam". We learned about these words earlier as well. They are used generally
to get a persons attention.
If you like, you can say these two phrases together. For example, "Monsieur, excusez moi."
Once the waiter or waitress comes to your table, you can go with the standard point and "this
please"
As we have learned in the first lesson, In French "this please" is "a sil vous plat".
Now if you're feeling ambitious, you could go for what do you recommend?"
In French what do you recommend?" is "Quest-ce que vous recommendez". The first word "
Quest-ce que " means "what is it that?" and is translated as "what". It is followed by "vous",
which, as we have learned, in French is "you". This is followed by "recommendez which means
"recommend.
All together we have "Quest-ce que vous recommendez".
Now two more phrases that will come in handy have to do with water and ice! In France the water
is safe to drink.

In French water please" is "de leau sil vous plat". The first word "de leau" means "some water".
It is followed by "sil vous plat ", which we know means "please".
Now on to the ice issue! Whether it is a health concern or economic decision,
In French "no ice please" is "sans glaons, sil vous plat". The first word "sans" means "without".
It is followed by "glaons", which in French is "ice cubes". All together, we have "sans glaons,
sil vous plat.
PHRASES
French English
Monsieur, excusez moi Excuse me sir.
a sil vous plat This please.
Quest-ce que vous recommendez What do you recommend?
De leau sil vous plat Water please.
QUICK TIP
Sometimes when you ask for water it only comes in small glasses, and you remain thirsty. To
avoid asking for water over and over, ask for a pitcher of water. This is done with the term "Une
carafe d'eau, s'il vous plat" (a pitcher of water please).
QUICK TIP 2
When it comes to ice, restaurants and bars sometimes dont offer it automatically and you have
to ask for it if you want it. To ask for ice, say "Avec glaons, s'il vous plat", which means, "with
ice, please".

a votre sant
LESSON NOTES
As mentioned, it is proper to let the host take the lead in all things meal. In more informal
occasions, others may take the lead and serve food and drinks as well if the host agrees. If you
ever feel the initiative, it is customary to serve everyone else before serving your self. When it
comes to serving seconds, present the item you wish to serve and ask Vous en voulez? (formal
You) or Tu en veux? (informal you), which means, Would you like some? Be sure to ask
everyone and serve yourself last.
PHRASES
French English
a votre sant to your health (formal and plural you form)
vous To you
ta sant to your health (informal and singular you
form)
toi to you (informal and singular you form)
QUICK TIP
When you do the toast, there are a couple of customs, which are a little superstitious to
outsiders, but I enjoy them. First, you dont toast when the beverages are non-alcoholic. I am
not sure why. Second, each person must take the time to touch their glass with everyone elses.
Generally, this means no two pairs of people are to toast at the same time (though most people
cheat on this) and certainly no two pairs of people are to cross arms trying touching their glasses
across the table. Third, you are to look each person kindly in the eyes as you touch glasses. If
you miss this detail, the French people will swiftly correct you. Once everyone has toasted, you
may drink.
Other expressions for a toast are:
"a votre sant." (to your health)
vous (to you)
ta sant and toi (If there is just one person and informal)

QUICK TIP 2
When ordering a bottle of wine in a restaurant, the waiter will open the bottle at the table and
offer a taste sample to the person who ordered it. If the person likes it, he will then serve
everyone at the table. I have never seen a person refuse a wine he or she has ordered, but that
does not mean it is out of the question. If you sincerely dont like the wine, return it and order
another.

Lesson 15: Restaurant 4 getting the
check(paying bill)
laddition sil vous plat
LESSON NOTES
Closing out a meal in France can be a slow affair. France takes pride in its cuisine and so,
whether in a restaurant or a person's home, meals can take their time. One often gets three
courses, even in low cost establishments and discussion, the other French pride, can eat up the
hours. After the desert, it is common to have an apritif. Lunch service in restaurants, however, is
usually quite fast as many are on their one-hour lunch break.
Today we'll cover getting out of the restaurant. First you may have to get a hold of the staff.
Again you can accomplish this by saying
"Excusez-moi".
Once at your table, you can ask for the check.
In French "check please" is "laddition sil vous plat". The first word " laddition" means "the bill".
It is followed by " sil vous plat ", which, as we have learned, in French is "please".
If you'd like to tell them how good the food is or if you're eating with someone and you want to let
them know how good you feel the food is you can say: "dlicieux".
Don't forget to say thank you.
In France it is not a common practice to tip. So your amount will be on your check. However, it is
always a kind gesture to leave your lose change.
One last useful phrase has to do with credit cards. In French "Do you take credit cards?" is
"Prenez vous la carte de crdit?" The first word "Prenez" means "take". It is followed by "vous",
which, as we have learned, in French is "you". So to recap we have "prenez vous" which literally
means "take you"? This is followed by la which is French for the in the feminine form. Next
is carte, which means card. So to recap we have Prenez vous la carte which literally means
"Take you the card". This is followed by "de" which as we have learned means "of". Lastly, we
have "crdit" which means credit.
So all together that makes "prenez vous la carte de crdit". Literally, this is "take the you the card
of credit?" and translates as "do you take credit cards?"

PHRASES
French English
laddition sil vous plat Check please
prenez vous la carte de crdit Do you take credit cards?
VOCABULARY
French English
pour boire tip
QUICK TIP
Credit cards in France all come equipped with a chip that other countries don't use. Therefore,
some automated machines will not take foreign cards. It best to use your cards where a person
is involved where you will be sure to be able to swipe. Foreign ATM cards are taken at most if not
all ATMs in France. Check with your bank if there are any partnerships with a French bank. This
can circumvent any expensive transaction fees. Also, ATMs have the best exchange rate going
around. It is best to leave your travelers cheques and currency at home and take out Euros once
you are there. Lastly, if you are a group in restaurant and you want to pay separately, France
allows a single bill to be divided among several cards. If you are low on cash, cards are very
handy.
QUICK TIP 2
On the matter of tipping, restaurant bills say that gratuity is included. However, most waiters
rely on the small tips or "pour boire" (literally "for drinking") they get every day. Being a waiter is
considered a legitimate profession with unions and regulated salaries, but the pay is low and they
work hard. Even if the waiter is somewhat unpleasant, I always leave something. So a good rule
with tipping is to be as generous as you want. Americans in particular often get special attention
as they tip heavily compared to most tourists. I've even seen waiters dispute over who gets to
serve the American group.

Lesson 16: Counting 1-10
un/une
LESSON NOTES
French uses the same cardinal numbers (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0) as you do, so reading numbers will
be a snap. You will have to count a lot on your trip, (tickets, beds, the clock, etc.) so knowing the
first ten is important.
1 un
2 deux
3 trois
4 quatre
5 cinq
6 six
7 sept
8 huit
9 neuf
10 dix
0 zro
Counting things in French is very straightforward as the number is followed by the thing. For
example, one person is "une personne". The number comes first followed by the thing, in this
case people. In French nouns have singular and plural forms. Therefore, if there are 2 people
you say "deux personnes".
In French nouns also have gender. In case of the word for people, the gender is feminine. so you
say une personne and not un personne. One is the only number that changes gender.

VOCABULARY
French English
un/une one
deux two
trois three
quatre four
cinq five
six six
sept seven
huit eight
neuf nine
zro zero
premier/1er first/1st
deuxime/second/2eme second/2nd
troisipme/3eme third/3rd
quatrime/4eme fourth/4th
cinqime/5eme fifth/5th
sixime/6eme sixth/6th
septime/7eme seventh/7th
huitim/8eme eighth/8th
neuvime/9eme ninth/9th
dernier last
QUICK TIP
Sometimes you will not see the cardinal number but the word. Here is a list of the numbers
written as words.
Ordinals
first/1st - premier /1er
second/2nd - deuxime OR second (interchangeable) 2eme
third/3rd - troisipme 3eme
fourth/4th - quatrime 4eme
fifth/5th - cinqime 5eme
sixth/6th - sixime 6eme
seventh/7th - septime 7eme
eighth/8th - huitime 8eme
ninth/9th - neuvime 9eme

last - dernier
QUICK TIP 2
Sometimes we can master saying the numbers in a foreign language but hearing and
understanding them is another matter. Most french people know one through ten in English so if
you are not understanding, you can always ask "parlez vous anglais?"

Lesson 17: Counting 11 - 20
LESSON NOTES
English: Today, we're going to continue on with counting as we cover 11 through 100. So let's
just quickly review 1 through 10.
1 un
2 deux
3 trois
4 quatre
5 cinq
6 six
7 sept
8 huit
9 neuf
10 dix
In French, counting from 11 to 20 is also very straightforward. So let's jump right in.
11 onze
12 douze
13 treize
14 quatorze
15 quinze
16 seize
17 dix-sept

18 dix-huit
19 dix-neuf
20 vingt
Numbers 21 to 29 are formed by combining numbers we have already covered. To make

numbers 21 to 29, for example, simply follow vingt with the numbers 1 through 9, just like in
English. For example, 22 vingt-deux this is true for all the numbers up to 69.
After 70, however, the rules change. But first, lets learn 30 through 60
30 trente
40 quarante
50 cinquante
60 soixante
The words for 70, 80 and 90 are rather strange. So let me take a second to explain. We say 70
by adding 10 or dix after soixante. It goes like this, 70 soixante-dix. For the numbers 71 to 79, we
add to soixante the numbers from 11 to 19. For example 72 soixante-douze, literally sixty-twelve.
And 73 soixante-treize, literally sixty-thirteen. 80, however, is a whole other story. We say quatre-
vingts, which literally means four 20s. 80 quatre-vingts.
90 is made in the same way we made 70. We add the number for 10 dix to the end of quatre-
vingts or quatre-vingt-dix, 90. quatre-vingt-dix The numbers from 91 to 99 are made in the same
fashion as 71 to 79. We add to the end of quatre-vingt-dix the numbers 11 to 19. For example, 92
is quatre-vingt-douze which is literally four 20s, 12.
Read the PDF write up to learn all of the numbers from 70 to 99. Finally, we have the number
for 100, which is 100 cent. There are other French speaking countries that do not use Frances
funny way of saying 70, 80 and 90. For instance, Switzerland and Belgium say septante, instead
of soixante-dix for 70, octante instead of quatre-vingts for 80 and nonante instead of quatre-vingt-
dix for 90. However, the French versions are the most common, and you would do well to learn
them even if the country you are travelling to is not France.
All right, thats going to do it for today. Remember to stop by survivialphrases.com, pick up the
accompanying PDF and transcript of todays lesson. If you do stop by, be sure to leave us a post.
See you tomorrow, which in French is A demain.
Numbers 70 to 99.
70 soixante-dix
71 soixante et onze
72 soixante-douze
73 soixante-treize
74 soixante-quatorze

75 soixante-quinze
76 soixante-seize
77 soixante-dix-sept
78 soixante-dix-huit
79 soixante-dix-neuf
80 quatre-vingts
81 quatre-vingt-un
82 quatre-vingt-deux
83 quatre-vingt-trois
84 quatre-vingt-quatre
85 quatre-vingt-cinq
86 quatre-vingt-six
87 quatre-vingt-sept
88 quatre-vingt-huit
89 quatre-vingt-neuf
90 quatre-vingt-dix
91 quatre-vingt-onze
92 quatre-vingt-douze
93 quatre-vingt-treize
94 quatre-vingt-quatorze
95 quatre-vingt-quinze
96 quatre-vingt-seize
97 quatre-vingt-dix-sept
98 quatre-vingt-dix-huit
99 quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

Lesson 18: How much?
c'est combien pour un caf?
LESSON NOTES
As in English, commerce can happen with very little language. You can simply point at something
and say "combien?". But you may enjoy your shopping more if you learn more elaborated
phrases. Commerce, in France, is a highly appreciated and delicate art with all kinds of phrases
and posturing. In the following quick tips, we will learn some of these.
In French "how much" is "combien". Shopping at the market, at an eatery, depending on your
spending habits this may be an extremely high frequency phrase!
The most rudimentary way of using "How much" is pointing at something while saying
"combien?", but let's try and build this up a bit, shall we? Let's start with the expression, "How
much is this?" In French this is " combien a cote?". The first word "combien" means "how
much" as we have seen. This is followed by "a", which we covered in lesson three and in
French is "that". This is followed by "coute", which in French is "cost".
So all together we have "combien a cote?" which literally translates as "how much does that
cost?"
Another more common and easier way to say this phrase is "cest combien?" which literally
means "its how much?". The first word "cest" as we have learned in an earlier lesson, means "it
s". All together we have "cest combien?"
PHRASES
French English
c'est combien pour un caf? How much is a coffee ?
ce sont combien How much are they ?
c'est combien le kilo? How much is it per kilo?
c'est combien les cent grammes? How much is it per 100 grams?
c'est combien la botte? How much is it per bunch ?

QUICK TIP
When you know the name of the item you would like buy, for instance, a coffee (un caf) you can
ask its price buy saying "c'est combien pour un caf?" When you don't know the name but you
can point to it or carry it to the seller you can use the phrase we already learned "c'est combien".
If what you want to buy is plural, such as some flowers, say "ce sont combien?"
QUICK TIP 2
One of the most exciting cultural experiences one can have is shopping at an outdoor market.
France has a strong tradition of fresh produce markets that are erected in public squares and
on sidewalks a couple times a week. Here the question "c'est combien" may not be enough.
For example, one needs to know the price of something per kilo (tomatoes) or per 100 grams
(cheese) or per bunch (carrots). If you want to know the price per kilo, show or point to the item
and say "c'est combien par kilo?". "Per 100 grams" is "c'est combien par cent grammes?" and
"per bunch" is " c'est combien par botte?". Price and weight signs are often written by hand and
even though numbers are printed the same as in Anglophone countries, they are not written the
same. For example, the 1 is written like a tee-pee or a ship's sail and the 9 is written like a lower
case "g". Letters also look different when hand written, but this we will cover another time!

Lesson 19: Please Lower the Price
Combien
LESSON NOTES
Haggling prices is not common everywhere in France. Grocery stores and clothing shops, for
example have set prices. However, negotiating prices is common at flea markets and to some
extent at outdoor produce markets. Read the following quick tips to learn some tricks.
The phrase covered in this lesson is related to the phrase "How much?" which in French is
"Combien?". We also introduced "How much is this?", "combien a coute". When you come
to France one of the most interesting and fun things to do is haggle at the market! So when
you're at the market and talking prices, there is another phrase that will come in very handy! That
phrase is " too expensive."
In French "too expensive" is "trop cher". The first word "trop" means "too much". This is followed
by "cher", which in French is "expensive". All that makes "trop cher".
Another phrase that can be used in combination with this is "less expensive, please." which in
French is "moins cher, sil vous plat". The first word "moins" means less. All together that makes
"moins cher, sil vous plat".
PHRASES
French English
Combien How much?
Non, Trop cher. No, it's too expensive
D'accord. C'est bon. Ok, Ill take it.
Non merci No thank you.
QUICK TIP
French flea markets are a blast. They are one of the few places where commerce is a little more
wild, more personal. You can rummage through a clothing bin or a pile of vintage records and
propose a deal. Often, the sales people are immigrants and the normal French decorum can
be done away with. If you want to lower a price, first ask the seller: "combien?" He will tell you
his price. Then refuse saying: "c'est trop cher." If he makes a second offer and it is still too high,
make a very low counter-offer. He will try to convince you of the quality of his product rather than

change the price. Offer a second time, a little higher. Do not act convinced by him. Act like you
are doing him a favor by getting the item off his hands. Once you have an offer from him you like
say "D'accord. C'est bon."
QUICK TIP 2
Travelers in France are sniffed out by vendors because they are a much easier sell than the
French themselves. But you don't have to play along. If you are interested, but don't want to
be seen as an easy sell, start by refusing flatly. "Non merci." This wont turn him away and he'll
continue to press you to buy. If you say "trop cher" he will know to go down. >From this point,
continue as elucidated in the first quick tip.

Lesson 20: Currency
centimes
LESSON NOTES
In France the currency is the euro with denominations consisting of 1s 2s 5s 10s 20s 50s 100s
200s and 500s. As of October 2007 the exchange rate is roughly 70 euro cents to one US dollar
and roughly 60 euro cents to 100 Japanese Yen. Paper currency includes 6 bills and 8 coins.
In French, the word for euro is pronounced euro. The word cents is translated in two ways.
One is to simply says the word in English but with a French accent. cents. The second and
more common way is to say centimes. When saying a price, we often do not say the word for
cents. For example, 1 euro 20 translates as un euro vingt. If the price is made only of cents,
then we say the price and then centimes. For example, 50 cents is cinquantes centimes.
As the euro is the common currency for 11 of the 25 countries of the European Union, also
known as the Euro Zone, the currency was designed to appeal to different European cultures.
However, the euro zone countries could not agree on what to put on what bills, with everyone
fighting to represent their country on the largest bill, the
VOCABULARY
French English
centimes cents

Lesson 21: Internet Cafe
Internet
LESSON NOTES
In France, when you walk into the store, approach the reception desk and tell them what you're
here for. Just say "Internet" or in French "Internet".
They'll print out a tab that states the time you signed in. When you leave, simply bring that tab to
the counter and they'll charge you for the hours you stayed. The price is usually about 1 euro per
half hour. The price is all inclusive for the time you stayed there. Some places have a discount for
longer stays, so be sure to look over the entire price list before making a decision.
Another system critical question for all you laptop-packing world trekkers is "Does this store
have WIFI?" In French "Do you have WIFI?" is "Avez-vous le wifi?". The first word "avez" means
"have". It is followed by "vous", which, as we have learned, in French is "you". This is followed
by le wifi which means wifi. So all together we have "Avez vous le wifi". Literally this means
"Have you the wifi?".
And finally here is one more phrase that might prove useful:
"Password and username please." In French "Password and username please" is "mot de
passe et pseudo, SVP". The first word "mot" means "word". It is followed by "de passe", which in
French is "pass". So far we have mot de passe which means password. This is followed by "et",
which, as we have learned, in French is "and". This is followed by "pseudo", which in French is
"username". This is followed by "SVP", which, as we have learned, in French is "please".
So all together we have " mot de passe et pseudo, SVP ".
Internet cafs in France are a foreigner's home away from home and for this reason French
internet cafs often have signs in English. (When looking for the caf, just look for the "@" on a
sign.) However, the Anglophone (qwerty) keyboard is not so common, as most of the keyboards
are French (azerty). Some cafs carry them. Some don't. Thankfully, the French keyboard is not
entirely different and has all the same letters as the Anglophone, just in a slightly different order.
To ask for a qwerty keyboard say "Avez-vous un clavier amricain" (Do you have an American
keyboard) to the person at the reception.

PHRASES
French English
Avez-vous le wifi? Do you have wi-fi?
Mot de passe et pseudo, SVP. Username and password please.
Avez-vous un clavier amricain? Do you have an American keyboard?
VOCABULARY
French English
Internet Internet
imprimante printer
fichier file
Tabac Tobacconist
QUICK TIP
If you would like to print something, the word for printer is "imprimante". Click under the word for
file, "fichier", and click on "imprimante". Be sure to look at the price board to know what you can
afford. Prices tend to vary a lot between internet cafs. Secondly, many internet cafs double as
copy shops (or many copy shops double as internet cafs) so if you need to get any copying and
printing done, bring what you need with you.
QUICK TIP 2
Internet cafs also double as phone centers quite often, especially in immigrant neighborhoods
where the population needs to call out of the country. You will see rooms with computers and
rooms lined with phone booths. These phone booths have their own rates separate from the
public phones on the street that are set by the establishment, usually cheaper for calling abroad.
These stores also sell very cheap phone cards. You can also get one at a tobacco shop, or
Tabac, symbolized on the street by a red diamond.

Lesson 22: Riding the Bus 1. Will this bus go
to...?
Est-ce que ce bus va Chatelet?
LESSON NOTES
Taking the right bus in France can be a snap. All you need is the handy phrase "Est-ce que ce
bus va ___ ?". When a bus comes walk up to the door and ask the driver this question, filling in
the destination you want. If his bus does not go there, he will know which one will.
In todays lesson well use the station Chatelet. In French station is "station".
In French "Will this bus go to Chatelet" is "Est-ce que ce bus va Chatelet?". The first word
"Est-ce que" literally means "is it that" and is translated as does. It is followed by "ce", which in
French is "this". So to recap here, we have "est-ce que ce". Literally this means "is it that this".
The next word "bus" means "bus". This is followed by "va", which in French is "go". The next
word is "", which in French is "to". Finally we have the "Chatelet", which is the name of our
destination.
So all together we have " Est-ce que ce bus va Chatelet?". Literally this means "Is it that this
bus goes to Chatelet?".
Once you have the right bus there are a few things you need to know about riding the bus:
City buses in France are different in each city, and so prices and ticketing systems vary. Few
buses provide text explanations in English so be sure to ask the driver or another local, for
instance a tourist office employee, how it all works. However, there are a few commonalities.
1" First you almost always can buy your ticket from the bus driver if you dont have one already.
2" Prices vary system to system so ask at the local tourist office.
3" You can pay with coins or bills.
4" An average fare is one euro fifty.
PHRASES
French English
Est-ce que ce bus va Chatelet? Does this bus go to Chatelet?
S'il vous plat, pourriez vous me dire quand Please, could you tell me when we've arrived
nous sommes arrivs (your destination) at (your destination)

French English
Dites-moi quand nous sommes arrivs (your Tell me when weve arrived at (your
destination) destination)
VOCABULARY
French English
bus de nuit night bus
QUICK TIP
If you are worried about missing your stop, you can request that the driver alert you when you
get there. The way to ask for this is to say "S'il vous plat, pourriez vous me dire quand nous
sommes arrivs (your destination)". In English, this is "Please, tell me when we arrive at (your
destination)." An easier, but less cordial way of saying this is "Dites-moi quand nous sommes
arrivs (your destination)." Don't forget to stay at the front so he can find you when the time
comes.
QUICK TIP 2
French cities do not offer 24h metro service, but they make up for it with night buses. These
usually have different routes than the day buses and run less frequently. The word in French for
night bus is "bus de nuit".

Lesson 23: Riding the Bus 2. How much is it
to...?
Quel est le prochain arrt?
LESSON NOTES
Once on the bus, you'll hear announcements informing the passengers of where the bus will stop
next. Now, in the case that there is no English announcement, you may not catch the location
just announced. So the phrase "What is the next stop?" may be indispensable.
In French What is the next stop? is "Quel est le prochain arrt?". The first word "Quel" means
"what". It is followed by "est", which in French is "is". So to recap here, we have "quel est".
Literally this means "what is". The next word "le" means "the". It is followed by "prochain" which
means "next". Finally we have "arrt" which means "stop".
So all together we have "Quel est le prochain arrt?". Literally this means "What is the next
stop?".
Another way of inquiring could be asking if your desired destination is the next stop. For this
phrase we'll use the Eiffel tower as the destination. So the phrase "Is the Eiffel tower the next
stop?" is "Est la tour eiffel le prochain arrt?". The first word "Est" means "is", as we have
learned. This is followed by "La tour eiffel", which is "The Eiffel Tower". So to recap here, we
have "Est la tour Eiffel". Literally this means "is the Eiffel tower" Let's take a look at the next part
of the phrase "le prochain arret" as we just learned, this means the next stop.
So all together we have "Est la tour eiffel le prochain arret?". Literally this means "Is the Eiffel
tower the next stop?".
City buses in France are run by a different company for each city, and so prices and ticketing
systems vary. Very few buses provide text explanations in English so be sure to ask the driver or
another local how it all works. There is no national bus service with in France (though there is an
international bus service within Europe), but the train system is fairly good.
PHRASES
French English
Quel est le prochain arrt? What is the next stop?
Est la tour eiffel le prochain arrt? Is the Eiffel tower the next stop?

VOCABULARY
French English
Quel What
Prochain Next
arrt Stop
La tour eiffel the Eiffel tower
est Is
QUICK TIP
If you are visiting a major city in France, such as Paris, there are several public transportation
systems at your disposal. If you have a choice between the metro and the bus, the bus
has a major advantage: views. The metro may be quicker, but you spend up to 30 minutes
underground when you could be above ground taking in the sights. It is also a good way to
understand how the city is laid out. As with most bus systems, the bus never comes exactly when
scheduled, but for the most part, they are reliable in France.
QUICK TIP 2
Another public transportation system that has recently become quite successful is the public
bicycle. Paris and Lyon, for example, have a network of automated public bike stations where
you can use your credit card to rent a bike for a day. The stations are numerous enough to make
it workable and you get a little exercise.

Lesson 24: Riding the Rails I. Buying train
tickets subway
Est-ce que ce train va Chatelet?
LESSON NOTES
The Parisian metro is on of the most efficient and extensive subways in the world. In fact there
are two. The second is called the RER and is the commuter train that serves the suburbs. It
is also used within the city and can be much faster as it makes fewer stops. The two systems
combined make it possible to get anywhere in the city in under 30 minutes. Other French
cities have subway systems, but the Parisian is France's icon. It's entrances are maintained in
the original art nouveau style from when it first opened in the 20s. If you make it to Paris, it is
definitely a must-see.
Once you make it to a metro platform, you may want to confirm the train you're about to board
is heading the right way. So in French "Will this train go to Chatelet" is "Est-ce que ce train va
Chatelet?". The first word "Est-ce que" literally means "is it that" and is translated as does. It is
followed by "ce", which in French is "this". So to recap here, we have "est-ce que ce". Literally
this means "is it that this". The next (French) word "train" means (in English) "train". It is followed
by "va", which in French is "go". The next word is "", which in French is "to". Finally we have
"Chatelet", which is our destination.
So all together we have " Est-ce que ce train va Chatelet?". Literally this means "Is it that this
train goes to Chatelet?".
PHRASES
French English
Est-ce que ce train va Chatelet? Does this train go to Chatelet?
VOCABULARY
French English
Est-ce que Is it that
Ce This
Va Go
To

QUICK TIP
For all its efficiency, there is nothing more frustrating than when the public transportation goes
on strike. Strikes are often announced well in advance as so many people rely on it. Some
strikes only last a day, but some have lasted up to a month. French culture has a strong sense
for workers rights and so people tolerate such disturbances. If public transportation does go on
strike, walking or biking is your best way to get around. Cars and taxis will be jammed in traffic.
QUICK TIP 2
Another peculiarity of the French metro is the silence. Many travelers are surprised to find that
everyone rides in silence, staring off into their own world, unless of course they are with friends.
But even conversations between friends are kept hushed. One theory is that the metro is one
of the few places in the city where one can have some quiet. The city is so boisterous that once
everyone finally sits, they want to recuperate. The ones who dont seem to pick up on this are,
of course, the tourists. One can always tell them apart by the loudness of their voices. It would a
respectful gesture to watch your voice in the metro, so as not to disturb the meditating Parisians.

Lesson 25: Riding the Rails II.
Un billet pour Dijon SVP
LESSON NOTES
Taking the train is one of the best ways to see all France has to offer. With the phrases you have
just learned, you will be able to travel the rails with ease. To make your rail travel even smoother,
here are some quick tips to guide you through some kinks.
In France one can buy train tickets at the ticket gate window, a vending machine, and on the
train, though this last option is more expensive. When traveling long distances, there are several
types of tickets, which we'll take a look at in a minute, but first let's work on asking for the ticket.
We can accomplish this by asking "Ticket to (destination) please". Now, of course, we need a
destination. So let's use Dijon. This city is located in the eastern part of France and is well known
for its mustard.
So to ask for one ticket to Dijon in French is "Un billet pour Dijon SVP" or One ticket to Dijon
please. The first word "Un" means "a". It is followed by "billet", which in French is "ticket". So
to recap here, we have "un billet". Literally this means "a ticket". The next word is "pour" which
means "for". This followed by Dijon, our destination. Lastly, we have SVP, which as we have
learned, means "please".
So all together we have "Un billet pour Dijon, SVP". Literally this means "One ticket for Dijon,
please".
Now if you want to buy more than one ticket, for example if you wanted to buy 2 tickets, you can
accomplish this by saying "Deux billets pour Dijon, SVP". Notice that we simply substitute "Un"
with "Deux", and change "billet" to "billets".
However, just the destination may not be enough, as there are several types of seats on trains in
France. There are first class seats, and second class seats.
Once we have established the destination, it is time to select the type of seat you want. in
French "first class" is "premiere classe". The first word " premiere" means "first". It is followed
by "classe", which in French is "class". So all together we have "premire classe". Literally this
means "first class".
"Second class is "seconde classe". The first word "seconde" means "second". It is followed by
"classe", which in French is "class" as we have learned.

PHRASES
French English
Un billet pour Dijon SVP One ticket to Dijon please.
Deux billets pour Dijon, SVP Two tickets to Dijon please.
VOCABULARY
French English
premiere classe First class
seconde classe Second class
Billet Ticket
Billets Tickets
Pour For
SVP Please
QUICK TIP
The French train system is one of the best in the world. They run high speed trains, or TGV
(trains de grande vitesse, French for "high speed trains") to all corners of the country. One can
travel from Paris to Marseille in under four hours, whereas by car it would take at least 8 hours.
However, not all trains are TGV. There are two other systems, Corail and Toz, that access the
minor cities. These can run at a snails pace as they stop at every town along the way. Be sure to
go through the options with the ticket agent to make sure you get the train you want. The slower
trains can be a nice way to see the countryside, if you have the time.
QUICK TIP 2
Buying a ticket on the French train system can be easily done on their website http://
www.voyages-sncf.com . Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the British flag
to read the site in English. They have special internet deals as well in there "promos" section,
though you must be in the French version to see them.

Lesson 26: Taking a Taxi
larc de triomphe
LESSON NOTES
France offers a multitude of quality public transportation options: the metro, the bus, the public
bicycle, etc.. But sometimes a taxi is just what you want. For example, the pubic transportation in
Paris can be jam packed at rush hour and you need some peace and quiet. Or maybe you need
to get somewhere in a hurry. Taxis are always the fastest. Or its late and the public transportation
has closed. If you are worried about prices, splitting the ride came make it worth it. Travel with
in Paris, for example, will never exceed 25 euros. Between four people, a taxi can be the best
option.
In this lesson we'll cover a phrase used to get you to your destination when riding a taxi. We'll
look at the most basic way to express this, which is the word "to" followed by a destination. In
todays lesson well use the arc de triomphe. Now let's here is it once again "arc de triomphe".
This location is known for its "eight lane traffic circle". So now let's go over what to say to the taxi
driver to get there.
In French "to the arc de triomphe" is " larc de triomphe". The word for "to" in French is "". as
we have learned in a previous lesson.
This is the most basic way of expressing where you would like to go. Well, actually just saying
your desired destination should work, but speaking the local language is one of the most fun
things you can do on your travels. So lets go over another option!
You can also say, "I would like to go to (destination)", which in French is "Jaimerais aller larc
de triomphe" The first word "jaimerais" means "I would like". It is followed by "aller", which in
French is "to go". So to recap here, we have "jaimerais aller". Literally this means "I would like to
go". The next part " larc de triomphe" means "to the Arc de Triomphe", as we learned already.
So all together we have "Jaimerais aller larc de triomphe". Literally this means "I would like to
go to the Arc de Triomphe".
In France, you are not expected to tip the driver, although tip if you are feel like as taxi drivers do
not make much money and rely on tips regardless of this rule.
One more helpful phrase when taking a taxi is "Here is fine." This phrase will allow you to get out
of the taxi whenever and wherever you want.

In French "Here is fine." is "L, cest bon". The first word "L" means "here". It is followed by
"cest", which in French is "its". Lastly we have "bon", which in French is "good". All together that
makes "L, cest bon" Literally, this means "Here, it's good."
PHRASES
French English
larc de triomphe To the Arch Of Triumph.
Jaimerais aller larc de triomphe I would like to go to the Arc Of Triumph.
L, cest bon Here is fine.
QUICK TIP
Now that you know all about talking to a taxi driver. How do you get the taxi? The most obvious
option is to go to a busy street and look for one in the traffic. Raise your hand and say the word
"taxi". If his light is on, he's available. If its off, he's not. Another option is to go to a taxi queue.
These are identified by tall green boxes with a white top that reads Taxi. If there are no Taxi's
in the queue, the green boxes have intercoms that talk to an operator who will then send one
to you. The last option is to call a taxi using a number from the yellow pages. If you do this, be
warned that the driver will start running his meter from the moment he is called and this can
make things quite expensive if he is far away. To minimize this, look for numbers that call taxi
stations near you.
QUICK TIP 2
As mentioned in the lesson, tipping is not expected, however it is very appreciated. Taxi drivers
do not earn very much money and rely tips from tourists regardless of whether the French give
them or not. If you feel like being generous, be generous.

Lesson 27: Where Can I Buy This?
O est-ce que je peux trouver un vlo
LESSON NOTES
Looking for things in a foreign country can be tricky. In France, it took me a while to understand
where to look for specific items that back home in the States I could find no problem. For
example, hardware. In the states, for hardware, go to a hardware store like Home Depot. In
France, it's not so easy. The word for hardware in English means a lot of things that in France
are separated into different stores. Hinges and doorknobs are at the door store, while plumbing is
at another store. Take a look at these quick tips to learn how to look for your desired items.
In this lesson well introduce a phrase that will help you track down that specific something youre
looking for. Todays phrase is "Where can I get (something)". First we need something we want
to buy, so lets use "un chapeau" which means "a hat".
In French "Where can I get a hat?" is "O est-ce que je peux trouver un chapeau?". The first
word "O" means "where". It is followed by "est-ce que", which in French is literally "is it that".
So to recap here, we have "O est-ce que ". Literally this means "Where is it that". The next "je"
which means "I". It is followed by "peux" which means "can". The next word is "trouver" which
means "find". Lastly we have our object "un chapeau"
So all together we have "O est-ce que je peux trouver un chapeau?". Literally this means
"Where is it that I can find a hat?".
Now to ask for a different item, we can just replace the word for hat with any other word, adjust
gender and the phrase works just fine. Lets try a bicycle, In French "Where can I get a bicycle?"
is "O est-ce que je peux trouver un vlo". The only thing that changes is the thing you are
looking for. In this case its "vlo".
One can't just substitute one noun for another though. If you are looking for something that is
feminine, like a skirt, ("jupe") you should change the 'un' to 'une' to reflect its gender.
PHRASES
French English
O est-ce que je peux trouver un vlo Where can I get a bicycle
O est-ce que je peux trouver un chapeau Where can i get a hat?
Bazaar Hotel de Ville City Hall Bazaar

VOCABULARY
French English
bricolage Do-it-yourself
Pages Jaunes Yellow Pages
QUICK TIP
The easiest and most efficient tool for searching for those odd items is to use the French yellow
pages, or "Pages Jaunes". Thankfully, there is a website that is easily navigated and if you click
on the British flag, you'll get the English version. However, that won't help with your search
once on the street. Get a good English-French dictionary to find the right terms for what you are
looking for.
QUICK TIP 2
Unlike in the states, France does not champion one stop shopping department stores like
Walmart. Running errands can be a bit tiring as sometimes you have to visit several stores.
However, the notion of big chain stores is catching on. For example, the Home Depot of France
is called Brico Depot. Brico is short for bricolage which in French means do-it-yourself. There
is one store in France, however, that does offer everything, and it does it very well: the BHV.
(Bazaar Hotel de Ville or City Hall Bazaar) There is really only one, in Paris. If you get a chance
to go, it is quite a sight , because there really is everything: hardware, clothing, food, video
games, craft supplies, etc..

Lesson 28: Is There a Store Nearby Here?
Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici
LESSON NOTES
French culture is not known for its convenience. If you are looking to acquire a particular
something, look for it between 8 am and 8pm. There are no 24 hour stores, and only a few open
past 8pm. As well, most shops close on Sunday, though some shops close another day of the
week to be open for desperate Sunday shoppers. Lastly the notion of the convenient store is not
common, except with immigrant populations. Often the local late night "picerie" or grocer is run
by an immigrant, which is why they take the name "arab du coin" which means the local "arab
shop". Otherwise, there is no regular late night convenience store.
Todays phrase is "Is there a (place) near here? First we need a place, so lets use the word
"banque" which means bank.
In French "Is there a bank near here? is "Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici ?". The first word " Y-a-t-il
" means "Is there". It is followed by "une", which in French is "a". So to recap here, we have "
Y-a-t-il une ". Literally this means "There has it a" This is followed by "banque" which we just
learned. The next word "prs means "near". Lastly, we have "dici which means "to here". "di
ci " and "dici".
So all together we have "Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici?". Literally this means "There has it a
bank near to here?".
Now to ask for a different place, we can just replace the word for bank with any other word and
the phrase works just fine. Lets try "bakery"; In French "Is there a bakery near here? is "Y-a-t-il
une boulangerie prs dici ?". The only thing that changes is the thing you are looking for, and the
word 'une', which will change to 'un' if the place is masculine.
PHRASES
French English
Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici Is there a bank near here?
Y-a-t-il une boulangerie prs dici ? Is there a bakery near here?
dans le quartier In the neighborhood
pas loin d'ici Not far from here
y-a-t-il is there?

VOCABULARY
French English
picerie grocer
Arab du coin local Arab shp (convenience store)
QUICK TIP
Youll notice in the above phrase there is another word for near: "du coin" literally "of the corner".
Other terms for this are "dans le quartier," which means "in the neighborhood" and "pas loin d'ici"
or "not far from here."
QUICK TIP 2
Youll also notice the funny phrasing that opens today's question "y-a-t-il" or literally "there has it"
and translates as "is there?" The word "Y" means "there" in the reflexive form. "a" means "has"
and "il" means "it". But what is that "t" for? French grammar requires that no two vowel sounds
touch, so in order to separate "a" and "il", there is a "t". It has no use but to make French sound
more beautiful.

Lesson 29: Directions I
allez tout droit
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you directions that will help you find the place you are looking
for. Previously we introduced, "Is there a (place) near here" and "Where is there a (something)".
But while we can now ask, we haven't addressed understanding the answer. Today were going
to work on understanding what is said. So today well go over basic directions. First we have, "go
straight."
In French "go straight" is "allez tout droit". The first word "allez" means "go". It is followed by
"tout", which in French is "all". So to recap here, we have "allez tout". Literally this means "go all"
The next word "droit" means "straight".
So all together we have "allez tout droit". Literally this means "go all straight ".
Now were going to work on turning. Lets try "turn right"; In French "turn right" is "tournez droit".
The first word "tournez" means "turn". It is followed by "", which in French is "to". Lastly we have
"droit", which in French is "right". This is not to be confused with "tout droit" which we just learned
and means "straight ahead".
Now "turn left"; is the same as the previous phrase, only we replace the word for right ("droit")
with the word for left ("gauche"). In French "turn left" is "tournez gauche". That makes "tournez
gauche".
In French "Its on the right." is "cest droit". The first word "cest" means "its". It is followed by "
droit", which, as we have learned, in French is "on the right".
So all together we have "cest droit". Literally this means "it`s at right ".
Now "Its on the left." is the same as the previous phrase, only we replace the word for right
"droit" with the word for left "gauche": In French, "Its on the left." is "cest gauche".
Another important phrase is "go until (the place)" with (the place) being a specific landmark the
person tells you. So we need a place. Lets use "the bank," which is "la banque" as we learned
in a previous lesson. "Go until the bank" in French is "allez jusqu la banque". The first word
"allez" means "go". as we have learned. This is followed by "jusqu", which in French is "until".
So to recap here, we have "allez jusqu ". Literally this means "go just to". This is followed by "la
banque" which we learned means "the bank".
So all together we have "allez jusqu la banque". Literally this means "go just to the bank ".

These phrases should get you to where you want without much trouble. However, there are
some other useful direction phrases that you might come across:
devant: in front of
derrire: behind
cot de: next to
et puis OR ensuite : and then, or then.
PHRASES
French English
allez tout droit go straight
tournez droit turn right
tournez gauche turn left
cest droit It's on the right
cest gauche It's on the left
allez jusqu la banque Just go to the bank
QUICK TIP
The phrases you learned are in the vous form, meaning in the formal and plural "you". Here are
the same phrases in tu form.
phrase in english vous form tu form
go straight allez tout droit va tout droit
turn right tournez droit tourne droit
turn left tournez gauche tourne gauche
go until the bank allez jusqu la banque va jusqu la banque
QUICK TIP 2
Another useful trick when taking directions in a foreign language is to ask for the general
direction of your destination, and the closer you get, ask more people. That way, you don't need
to retain detailed directions in a foreign language all at once. Rather, people can show you where
to go using landmarks in the immediate area. Once you find the local landmark, ask another
person who will indicate more things you see, sending you a little further along the way, like a
treasure hunt. A good question to ask with this technique is "Je cherche _____. C'est dans quelle
direction?" which means "I'm looking for ________. Which direction is it?"

Lesson 30: Can You Take my/our Picture?
Pouvez vous nous prendre en photo?
LESSON NOTES
The French are not the most techno-crazed people on earth, but they do understand cameras. If
you hand one over, they will generally know how to use it. They may have a somewhat serious
demeanor that does not attract strangers with cameras, but they have a fun side. First, remember
our magic phrase to get someones attention : bonjour, excusez moi de vous dranger and then
ask pouvez vous nous prendre en photo ? Show the person how to have a good time and take
some wacky poses. Then ask them if they want to be in a photo. Voulez vous une photo avec
nous? This can also be a great way to meet people. You can promise to email the photo later
and, suddenly, you have a new friend and their email.
In French Can you take our picture? is "Pouvez vous nous prendre en photo?" The first word
"Pouvez" means "can". It is followed by "vous", which, in French is "you" as we have learned.
So to recap here, we have "pouvez vous". Literally this means "can you". The next word "nous"
means "us". This is followed by "prendre", which, in French is "take". It is followed by "en", which,
in French is "in". Lastly we have "photo", which, in French is "photo".
So all together we have "Pouvez vous nous prendre en photo?". Literally this means "Can you
take us in photo?".
When travelling alone, say Can you take my picture?, or " Pouvez vous me prendre en photo?".
Here, the phrase is the same as the previous one, but we simply substitute the word for "our"
("nous") with "my" ("me").
In English, before someone takes a picture, the person taking the picture may say, 1, 2, 3.
Cheese. In French before a picture is taken, the person taking the picture may say "un, deux,
trois, whisky".
So if youre taking the picture, youll say this. And if you having your picture taken, youll hear
this!
PHRASES
French English
Pouvez vous nous prendre en photo? Can you take our photo
Pouvez vous nous prendre my photo? Can you take my photo?
un, deux, trois, whisky One, two, three, cheese!

French English
Puis-je prendre des photos? May I take photos?
sans flash no flash
bonjour, excusez moi de vous dranger Hello, sorry to bother you...
QUICK TIP
Developing photos in France is much more expensive than in the US. If you dont have a digital
camera, I recommend saving development until you return home, if you live in the States of
course.
QUICK TIP 2
Photos in museums are sometimes allowed. Ask a docent "puis-je prendre des photos?" If they
say yes, they will require no flash. The way to say "no flash" is "sans flash". Once I went to
an exhibition at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris with my aunt. She loves impressionist art and ran
around the museum taking pictures with her digital camera. However, she forgot to turn off the
flash and splashed light all over original Van Goghs. Needless to say, the security made her put
her camera away.

Lesson 31: May I Take Your Picture?
Puis-je vous prendre en photo?
LESSON NOTES
There are may occasions in which you might want to take a stranger's photo: a cute child, a
sweet old lady, that man with the baguette who is oh so typically French looking. However,
the French do not tend to appreciate being photographed by strangers so it is important to
ask permission. If they say no, accept it. However, seeing as France is the number one tourist
destination in the world, there are street performers left, right and center in the summer season
who would be glad to pose for you for a little tip.
In French May I take your picture? is "Puis-je vous prendre en photo?". The first word "Puis-je"
means "May I". It is followed by "vous", which in French is "you", as we have learned. So to recap
here, we have "Puis-je vous". Literally this means "May I you" The next word is "prendre" which,
as we have learned, means "to take". This is followed by "en", which in French is "in". Lastly we
have "photo", which is spelled the same way in English.
So all together we have "Puis-je vous prendre en photo?". Literally this means "May I you take in
photo?".
There may also be times when you want to take a picture with someone. In this case, you could
ask by saying "Puis-je prendre une photo avec vous?" The first word "Puis-je" means "May I".
as we have learned. It is followed by "prendre", which in French is "to take", as we have learned.
Next we have "une", which in French is "a". So to recap here, we have "Puis-je prendre une ".
Literally this means "May I to take a". The next word is "photo" which, as we just learned means
"photo". This is followed by"avec", which in French is "with". Lastly we have "vous ", which, as we
know, in French is "you",
So all together we have "Puis-je prendre une photo avec vous?". Literally this means "May I to
take a photo with you? ".
And finally, for asking permission to take a picture you can say "May I take a picture here?" which
in French is "Puis-je prendre une photo ici?". This almost the same as the previous phrase, only
that the ending is different. Instead of avec vous at the end, we say ici, which in French is
"here". So all together we have " Puis-je prendre une photo ici?". Literally this means "May I to
take a photo here?".

PHRASES
French English
Puis-je vous prendre en photo? May I take your picture?
Puis-je prendre une photo avec vous? May I take a photo with you?
Puis-je prendre une photo ici? May I take a picture here?
QUICK TIP
To ask permission in a very respectful way, remember our little magic phrase when talking to
strangers: "Excusez moi, de vous dranger, mais" (Pardon me for disturbing you, but) and
then ask puis-je vous prendre en photo?"
QUICK TIP 2
In French the verb for "can" is "pouvoir" and this can be conjugated in many different ways
depending on respect and formality.
As mentioned in today's lesson, the respectful form of "can I" or "may I" is "puis-je". There is no
direct translation for the phrase "can I" so it is best to use "puis-je" in this case. Other parts of
speech can also use this polite form of "may".
May we: puissions-nous
May you (though this doesn't exist in English) : puissiez-vous
These forms are extremely respectful, addressed to important teachers, judges, policemen, etc.
A less extreme polite form of can is the conditional form, similar to "could".
Could I : pourrais-je
Could you: pourrais-tu, pourriez vous
Could he/she: Pourrait-il/elle
Could we: pourrions-nous
Could they; pourraient-ils/elles

Lesson 32: How Do You Say This In French?
Comment dit-on
LESSON NOTES
Asking the locals for French vocabulary is probably the quickest way to learn a foreign language,
as the teacher is the original source of the language. The French, in particular, are aware that
their language is not the easiest to learn as they had to learn its finer grammar points in school
as well, as opposed to just picking it up naturally. There is a strong pride in the language so if you
show someone you are sincerely interested in learning it, they will be quick to help, having been
there themselves. Sometimes, even, the French correct you with out you asking. This can come
off as rude to us Anglophones, but in French culture its considered polite. The thinking is, as the
language is a challenge for everyone, we need to help each other out, so catch any mistakes
your friends make.
For today's lesson were going to need a word, as we're going to cover "How do you say
(something) in French?" For today's lesson, let's use "apple" for that something.
In French "How do you say "apple" in French?" is "Comment dit-on "apple" en franais ?". The
first word "Comment" means "how". It is followed by "dit", which in French is "say". So to recap
here, we have "Comment dit ". Literally this means " how say". The next word "on" means "one".
This is followed by "apple", and we know what that means. Next, we have, "en" which as we
have learned means in "in". Lastly we have "franais" which means "French".
So all together we have " Comment dit-on "apple" en franais ?". Literally this means "How say
one apple in French".
You can also use this expression without using any English. To accomplish this you can use
the expression "How do you say this in French?" In French "this" is "cela". In French "How do
you say this in French?" is "Comment dit-on cela en franais?". This phrase is the same is the
previous one, except that the word "apple" is replaced with the word for "this", "cela".
So all together we have "Comment dit-on cela en franais?". Literally this means "How one say
this in French".
PHRASES
French English
Comment dit-on cela en franais? How do you say this in French?
Comment dit-on "apple" en franais ? How do you say "apple" in French?

French English
Comment est-ce qu'on dit cela? How do you say that? (with auxiliary "est-ce
que")
Comment cela se dit? How is that said?
Comment dites vous cela? How do you say that? (Formal you)
Comment dis-tu cela? How do you say that? (Informal you)
QUICK TIP
In French, there are some other ways of asking "how do you say?".
Comment est-ce qu'on dit cela? How do you say that? (with auxiliary "est-ce que")
Comment cela se dit? How is that said?
Comment dites vous cela? How do you say that? (Formal you)
Comment dis-tu cela? How do you say that? (Informal you)
QUICK TIP 2
In this lesson, we also learned the word "on" for the first time. This word means many things. The
first most obvious meaning is "one" as in "how does one say that?". But in French, "on" is much
more common as a subject pronoun than "one" is in English. For example, in English we don't
say "how does one say that?" even though we could. We say "how do you say that?" when "you"
means "everybody." In that sense, "on" is used to talk about things that are true for everybody
and can be translated as the general "you" or the general "we".

Lesson 33: Write It Down Please.
Pouvez vous l'crire SVP
LESSON NOTES
Today we learned how to ask someone to write down what they are saying so you can better
understand it. This may prove a very useful technique in the beginning as many French words
resemble English words, only the intonation is different. So the two phrases "Pouvez vous l'crire
SVP" (Can you write it) and "Pouvez vous le prononcer SVP (Can you pronounce it?) will be
indispensable. To say these phrases in a shorter version, you can say comment lcrire? (how
to write it?) and comment le prononcer? (how to pronounce it?). Though understandable and
commonly said, these forms are not complete sentences, but they work if the other ones seem
too long.
In French Can You write it down please? is "Pouvez vous lcrire SVP?". The first word
"Pouvez" means "can". It is followed by "vous", which in French is "you". So to recap here, we
have "Pouvez vous". Literally this means "can you". The next word "lcrire" means "write it".
Lastly, we have S.V.P. which, as we know, is "please".
So all together we have " Pouvez vous lcrire SVP?". Literally this means "Can you write it
please".
Once you have it a word or phrase written down, you may need someone to read it for you. In
French can you pronounce this please. is "Pouvez vous le prononcer SVP ".This is the same as
the previous phrase except that the words for write it ("lcire") are replaced with the words for
pronounce it, (le prononcer).
So all together we have "Pouvez vous le prononcer SVP ". Literally this means "Can you
pronounce it please".
PHRASES
French English
Pouvez vous l'crire SVP Can you write it?
Comment a s'crit? How is that written?
Pouvez-vous le dire en anglais? Can you say it in English ?
Pouvez-vous l'crire en anglais? Can you write it in English?
comment lcrire? How to write it? (How is it written)
comment le prononcer? How to pronounce it?
(How is it pronounced)

French English
QUICK TIP
Sometimes you may not be able to write, say on a crowded bus or metro, but you want to know
how to write the words being said to you. To ask for this, say "Comment a s'crit?" or "How
is that written?" The person will spell the words to you in French. If you cannot understand the
French letters, you can ask them to say it in English "Pouvez-vous le dire en anglais?"
QUICK TIP 2
Sometimes reading or hearing what someone is saying isn't enough to understand (for example,
if their pronunciation and handwriting are not understandable). In this case you can ask them to
write what they want to say in English. To ask for this, say "Pouvez-vous l'crire en anglais?"

Lesson 34: How Do You Read This?
Comment lit-on cela en franais?
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to a phrase that will provide you with the tools to learn from
the people around you. A dictionary is a great idea, but dont forget that you can use French to
learn in a more fun and interactive way.
When you come across a word you cant read, you can simply use this phrase to get your
answer. "How do you read this in French?" is "Comment a se lit en Franais?". The first word
"Comment" means "how". It is followed by "a", which in French is "this". So to recap here, we
have "Comment a". Literally this means "how this". The next word "se" means "itself". This is
followed by "lit", which in French is "reads". Next, we have "en", which in French is "in". Finally,
we have "Franais", which means "French".
So all together we have "Comment a se lit en Franais?". Literally this means "How does this
read itself in French " and translates as "how do you read this in French?"
Once you know how to say the word, you will want to know what it means. "What does it mean"
is "Quest-ce que a veut dire?". The first word "Quest-ce que" literally means "what it is it that"
and translates as "what". It is followed by "a", which, as we just learned, means "this". So to
recap here, we have " Quest-ce que a". Literally this means "What is it that this". The next word
"veut" means "wants". This is followed by "dire", which in French is "to say". "dire" and "dire".
So all together we have "Quest-ce que a veut dire?". Literally this means "What is it that this
wants to say? " and translates as "what does it mean?"
Asking how to read something will be essential to your learning the language. French spelling
implies different sounds than in English, even if words are written in exactly the same way. So
dont be shy about pointing at words you see and asking today's question. There are also other
ways of asking how something is read. These are a little more "proper" than "comment a se lit
en franais?", which is more common. I would save these examples for more formal occasions,
with teachers, for example.
Comment lit-on cela en franais? How does one read this in French?
Comment lisez vous cela en franais? How do you read this in French? (formal you)
Comment lit-tu cela en franais? How do you read this in French? (informal you)

Notice the word for "this" in these examples is "cela" and not "a". "a" and "cela" mean exactly
the same thing, however "cela" is somewhat fancier and rings more beautifully. The inverted
subject-verb word order is also somewhat more refined and that is why it calls for a more refined
vocabulary.
You can also drop the "en franais" and say "Comment a se lit" as it is obvious that what you
are reading is in French.
PHRASES
French English
Comment lit-on cela en franais? How does one read this in French?
Comment lisez vous cela en franais? How do you read this in French? (formal you)
Comment lit-tu cela en franais? How do you read this in French? (informal
you)
Comment a se lit? How do you read this ?
Qu'est-ce que a veut dire? What does it mean?
Pouvez-vous le rptez? Please say it again.
Ecrivez les'il vous plit. Please write it down
QUICK TIP
After you have asked "what does it mean?" ("qu'est-ce que a veut dire?") you will likely need
other phrases you have already learned like "please say it again" (Pouvez-vous le rptez?) and
"please write it down" (Ecrivez le, s'il vous plit.).
QUICK TIP 2
One trick to knowing how to say something in French is to work with words you already know in
English that are spelled the same way in French, such as "nation" and "government". This will
clue you in very quickly on the differences between the two ways of pronouncing.

Lesson 35: Hotel 1 - Checking In
j'aimerais faire mon inscription
LESSON NOTES
In French "I would like to check-in please." is "jaimerais faire mon inscription SVP". The first
word "jaimerais" means "I would like". It is followed by "faire", which in French is "to do". So to
recap here, we have "jaimerais faire". Literally this means "I would like to do". Next is "mon"
which means "my". It is followed by "inscription" which means "check-in". Lastly, we have "SVP"
which means "please".
So all together we have " jaimerais faire mon inscription SVP ". Literally this means "I would like
to do my check-in please".
Upon stating the phrase "Check-in please." you will most likely be asked "Your name please.",
which in French is "Votre nom SVP". The first word "votre" means "your". It is followed by "nom",
which in French is "name". So to recap here, we have votre nom". Literally this means "your
name". The next word "SVP" means "please".
So all together we have "Votre nom SVP ". Literally this means "your name please".
You may also be asked how to spell your name which in French is "Comment a scrit?". The
first word "Comment" means "how". It is followed by "a", which, as we have learned means
"that". This is followed by "Scrite" which literally means "writes itself".
So all together we have " Comment a scrit?". Literally this means "How does that write itself?".
As mentioned, hotels and any other accommodations serving tourists are staffed by people who
speak the minimum English needed to host guests. However, that doesn't stop us from taking
that extra step and impressing the locals.
There are some other ways to say the phrases we have learned. First the French for "I would like
to check in" ("j'aimerais faire mon inscription") is not as common as the English phrase. You may
also say "Hello, I have a room reserved." or "Bonjour, j'ai une chambre rserve". This is just as
common. Secondly, "how do you spell that?" is commonly translated as "Comment a s'crit?" or
"How is it written?". Sometimes people use the verb "to spell" or "peller". This makes "Comment
vous l'pellez?" This form of the question is often avoided with tourists because it sounds so
much like "What's your name?" in French, which is "Comment vous vous appellez?" and makes
the questions and answers go in circles.

PHRASES
French English
j'aimerais faire mon inscription I would like to check in
Bonjour, j'ai une chambre rserve. Hello, I have a room reserved
Comment a s'crit? How is it written?
Comment vous l'pellez? How do you spell that?
Votre nom s'il vous plit. Your last name please.
prnom first name
deuxime prnom middle name
Hotel htel
auberge de jeunesse hostel
gte vacation condo-cottage-cabin
chambre dhote bed and breakfast
camping Camp ground
camping roulottes Camp ground for trailers
QUICK TIP
The question "Votre nom, s'il vous plit." is translated as "your last name please". The word
"nom" refers only to one's last name, whereas the homonym "name" n English usually means
one's first name. Watch out for this false friend, especially when filling out forms, like customs
declarations. The word for first name is "prnom". Middle name is "deuxime prnom".
QUICK TIP 2
Here is a glossary list of different types of accommodations in France, so you will be able to read
signs and tourist literature.
hotel htel (note: the word htel in French sometimes is used for fancy buildings like htel de
ville or City Hall (literally hotel of the city) This is not a hotel chain, though you could pull a joke
on your friends and say if you come to France, stay in the Htel de Ville. Every town has one
and theyre always centrally located.)
hostel : auberge de jeunesse
vacation condo-cottage-cabin : gte
Bed & Breakfast : chambre dhte
Camp ground : camping
Camp ground for trailers : camping pour roulottes

Lesson 36: Hotel 2 (More ... please)
auriez-vous?
LESSON NOTES
Today's phrases will ensure you'll have everything you need to make your stay complete. To
make sure you ask with the greatest courtesy here is a more polite formulation of today's phrase
"Avez-vous?" or "do you have?" (as in "avez-vous des serviettes") To make this phrase more
polite we can put it in the conditional and say "auriez-vous?" which is "would you have?" We can
do this to almost any verb in a question to make it more polite.
The first phrase is "What is our checkout time?" which in French is "Quelle est notre heure de
dpart?". The first word "quelle" means "what". It is followed by "est", which in French is "is". So
to recap here, we have "Quelle est". Literally this means "What is". The next word word "notre",
which is "our". This is followed by "heure", which in French is "hour". The next word is "de", which
in French is "of". Lastly we have "dpart", which in French is "departure". "dpart" "d part " and
"dpart".
So all together we have " Quelle est notre heure de dpart?". Literally this means "What is our
hour of departure".
There will be times when you need more of certain things.
Lets try towels. In French "Can I have some more towels?" is "Puis-javoir plus de serviette?".
You can use this for any item you require, the only thing that changes is the thing you are looking
for. In this case its "serviettes" (towels).
There are a few more words that might come in handy.
Toothbrush "brosse dents"
Toothpaste "dentifrice"
Shampoo "shampooing"
Soap "savon"
In France the electrical system runs at 230 volts therefore, well introduce you to crucial phrase
for all of you travelers out there who like to bring electrical appliances thousands of miles to die a
fiery death in on foreign soil.

in French "Do you have a power converter?" is "Avez-vous un convertiseur?". The first word
"Avez" means "have". It is followed by "vous", which, as we know, in French is "you". So to recap
here, we have " Avez vous". Literally this means "have you". The next word "un" means "a". This
is followed by "convertisseur", which in French is "converter".
So all together we have " Avez-vous un convertiseur?". Literally this means "Do you have a
converter?".
PHRASES
French English
auriez-vous? would you have?
Avez-vous? do you have?
quitter l'hotel check out
Quelle est notre heure de dpart? What is our checkout time ?
Quand est-ce qu'on doit quitter l'hotel? When must we leave the hotel?
J'aimerais laisser mes valises/cls l'accueil. I would like to check my bags/keys at the
desk.
J'aimerais rcuprer mes baggages/cls. I would like to check out/pick up my
bags/keys.
VOCABULARY
French English
enregistrement Check-in
embarquement Boarding
dparts Departures
Arrivals arrives
serviette Napkin or towel
QUICK TIP
The term, checkout has many translations. Its is also "quitter l'hotel" and today's phrase "Quelle
est notre heure de dpart?" could also be said "Quand est-ce qu'on doit quitter l'hotel" or "when
must we leave the hotel?". To check in or check out items such as keys and luggage, say these
phrases. To say "I would like to check my bags/keys at the desk" say "j'aimerais laisser mes
valises/cls l'accueil". To check them back out, say "j'aimerais rcuprer mes baggages/cls".
Check-in at an airport is translated differently. Here are some useful terms for when you are
traveling via airports.
Check-in: "enregistrement"
Boarding: "embarquement"
Departures: dparts
Arrivals: arrives

QUICK TIP 2
In French, the word "serviette" is also napkin. Ask for a "serviette" at a restaurant, and, no, the
waiter will not bring you a beach towel.

Lesson 37: Post Office I
ceci, a, cela
LESSON NOTES
The French postal service is government owned and operated, so it comes with all the traditional
quirks of a French public institution: Byzantine bureaucracy, long lines, testy customer service
workers, and plastic doorknobs. (Why all French government funded institutions use plastic
doorknobs is beyond me, I doubt they are cheaper than metal). As the public postal service is the
only one available, everyone, from rich to poor, must go to the post office at some point. Going
can be like taking a peek at all the types of people who live in the neighborhood. Fortunately,
service has improved over the years with faster lines and more coherent options.
Today we're going to work on getting your postcards, letters and packages home. The
expression to accomplish this is "I'd like to send this to" and then the desired country. For today's
lesson we'll use New York.
In French "I'd like to send this to New York." is "Jaimerais envoyer ceci New York". The first
word "jaimerais" means "I would like", as we learned in the previous lesson. It is followed by
"envoyer", which in French is "to send". So to recap here, we have "jaimerais envoyer". Literally
this means "I would like to send". The next word "ceci" means "this". It is followed by "", which in
French is "to" as we have learned. Lastly we New York.
So all together we have "Jaimerais envoyer ceci New York". Literally this means "I would like
to send this to New York".
We can build this up a bit by adding in the words for what we would like to send. For example,
above we mentioned postcards, letters, and packages, so let's start there. The word for
"postcard" in French is "carte postale". So the expression would now be "Jaimerais envoyer
cette carte postale New York". Notice the position of "carte postale" in the sentence.
"Letter" in French is "lettre".
And finally we have the word for "package" in French is "colis".
Sending a package requires a closer look, which we'll do in the next lesson.
PHRASES
French English
Jaimerais envoyer ceci New York I would like to end this to New York.

French English
VOCABULARY
French English
ceci, a, cela this
tabac tobacco shop
carte postale postcard
QUICK TIP
You may have noticed that the word for this in the phrase I would like to send this to New
York is translated as ceci (Jaimerais envoyer ceci) and not a or cela which we have
seen to mean this in previous lessons. This is because the package will be in your hands
and what is close to you is represented by ceci. a and cela can also mean this in other
circumstances, for example when you point at something and ask a question about it such as
comment a se lit?
QUICK TIP 2
Stamps timbres. You can buy stamps at the post office, but if you want to avoid the long lines,
you can use the electronic scales that print stamps depending on the weight of your package.
You can also buy stamps at a tabac or tabacco shop. You can find these buy looking for a red
sign in the shape of a distinctive elongated diamond. However, if you have a package, you must
stand in line and hand deliver it to someone at the counter. Letters must be put into the yellow
mailboxes on the street.

Lesson 38: Post Office II. Packages
Poids
LESSON NOTES
Today we're going to work on getting your package one step closer to its intended destination.
In a previous lesson we discussed the phrase, "I would like to send this package to New York",
which was "Jaimerais envoyer ceci New York". When sending a package though, you're going
to have to explain what's in the package. You may even be asked, "What's in the package?"
which in French is "Quest-ce que votre colis cotient?". The first word "Quest-ce" means "what
is it that". It is followed by "que", which in French is "that". So to recap here, we have "quest-ce
que". Literally this means "what is it that". Let's take a look at the next word, "votre", means
"your". It is followed by "colis", which in French is "package". Lastly we have "contient" which
means "contains".
So all together we have " Quest-ce que votre colis cotient?". Literally this means "What is it that
your package contains? ".
At the post office, this question will not be asked of you by another person, but in writing on
the customs declaration the post office sticks to the outside of your package. This is similar to
customs forms concerning your luggage as well. So you may not hear this question as much
as you will read it. I will write it for you here. Quest-ce que votre colis, (or valise/suitcase)
contient? Here are few other terms that you might find on your customs declarations.
Poids: weight
valeur: value
destinataire: addressee
expediteur: sender
PHRASES
French English
Quest-ce que votre colis cotient? What does your package contain?

VOCABULARY
French English
Poids weight
detaxe sales tax redemption
valeur value
destinataire addressee
expediteur sender
valise suitcase
QUICK TIP
In addition to sending packages, La Poste is also a public bank. Its rates are the cheapest but its
bureaucracy is heinous. If you ever need to do banking, I recommend a private bank. However, if
you go to any remote places, the post office may be the only place you can take out cash as they
also have ATMs.
QUICK TIP 2
Other companies like DHL and Fedex send packages at almost the same rates as the post
office so you may try them first if you have a package. However, be careful if you have packages
sent to you as there are heavy taxes on any imported merchandise. So you if you buy anything
from overseas and have it sent to you on your trip, it will come with a tax. On the reverse end, if
you buy a certain amount of merchandise in France and you take it back home, you can collect
whats called the detaxe or the sales tax. This is the same notion that operates commerce in a
Duty-Free shop in an airport: non-resident customers can be exempt from sales tax. To collect
the sales tax at customs, you must ask for the detaxe at the store where you are shopping.
There usually is a minimum purchase to be eligible, but if you can get it, its worth it as it is around
20 percent.

Lesson 39: Foreign Exchange
coupure plus grosses, sil vous plit.
LESSON NOTES
Exchanging money in France is quite convenient! One can exchange money at airports, banks,
or withdraw money from an ATM. Rates applied when withdrawing money from an ATM are likely
to be the best; however, when using an ATM it is advisable to make one large withdrawal as
you may be charged by both the local bank and your home one. So first things first, let's find a
location that will exchange money.
First, let's review some previous phrases and patterns we've already covered.
In French Is there an ATM near here? is Y-a-t-il un distributeur prs dici? The first word Y-a-t-il
means "Is there". This is followed by un, which in French is "a". So to recap here, we have Y-a-t-il
un. Literally this means "There has it a". This is followed by distributeur which means "ATM". The
next word prs means "near". Lastly, we have dici which means "to here".
So all together we have Y-a-t-il un distributeur prs dici?. Literally this means "There has it an
ATM near of here? ".
Now to ask for a bank, we can just replace the word for ATM with bank and the phrase works just
fine. Is there a bank near here? is Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici?. The only thing that changes is
the thing you are looking for. In this case its banque.
For times when there is neither a bank nor an ATM, you can ask, "Where can I exchange
currency?" In French, this is O est-ce que je peux changer de largent?. The first word O
means "where". It is followed by est-ce, which in French is "is it". So to recap here, we have
O est-ce. Literally this means "where is it". The next word que means "that". It is followed by
je, which in French is "I". This is followed by peux, which in French is "can". This is followed by
changer, which in French is "exchange". Lastly we have de largent, which in French is "some
money".
So all together we have O est-ce que je peux changer de largent?. Literally this means "Where
is it that I can change some money?".
Exchanging currency is pretty straightforward. "You need to fill out some forms, and then present
the amount you want exchanged." One extremely useful phrase is, "Smaller denominations
please." as it is usually beneficial to have smaller amounts of currency on you for paying for the
bus fare, taxi fare, etc.

In French Smaller denominations please is coupures plus petites, SVP. The first word coupures
means "denominations". It is followed by plus, which in French is "more". So to recap here, we
have coupures plus. Literally this means "denominations more". The next word petites means
"small".
So all together we have coupures plus petites, SVP. Literally this means "denominations more
small, please".
These phrases will certainly be enough to get you where you need for your money needs.
However, if you would like more simplified versions, here are a couple.
As we learned Is there and ATM near here is Y-a-t-il un distributeur prs dici? We can also say
Im looking for an ATM which is Je cherche un distributeur. When we are looking for something,
all we need to say is Je cherche ____ and then say the thing. If we are looking for an exchange
office we say Je cherche un bureau de change. A bank? Je cherche un bureau de change.
Remember, say bonjour before you ask questions to strangers.
PHRASES
French English
coupure plus grosses, sil vous plit. larger denominations, please.
bureau de change exchange office
Y-a-t-il un distributeur prs dici? Is there an ATM near here?
Y-a-t-il une banque prs dici? Is there a bank near here?
Je cherche un distributeur. I'm looking for an ATM.
QUICK TIP
ATMs give out bills in 10s, 20s, and 50s. If you want larger denominations, you will have to go
inside a bank. To ask for larger denominations, please say coupure plus grosses, sil vous plit.
QUICK TIP 2
If you do any traveling outside the Euro Zone, the countries that all use the euro currency, you
may end up with foreign currency, such as Swiss francs or Czech krner. If you would like to
change these in France, you can go to any bank or a bureau de change (exchange office). Also,
if you have any old French francs from a trip ten years ago, the only place you can change them
for euros is at the Banque de France or Bank of France which is like the French mint. No other
banks accept francs.

Lesson 40: Telephone Card
Tlcarte
LESSON NOTES
The standard phone card in France is called Tlcarte, provided by the national phone company.
Time on the card is counted in units or units: 50 units for a 7 euro card, 120 units for 15 euro
card. The rates are not the most competitive and they can only be used in phone booths or
cabines. This is because they use a special electronic chip called a puce that stores the
cards number of units and is only compatible with French phone booths. There are other phone
cards one can buy that dont use the electronic chip and have better rates, especially for calling
overseas. These are found at most of the same places tlcartes are sold, tobacco shops and
newsstands. If you ask todays question Une carte 7 / 15 euros, sil vous plit the vendor will
assume you want Tlcarte. So if you want a competitors phone card, you will have to ask for
it specifically. The conversation will go something like this
YOU: Une carte tlphonique sans puce, sil vous plit (A phone card without chip, please).
VENDOR : Pour appeler en France ou ltranger ? (For calls in France or abroad?)
YOU: A ltranger / En France (Abroad / In France)
VENDOR: A combien? (At what price?)
YOU: (name a price. Study the numbers lesson to say a price).
PHRASES
French English
Une carte tlphonique sans puce, sil vous A phone card without chip, please.
plit
Pour appeler en France ou ltranger ? For calls in France or abroad?
A ltranger Abroad
En France In France
VOCABULARY
French English
Tlcarte French brand phone card
units units

French English
cabine phone booth
puce electronic chip
QUICK TIP
Telecommunications has become big business in France since the government privatized it 10
years ago. The prices can get quite competitive, which is good news for consumers, but the
number of choices can be mind-boggling. If you want to circumvent the problem, either bring or
rent an international cell phone, which you will learn about in the next lesson, or buy international
phone cards from home, which you can find on the internet.
QUICK TIP 2
Competitors phone cards are also available at call centers and internet cafs. These are
easy to find buy looking for an @ sign on the street, which are quite common in immigrant
neighborhoods were people make overseas calls regularly.

Lesson 41: One Please
Une place, SVP
LESSON NOTES
There is are two translations for ticket in French place and billet. Place is the seat that the
ticket represents. At a movie theatre, for instance, the ticket seller will ask you combien de
places? this means How many tickets? but has the sense how many places? When you go
into the theatre, the person who tears your ticket will say votre billet, sil vous plit which means
your ticket please. Here, billet (ticket) means the actual physical ticket in your hand. Billet is
used for other tickets as well.
plane ticket: billet davion
train ticket: billet de train
Ticket is a word in French, too, but this means receipt. Bus and metro tickets are called
tickets as they are more like receipts than an actual billet, but hold on to them as controllers
will need to see a valid one or you will get a fine.
A ticket that a policeman gives you, like a speeding ticket, is a verbalisation.
PHRASES
French English
Une place, SVP One ticket, please.
Combien de places? How many tickets?
Votre billet, sil vous plit your ticket please
VOCABULARY
French English
Ticket receipt
verbalisation ticket (from policeman)
sige seat
place ticket (in your mind)
billet de train train ticket
billet d'avion plane ticket

QUICK TIP
Remember that the translation for "one" is either "un" or "une" depending on the gender of
the object. For example, we say "un billet" (masculine) and "une place" (feminine). The other
numbers do not change genders, or rather, they have no gender.
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The word place also refers to the seat you use. For example, an usher at a theatre will ask you
quel est votre place? This means, what seat do you have? However, the actual physical chair
is not called une place but un sige.

Lesson 42: Renting A Telephone
Jaimerais louer un portable
LESSON NOTES
Some other countries' cell phones work in France. You must verify with your carrier if your phone
is compatible. If this is the case, you will need to get a French SIM card (Subscriber Identity
Module) that looks like a little chip and contains all the phones data. This will replace the SIM
card currently in your phone, and that you will put back once you are home. These are relatively
inexpensive to purchase, around 35 euros, and you will have your own French phone number.
If you do not have a France-compatible phone, you can also buy one when you buy the SIM
card. This may get more expensive than renting, but that depends on how long you stay. Cell
phone calls in France are much more expensive than in other countries, so most people send
text messages when they need to contact another cell phone. Long distance calls are incredibly
expensive on French cell phones, though receiving calls is free.
If you are looking for a cell phone store, the term is a magasin de tlphone portable. A phone
rental place is a location de tlphone portable.
In French "I would like to rent a cell phone." is Jaimerais louer un portable. The first word
jaimereais means "I would like", as we have learned in previous lessons. This is followed by
louer, which in French is "to rent". So to recap here, we have Jaimerais louer. Literally this
means "I would like to rent". The next word un, as we have learned, means "a". Lastly we have
portable which means "cell phone".
So all together we have Jaimerais louer un portable. Literally this means "I would like to rent a
cell phone".
In this day and age, there may be instances when you need to rent more than one phone. Such
as you may want a phone for each member of the family. In this case, you would add the number
of phones you want:
"I would like to rent 2 phones." is Jaimerais louer deux portables.
"I would like to rent 3 phones." is Jaimerais louer trois portables.
Two important questions related to your plan are "Are incoming calls free?" and "How much are
calls to (country)?"
"Are incoming calls free?" is Est-ce que les appels entrants sont gratuits?.

And, "How much are calls to the U.S.?" is Combien cotent les appels vers les Etats-Unis?. The
word for the U.S. is Les Etats Unis means "The United States". To ask about another country or
destination, simply substitute the word for the U.S. In the case of England the phrase would be
Combien cote les appels vers langleterre?.
PHRASES
French English
Jaimerais louer un portable I would like to rent a cell phone.
Est-ce que les appels entrants sont gratuits? Are incoming calls free?
Combien cotent les appels vers les How much are calls to the US?
Etats-Unis?
QUICK TIP
You may have noticed that the words for The United States, Les Etats-Unis, had a lot of z
sounds to them. This is our old friend Liason: the souding of silent letters at the end of a word,
in this case s, when placed before a word that begins with a vowel. In Les Etats-Unis there is a
silent s at the end of Les and Etats. You put them together with E of Etat and the U of Unis
and they turn into Zs. Sometimes people refer to the US as Les States or even Les U.S.
QUICK TIP 2
The word portable is short for tlphone portable just like cell is short for cell phone. Portable
is also short for ordinateur portable which means portable computer aka laptop. The only way
to know the difference is to listen to the context of the sentence, though usually portable means
cell phone.

Lesson 43: Do You Have An English Version?
Avez-vous un guide en anglais?
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to crucial phrase for all of you travelers out there who are
interested in learning more about the tourist attractions youre going to visit. Learning about the
history and cultural significance of places you visit can be just as rewarding as seeing them.
Today well cover, "Do you have an English information guide?"
In French "Do you have an English information guide?" is "Avez-vous un guide en anglais?". The
first two words "Avez-vous" mean "Have you", as we have learned in previous lessons. They
are followed by "un", which in French is "a", as we know. This is followed by "guide", which in
French is "guide". So to recap here, we have "Avez vous un guide". Literally this means "have
you a guide". The next word "en" means "in". This is followed by "anglais", which in French is
"English". So all together we have "Avez-vous un guide en Anglais?". Literally this means "Have
you a guide in English".
Todays phrase will be helpful in places where information guides are offered, such as museums.
What if you are looking for something in English other than a guide? A more universal phrase is
do you have an English version? or Avez-vous une version en anglais?. Again, if you want
to look for another language, all you need is to change the word anglais for the language you
desire.
PHRASES
French English
Avez-vous un guide en Anglais? Do you have an English information guide?
VOCABULARY
French English
V.F (version franaise) French version
V.O. (version originale) Original version

QUICK TIP
You will notice that the word for English anglais is not capitalized. In French, languages
and nationalities are not capitalized. There are other words that are not capitalized as well.
For instance, days of the week and months are not capitalized. Countries, like France are
capitalized however.
QUICK TIP 2
At the movie theatre, English-language films are often offered in two versions V.F. and V.O..
V.F. stands for version franaise or French version. This is the version that is dubbed over in
French by other actors. V.O. stands for version originale, or original version. This version has
no dubbing, but it still has French subtitles. If you go to the movies to see the latest film from
the U.S., be sure to verify what version is screening. You may buy your ticket and sit down to
realize the whole thing is dubbed. To verify the version, look for the letters VF or VO on the
poster outside the theatre, or in the listings in the newspaper.

Lesson 44: How Do You Eat This?
Comment a se mange?
LESSON NOTES
In France there are many delicious dishes! We've already covered how to order them, but now
how to eat them! That, however, is not always so straight forward. So in today's lesson we'll learn
how to ask How do you eat this?"
In French How do you eat this? is Comment a se mange?. The first word comment means
"how". It is followed by a, which in French is "this". So to recap here, we have Comment a.
Literally this means "How that?" The next wordse which means something like "itself". Lastly we
have mange, which in French is "eat".
So all together we have comment a se mange?. Literally this means "How does that eat itself?".
There are other instances when you may want to add some sauce, etc. to your dish. In this case
you can ask Do you add something to this? which in French is est-ce qu-on y ajoute quelque
chose?. The first word Est-ce means "Is it". This is followed by quon, which in French is "that
one". So to recap here, we have est-ce quon. Literally this means "Is it that one?" Next is y
which means something like "to this". This is followed by ajoute, which in French is "add". This is
followed by quelque, which in French is something like "some". Lastly we have "chose", which in
French is "thing".
So all together we have Est-ce qu-on y ajoute quelque chose?. Literally this means "Is it that one
adds something to this?".
Finally, something that may come in handy for everyone out there adverse to hot things. The all
important question, "Is this hot?" Hot as in spicy!
In French Is this hot? is a pique?. The first word a means "this". as we just learned. This is
followed by pique, which in French is "stings". So all together we have a pique?. Literally this
means "This stings?" and translates as "is this spicy?"
You may have noticed that many phrases in this course use reflexive verbs, verbs whose subject
is also the object. Comment a se mange, for example, is literally how does this eat itself?,
meaning how is this eaten? The French often speak in reflexive verbs. Se mange, se dit, se lit
(eat, say, read) are some examples we have seen. You will notice that when the French want to
talk about something in general, such as how something is eaten, they will use this form, while in
English we use the passive form: how is this eaten?
All this complicated grammar just to show how subtle the language can get.

PHRASES
French English
comment a se mange? How do you eat this?
est-ce qu-on y ajoute quelque chose? Do you add something to this?
a pique? Is this spicy?
Avez vous de la moutarde qui pique? Do you have spicy mustard?
QUICK TIP
Very little food in French cuisine is spicy. Rather, French cuisine is based on bringing out the
natural flavors of meats and vegetables, or enhancing them with butter or cream. The results are
subtle and delicate, which spices would overpower. The closest thing they have is hot mustard,
but this is rare. To ask for it, say avez vous de la moutarde qui pique? which means do you have
spicy mustard? If you want spicy food, France is home to a vibrant immigrant culture. Arab and
Indian cuisine, for example, offer an option for all you feigns of the hot sauce.
QUICK TIP 2
French food is almost always eaten with silverware, usually a fork and knife. However, some
dishes require special silverware, such as snails, while some meals need your fingers, such as
frogs legs. I recommend eating either of these once while you are in France, just to know the
experience. Going outside our habits is all a part of traveling.

Lesson 45: I'm A Vegetarian
Je suis vgtarien
LESSON NOTES
Today's lesson is not only for all of the vegetarians out there but is also for anyone with an
adversity to a particular food! There are many reasons a person won't eat a particular food,
and there may be instances when communicating this is necessary. Today we'll go over some
phrases to ensure you don't get any unwanted surprises on the plate.
Vegetarianism is slowly catching on, but is not yet common. If you are invited to dinner, you must
be sure to tell your host the phrase you just learned. However, if you want to cook vegetarian,
France has some of the best produce in Europe, plus some of the best vegetable cuisine.
Vegetarians do not have to start eating meat to survive here. Most restaurants have a couple
vegetable options. For vegans, though, it is another matter. Dairy-free food is hard to come by.
In France there is a natural food chain called Naturalia which has some vegan options. The word
for vegan is vgtalien with an l.
In French I am a vegetarian is "Je suis vgtarien". The first word "Je" means "I". It is followed
by "suis", which in French is "am". So to recap here, we have "Je suis". Literally this means "I
am". The next word "vgtarien" which means "vegetarian".
So all together we have "Je suis vgtarien". Literally this means "I am vegetarian".
Another way you communicate you don't eat a particular food is by saying just that!
In French I don't eat meat! is "Je ne mange pas la viande". The first word "Je" means "I". as
we learned. This is followed by "ne", which in French is a negative auxiliary that comes before
the verb. So to recap here, we have "Je ne". Literally this means "I not". The next word "mange"
which means "eat". This is followed by "pas", which in French is a negative auxiliary that comes
after the verb. Next we have "la", which in French is "the". Finally, we have "viande", which in
French is "meat".
So all together we have "Je ne mange pas la viande". Literally this means "I dont eat meat".
PHRASES
French English
Je suis vgtarien I am a vegetarian
Je ne mange pas la viande I don't eat meat

QUICK TIP
You may have noticed that in French all nouns take an article, such as la viande and le
fromage while in English we dont say the meat or the cheese when we are talking about
them in general. This because each noun has a gender and this carried by its article. So you say
le or la to show the gender of the word.
QUICK TIP 2
You just learned how to say what you dont eat. How do you say what you do eat? Simple, take
out the negative participles from todays phrase Je ne mange pas la viande and you have Je
mange la viande: I eat meat.

Lesson 46: Help!
au secours
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to some phrases that hopefully you wont have to use. When
traveling to France while the threat of physical violence is not prevalent, one should always be
careful. In addition, this phrase is not limited to threatening situations, but can also be used in
the unfortunate event that you or someone around you is in the need of immediate assistance.
Today well learn how to call for help.
In French Help! is "au secours". The first word "au" means some thing like "to the". It is followed
by "secours", which in French is something like "help".
So all together we have "au secours". Literally this means "to the help".
In French you can call for the police by saying "police".
The phone number for the police in France is 17.
The terms you learned today will be all you need in an emergency. However, there are other
phrases we can use when we need help less urgently. For example, I need help is jai besoin
daide. Even simpler is aidez-moi which is help me. If you want to ask can you help me say
pouvez-vous maider? (formal you) or peux-tu maider? (informal you).
PHRASES
French English
jai besoin daide I need help
aidez-moi help me
pouvez-vous maider? can you help me(formal you)
peux-tu maider? can you help me(informal you)
VOCABULARY
French English
au secours Help!
police police
Police nationale national police

French English
Gendarmes military police
CRS riot police
commissariat police station
prfecture police headquarters
Htel de ville City hall
QUICK TIP
In France there is not one police force, but three. If you ever have things stolen or need to report
some other crime, you will have to look for the right one. Each has their own headquarters as
well.
Police nationale (national police) : These are the civil police who keep the peace in urban
areas. They are distinguished by a flat round hat with a bill.
Gendarmes (literally, people of arms): military police. Technically under the ministry of defense
(military), but used as the police force for rural areas of France. Distinguished by a cylindrical hat
with a bill.
CRS (compagnie rpublicaine de scurit or republican company of security): riot police. A

section of the national police force deployed during protests, marches, and riots. They are
distinquished be a red, shield-shaped badge and small, blue hat with no bill and peaked in the
middle.
Buildings
commisariat: police station. This is the local police station. You can report crimes here.
prfecture: police headquarters. You can also report crimes here. This also the administrative
building where foreigners regulate their papers.
htel de ville: City Hall. Stolen items are reported at city hall.
QUICK TIP 2
The French police are not the nicest police force in the world. When they get angry, they can get
somewhat gang like, as we saw during the suburban riots in 2005. But, for the most part, they are
easy to talk to if you speak in a respectful manner. They are very useful if you need directions for
instance.

Lesson 47: Medical Assistance
jai besoin dun mdecin
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to some phrases useful in the case you need medical
assistance. When traveling sometimes the body takes a little time to adjust, and the immune
system is no different. So today well go over some phrases that will help get you to a location
where you can get medical assistance. Well start with the phrase "I need a doctor."
In French "I need a doctor" is Jai besoin dun mdecin. The first word Jai means "I have". It is
followed by besoin, which in French is "need". So to recap here, we have Jai besoin. Literally
this means "I have need". The next word dun means "of a". This is followed by mdecin, which in
French is "doctor".
So all together we have Jai besoin dun mdecin. Literally this means "I have need of a doctor".
If things arent too bad, perhaps you only need to get to a pharmacy. In French "I need a
pharmacy." is Jai besoin dune pharmacie. Notice that the only thing that changes here is dune
pharamacie and that the rest is the same.
If you need to get there or would like someone to take you, you can use the following phrase.
"Please take me to the doctor." which is SVP, amenez moi chez le mdecin. The first word SVP
means "please" as we have learned. This is followed by amenez, which in French is something
like "bring". So to recap here, we have SVP, amenez. Literally this means "Please, take". The
next word moi means "me". This is followed by chez, which in French is something like "the
house of or the place of". Next we have le, which in French is "the". Lastly we have mdecin,
which in French is "doctor" as we learned.
So all together we have SVP, amenez moi chez le mdecin. Literally this means "Please bring
me to the place of the doctor".
And of course, for the pharmacy you can just substitute the word for pharmacy and get SVP,
amenez moi la pharamacie which is "Please take me to the pharmacy".
And just for insurance purposes we should cover the phrase, "Please call an ambulance" which
is SVP, Appellez une ambulance. The first word SVP means "please" as we know. It is followed
by appellez, which in French is "call". So to recap here, we have SVP, appellez. Literally this
means "please call". The next word une means "a" as we know. Lastly we have "ambulance",
which in French is ambulance.

So all together we have SVP, Appellez une ambulance. Literally this means "Please, call an
ambulance".
The phone number for an ambulance in France is 18.
Todays lesson provides all the phrases youll need for your medical problems. However there
are a few fine points. When we want to express need, we have two choices. First, to express
need, we use the word besoin as in jai besoin de. There is another terme il me faut, which is the
third person conjugation of falloir, which is something like necessitate. This is used like this Il
me faut _____ and you fill in the object that you need. For example il me faut un mdecin which
means I need a doctor. This formulation is just as common as the first.
PHRASES
French English
jai besoin dun mdecin I need a doctor
il me faut un mdecin I need a doctor (using falloir )
VOCABULARY
French English
service d'aide mdicale urgente emergency medical aid service
pompier firefighters
QUICK TIP
Today we learned about the emergencies. In france the emergency response service is called
SAMU. SAMU stands for service d'aide mdicale urgente or emergency medical aid service. This
is the equivalent service to the one Americans use when they call 9-1-1. You can call for any
emergency problem and be directed to the correct service (police or firefighters).
If you need to call the firefighters they are called pompier (think of pumping water) and the
number is 16.
QUICK TIP 2
The French medical system is likely one of the most complete and well priced in the world.
Despite some long lines and some testy bureaucrats, its hard to beat. The doctors are well
trained and French social security covers a majority of the costs, even if you are not a French
resident. I know Americans who have flown to France for dental work and, even after the airfare
and hotel, had still spent less than if they had done the work at home. Did I entice you? Not so
fast though, not all procedures are covered universally. Youll have to do some homework for
that.

Lesson 48: Explaining Symptoms
O est-ce que vous avez mal?
LESSON NOTES
In French "I have a headache." is "Jai mal la tte". The first word "jai" means "I have", as we
learned in the last lesson. This is followed by "mal", which in French is literally "bad" but in this
context it is something like "pain". So to recap here, we have "jai mal". Literally this means "I
have pain". The next word "" in this context means "in". This is followed by "la", which in French
is "the". Lastly we have "tte", which means "head".
So all together we have " Jai mal la tte ". Literally this means "I have pain in the head".
We'll look at some more phrases with the same pattern; namely, "I have" stays the same and
only the symptom changes. So let's go over some other symptoms:
In French the word for "fever"is "fievre". The phrase "I have "a fever" is "Jai une fivre"
I have a stomachache. "Jai mal lestomac"
I have a cold. is "Jai la rhume"
I have a sore throat. is "Jai mal la gorge"
I have a stuffed nose. "Jai le nez bouch"
I have heartburn. "Jai des brlures destomac"
The next phrase may be hard to listen to, but if it happens to you, you'll be extremely glad we
went over it! In French the expression "I have diarrhea." is "Jai la diarrhe" with the word for
diarrhea being "la diarrhe".
Most French medical doctors had to learn medical symptoms in English as part of their training,
so if you speak in English, you will likely be understood. However, if you speak with someone
who is not a doctor, you will need todays phrases.
PHRASES
French English
O est-ce que vous avez mal? Where does it hurt?
Est-ce que a fait mal ici? Does it hurt here?

French English
Le mal Evil
Je suis mal I am evil
jai mal I have pain
QUICK TIP
Todays phrases will be useful in answering questions a doctor or pharmacist will ask you. Here
are some examples.
O est-ce que vous avez mal? Where does it hurt ?
Est-ce que a fait mal ici ? Does it hurt here ?
QUICK TIP 2
Today we discovered the word mal in the context of pain. The word mal also means bad or
evil. For example, Le mal means Evil with a capital E. Watch out, Je suis mal means I
am evil whereas jai mal is "I have pain". Unless you want to announce that you are Satan, be
careful of this easy flub.

Lesson 49: Medicine
Un mdicament pour la rhume S.V.P
LESSON NOTES
Nobody knows your body like you! And when it comes to over the counter drugs, you may
know what you need. So today well cover asking for some basic phrases. Let's start with cold
medicine.
In French Cold medicine please. is Un medicament pour la rhume SVP. The first word Un
means "a" as we well know. This is followed by mdicament, which in French is "medicine".
So to recap here, we have un mdicament. Literally this means "a medicine". The next word
pour means "for". This is followed by la, which in French is "the", as we know. This is followed
by rhume, which in French is "cold". Lastly we have SVP, which in French is "please". as we
well know. So all together we have Un mdicament pour la rhume SVP. Literally this means "A
medicine for the cold please".
You may want the strongest one they have. In French The strongest you have please. is Le
plus fort que vous avez, SVP.
We'll look at the phrase introduced today with some more words for medicines as the medicine
you want is the only thing that changes, while "please" stays the same. So let's go over some
other symptoms:
In French the word for "flu"is la grippe. And the phrase "Flu medicine please. is Un mdicament
pour la grippe, SVP.
Aspirin is asprine.
Ibuprofen is ibuprofen.
laxative laxatif.
Sore throat medicine mdicament pour la gorge.
Antacid is alcalin.
French have the highest per capita consumption of pharmaceuticals in the world. So whatever
you are looking for, you can probably find it. However, in France, one cannot buy over the
counter drugs in a grocery store, as in some other countries. You must go to a pharmacy. To find
a pharmacy, look for neon green crosses on the street. This shouldnt be hard. Even in smaller

towns, there seems to be a green cross every other block. One can also purchase hygiene
products at the drug store, such as face cream and Kleenex, though you can get these at the
supermarket, too.
PHRASES
French English
Un mdicament pour la rhume S.V.P Cold medicine, please.
Le plus fort que vous avez, SVP The strongest you have, please.
VOCABULARY
French English
la grippe the 'flu
asprine aspirin
ibuprofen ibuprofen
laxatif laxative
mdicament pour la gorge sore throat medicine
alcalin antacid
QUICK TIP
Not all pharmacies in France are open seven days a week. For those urgent needs on Sundays,
or after business hours, you will have to ask around for an open pharmacy. To do this, say
Connaissez-vous une pharmacie ouverte? (Do you know of an open pharmacy ?)
QUICK TIP 2
If you are covered by French social security, medication can be rather inexpensive. However, for
tourists, it can ring up. I would pack a couple staple medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. But
of course, if we are desperate, the prices arent extraordinary.

Lesson 50: Allergies
Je suis allergique aux cacahoutes
LESSON NOTES
In today's lesson, we'll cover a phrase that will prove invaluable for those of you with allergies.
Letting other people know about your allergies is vital to a fun and healthy trip. In today's phrase
we'll go over "I'm allergic to (something)".
To start we'll need something that we're allergic to. Allergies to peanuts can be extremely
dangerous so let's start there.
In French "I am allergic to peanuts" is Je suis allergique aux cacahoutes. The first word je
means "I" as we know. This is followed by suis, which in French is "am". To recap here, we have
je suis. Literally this means "I am". The next word allergique means "allergic". It is followed by
aux, which in French is something like "to the". Lastly we have cacahoute, which is "peanuts".
So all together we have Je suis allergique aux cacahoutes. Literally this means "I am allergic to
peanuts".
Now let's go over some other common allergies. Let's try shrimp. In French "I am allergic to
shrimp" is Je suis allergique aux crevettes. Notice the only thing that changes here is "crevettes",
the rest is the same.
In French "I am having an allergic reaction" is jai une raction allergique, l. The first word Jai
means "I have". It is followed by une, which in French is "a", as we know. So to recap here, we
have Jai une. Literally this means "I have a". The next raction which means "reaction". This is
followed by allergique, which in French is "allergic". as we just learned, This is followed by l,
which in French is something like "now".
So all together we have jai une raction allergique, l. Literally this means "I have an allergic
reaction now".
You may have noticed a funny phrasing for the sentence I am having an allergic reaction. The
translation is jai une raction allergique, l. Whats funny is the l at the end, which means, in
this context, something like now. This now is added to indicate that the reaction is happening
right now as the phrase is being said. French does not have a present continuous (ing) tense like
in English. To make a phrase apply to what is happening in the moment of speaking, you must
indicate it with words like l. This also means here.

PHRASES
French English
Prenez-vous la CMU? Do you take the CMU ?
Je suis allergique aux cacahoutes I am allergic to peanuts
VOCABULARY
French English
au lait Milk
ufs eggs
chats cats
chien dogs
soja soy
animaux animals
bl wheat
anti histamine ( anti histamine
CMU, or couverture mdicale universelle Universal Medical Coverage
l now or here
QUICK TIP
If you need to see an allergist in France, they are called allergologue. Unlike in the States, they
are usually free to visit as they are covered by whats called the CMU, or couverture mdicale
universelle which means universal medical coverage. If you need to see an allergist, or any
doctor, and you want to avoid paying high fees, ask them if they are covered by the CMU. To ask
this say Prenez-vous la CMU?
QUICK TIP 2
You may have noticed a funny phrasing for the sentence I am having an allergic reaction. The
translation is jai une raction allergique, l. Whats funny is the l at the end, which means, in
this context, something like now. This now is added to indicate that the reaction is happening
right now as the phrase is being said. French does not have a present continuous (ing) tense like
in English. To make a phrase apply to what is happening in the moment of speaking, you must
indicate it with words like l. This also means here.

Lesson 51: Weather
Quel temps fera-t-il demain?
LESSON NOTES
Whether or not the weather will cooperate is an important question on which many plans are
made and canceled. in this lesson, we'll cover a phrase that will help you finalize your plans if
they depend on the weather.
In French "What will the weather be tomorrow?" is "Quel temps fera-t-il demain?". The first word
"quel" means "what". It is followed by "temps", which in French is "weather". So to recap here,
we have "quel temps". Literally this means "what weather". The next word "fera-t-il" means
something like "will it make". Next is "demain ", which in French is "tomorrow".
So all together we have "Quel temps fera-t-il demain?". Literally this means "What weather will it
make tomorrow".
Let's go the possible answers. In French "It will rain" is "Il va pleuvoir". "It will snow" is "Il va
neiger". In French "It will be sunny" is "Il fera beau".
If you're somewhere where the weather can change very quickly, you will need the following
phrase. In French "What will the weather be today?" is "Quel temps fera-t-il aujourdhui?".
Today's Survival phrases introduces us to the future tense. There are two types. The future
simple and the future expressed with the verb aller or to go.
Future simple (similar to English future with will)
example: il fera beau (it will be sunny)
In this tense, the verb is conjugated with different endings. Here is an example with the verb
faire or to do.
je ferai
tu feras
il, elle, on fera
nous ferons
vous ferrez

ils feront
Future with aller (similar to future with going to in English)
example: il va pleuvoir (it is going to rain)
Here we conjugate the verb to go in the present tense and then and follow it with an infinitive.
(va + pleuvoir similar to going + to rain)
PHRASES
French English
Quel temps fera-t-il demain? What will the weather be tomorrow?
vous avez vu la mto pour demain ? Have you seen the weather report for
tomorrow?
Il fait beau It's sunny
Il fait triste It's sad weather
Il fait mauvais It's lousy weather
Il fait gris It's grey weather
Il pleuviote It's drizzling
VOCABULARY
French English
la mto the weather report
QUICK TIP
If you are looking for the weather report in France, it is called "la mto". If you want to ask
someone if they have seen tomorrows weather report, say vous avez vu la mto pour demain
? (Have you seen the weather report tomorrow?)
QUICK TIP 2
Il fait beau - its sunny
Il fait triste - it's sad weather
Il fait mauvais - it's lousy weather
Il fait gris - it's grey weather
Il pleuviote - it's drizzling

Lesson 52: First Encounters
je suis (name)
LESSON NOTES
There is no impression like the first. In today's lesson we'll work on leaving a first impression that
will last.
In French "How do you do?" is "Enchant".
For the next phrase we'll need a name, so I will use mine.
In French "I am Julien" is "Je mappelle Julien". The first word "Je" means "I". as we have learned
in previous lessons. This is followed by "mappelle", which in French is something like "call
myself". So to recap here, we have "je mappelle". Literally this means "I call myself". The next
word "Julien" is my name.
So all together we have " Je mappelle Julien". Literally this means "I call myself Julien".
And finally, "Nice to meet you." In French this is "Heureux de vous rencontrer". The first word
"Heureux" means "happy". It is followed by "de", which in French is "of". as we know, but here
functions more like "to". So to recap here, we have "heureux de". Literally this means "happy
to". The next word "vous" means "you" as we know as well. Lastly we have "rencontrer" which in
French is "to meet".
So all together we have "Heureux de vous rencontrer ". Literally this means "Happy to meet you".
These phrases will be the essentials you need to cruise through your first encounters. Here are
some more phrases to fill in the conversation a little more.
Another way to say je mappelle (name) is je suis (name). The latter is a less common
saying, adopted from the anglo-saxon phrasing I am (name). After we introduce ourselves, it
is also common to say et vous? or and you? (et tu? if for the informal you.) This makes Je
mappelle (name), et vous?
Other ways to ask a persons name are :
Comment vous appellez vous ? / Whats your name ? (formal you)
Comment tappelles-tu? / Whats your name ? (informal you)
If we want to ask how someone is doing on a first encounter, we can say:

Comment-allez vous ? / How are you ? (formal you)
Comment vas-tu? / How are you ? (informal you)
Comment a va ? How is it going ? (informal)
a va ? / Doing well? literally It goes? (informal)
The is pronounced like an S
PHRASES
French English
je suis (name) I am (name)
et vous, et tu? And you?
Comment vous appellez vous ? (formal you) Whats your name ?
Comment tappelles-tu? (informal you)
Comment-allez vous ? (formal you) How are you ?
Comment vas-tu? (informal you)
Comment a va ? How is it going ? (informal)
a va ? Doing well? literally It goes? (informal)
QUICK TIP
If someone asks you these questions, you can answer accordingly:
Question: Comment-allez vous? / Comment vas-tu?
Response: Bien, merci.
Question: Comment a va ? / a va?
Response : Bien, merci. OR Oui, a va. OR Oui.
QUICK TIP 2
Now that we have learned to say hello at the first encounter, how do we say goodbye?
To say, Very pleased to have made your acquaintance we say Ravi davoir fait votre
connaissance.

Lesson 53: What Time Is It
Auriez vous lherue sil vous plit?
LESSON NOTES
No matter where you are, you will always have some place to be! Today we'll look at a question
that will give the tools to find out how much time you have left to get there. We'll also give you the
tools to understand!
In French "What time is it?" is "Quelle heure est-il?". The first word "Quelle" means "what". This is
followed by "heure", which in French is "hour". So to recap here, we have "quelle heure". Literally
this means "what time". So all together we have "Quelle heure est-il?". Literally this means "What
hour is it?".
Let's go over hours here. Hours in French is "heure" that we just learned. Here you just follow the
number with the word "heure".
1 o'clock une heure
2 o'clock deux heure
3 o'clock trois heures
4 o'clock quatre heures
5 o'clock cinq heures
6 o'clock six heures
7 o'clock sept heures
8 o'clock huit heures
9 o'clock neuf heures
10 o'clock dix heures
11 o'clock onze heures
12 o'clock is douze heure, but most people say "midi" or noon, or "minuit" for midnight.
"Minutes" in French is "minutes". Here you just follow the number with "minutes"

For example, 33 minutes is "trente-trois minutes". 44 minutes is "44 minutes"
Again, just the number followed by the word for minutes.
Now let's put them together. When we tell time to the minute, we dont need to say "minute", 3:12
is "trois heures douze".
France runs on the 24 hour clock, as oppose to the twelve hour clock. For example, 1 o clock
in the afternoon is treize heure or thirteen oclock. They also use special expressions for the
quarter and half hour.
et quart - a quarter past the hour - Treize heure et quart (1:15 pm)
et demi - half past - trieze heure et demi (1:30 pm)
moins le quart - a quarter to - quatorze heure moins le quart 1:45
PHRASES
French English
Auriez vous lherue sil vous plit? Do you have the time?
Il est onze heures Its 11 o clock
VOCABULARY
French English
et quart a quarter past
et demi half past
moins le quart a quarter to
QUICK TIP
If you want to ask Do you have the time? say auriez vous lherue sil vous plit?
QUICK TIP 2
If someone asks you the time quelle heure est-il? How do respond? Say Il est ____ and then
the time. For example Il est 11 heures.

Lesson 54: What Time Does It Open?
A quelle heure ouvrez vous?
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to a phrase that you'll need on several occasions! We all
know you want to see the sights in France and this phrase is essential to plan your days.
In French "What time does it open?" is A quelle heure ouvre-t-il?. The first word A means "at"
as we have learned in previous lessons. It is followed by quelle heure, which in French is "what
hour". which we also just learned. So to recap here, we have A quelle heure. Literally this means
"At what time". The next word is ouvre-t-il which means something like "opens it". So all together
we have A quelle heure ouvre-t-il?. Literally this means "At what hour opens it?".
It's also really important to know when places close! The worst thing to encounter is a closed sign
hanging in front of a place you wanted to see!
In French "What time does it close?" is A quelle heure ferme-t-il?. All we need to do is replace
ouvre with ferme.
As we said in the lesson, it will be essential to know the hours of the places you want to visit. If
you come across a place you want to visit later, you need to ask the person inside the operating
hours. Here are some ways to ask this.
A quelle heure ouvrez vous? - What time do you open?
A quelle heure fermez vous? -What time do you close?
Jusqu' quelle heure tes vous ouvert? - How late are you open until?
PHRASES
French English
A quelle heure ouvrez vous? What time do you open?
A quelle heure fermez vous? What time do you close?
Jusqu' quelle heure tes vous ouvert? How late are you open until?
Quel jours etes vous ouvert? What days are you open?

QUICK TIP
Shops, restaurants and museums also have days that they are closed to give the employees a
weekend. One of these days is almost always a Sunday. The other one is at the discretion of the
owners. Many choose Monday, but others choose Tuesday or even Wednesday. These are often
decided in agreement with local places offering a similar service so as to avoid having everything
closed on the same day.
To ask what days a place is open, say Quel jours etes vous ouvert? or What days are you
open?

Lesson 55: I Like It. I Don't Like It.
Jaime bien/Je naime pas
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to a phrase you'll use countless times on your travels! For
everyone out there who likes French food, this is the word you want to know so that you keep
getting more of it!
In French "I like it" is "Jaime bien". The first word "jaime" means "I like". It is followed by "bien",
which in French is "well". So all together we have "Jaime bien". Literally this means "I like well".
If you want to say that you really like something, then you can use this phrase: "I really like it" is
"Jadore". This phrase is literally means "I adore".
In the event that you don't like something "I don't like it" is "Je naime pas". This is essentially
the same as the first phrase, but negative. The first word "Je" means "I". as we know. This is
followed by "naime", which in French is "like" in the negative. So to recap here, we have "Je
naime". Literally this means "I no like". The next word "pas" means something like "not" and
completes the negation of the verb.
So all together we have " Je naime pas ". Literally this means "I dont like this".
These Survival Phrases will be the essentials you need to express your preferences. But there
are some finer points to work out.
The phrase jaime bien means I like it but the verb aimer also means to love. For instance
I love you is je taime. Expressing the right version of aimer can be tricky, because we dont
want to say I love it in the romantic sense when we mean I like it. For instance, je laime
means I love it/him/her When we are talking about a thing, say a painting, we can say todays
phrase. jaime bien. When we are talking about a person we say je laime bien. Which is
something like I like him/her a lot. When we really like something we say jadore. Have fun
when you say it.
PHRASES
French English
je taime I love you
je laime I love it/him/her
je laime bien I like him/her a lot

French English
je naime pas du tout I dont like it all.
je dteste I hate it
ce nest pas mon genre Its not my thing (literally, its not my genre)
a me plait I like it (Literally, it pleases me) Somewhat
more refined than jaime bien
je suis fan Im a fan
jadore fond I totally love it.
Est-ce que vous aimez / tu aimes a? Do you like it ?
QUICK TIP
Here are some other phrases to express preferences. Have fun with these. Say them with
emphasis. The French do.
je naime pas du tout. - I dont like it all.
je dteste - I hate it
ce nest pas mon genre - Its not my thing (literally, its not my genre)
a me plait - I like it (Literally, it pleases me) Somewhat more refined than jaime a
je suis fan - Im a fan
jadore fond - I totally love it.
QUICK TIP 2
Here some ways to ask others their likes and dislikes.
Est-ce que vous aimez / tu aimes a? - Do you like it?
a vous / te plait ? - Do you like it ?

Lesson 56: High Frequency Adjectives
Cest ...
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well cover some high-frequency adjectives to help you express yourself in
various situations. And as France is known for its great food, you are will surely need the word for
delicious!
In French to compliment the food, say "Cest bon". The first word "cest" means "it's". It is
followed by "bon", which, as we just learned in French is "good.". All together that makes "cest
bon" which literally means "its good." This is a phrase you can use for many occasions, but is
especially common to compliment food.
If you literally want to say "This is delicious" , say "cest dlicieux".
Now let's go over some other adjectives that you can with the pattern just introduced. Let's try
'hot'. In French "It's hot" is "cest chaud". The word for "hot" is "chaud".
To say other adjectives, just say "cest" and then the adjective. Here are some examples.
"Cold" is "froid".
"Near" is "prs".
"Far" is "loin".
"Cute" is "mignon".
"Pretty" is "jolie".
"Beautiful" is "beau".
Now let's take a look at the negative. In French "It's not delicious" is "ce nest pas bon". The
negation is formed by bookending the verb with "ne" and "pas".
Here are a few more that may prove useful. Use them to spice up conversation.
Cest genial - its great
Cest bizarre - its weird
Cest super - its super

Ce nest pas terrible - (literally its not terrible but means it is terrible. So ironic, those French.)
its not the greatest
Ce nest pas mal - its not so bad
PHRASES
French English
cest genial its great
cest bizarre its weird
cest super its super
ce nest pas terrible its not the greatest
ce nest pas mal its not so bad
VOCABULARY
French English
bon good
mauvais bad
grand big, great
petit small, little, petty
jeune young
vieux old, aged
beau beautiful
faux false
gros gross, rude
nouveau new
joli nice, beautiful
long long
QUICK TIP
Another high frequency expression that is not an adjective is daccord which means okay.
Literally it means of accord, but is used like okay English. Listen to the locals talk and this
word pops up all the time.
QUICK TIP 2
You may have noticed also that adjectives go after the noun in French. Whereas in English we
put the adjective before the noun, the French put it after. For example, black cat is chat noir.
However, there are some exceptions. These adjectives may be categorized as adjectives of
Beauty, Age, Numbers Goodness, and Size (BANGS). They all go before the noun.
bon - good,
mauvais - bad,

grand - big, great,
petit - small, little, petty,
jeune - young,
vieux - old, aged,
long - long,
beau - beautiful,
faux - false,
gros - gross, rude,
nouveau - new,
joli - nice, beautiful.

Lesson 57: Home Visit
je vous en prie
LESSON NOTES
In todays lesson well introduce you to a phrase that you'll need if you plan on stopping by to visit
any friends in "France"! Today we will provide you with the phrases needed to get inside, and the
replies you can expect to hear.
In French "May I Come in?" is "Puis-je entrer". The first word "Puis-je" means "may I". It is
followed by "entrer", which in French is "enter". So all together we have "Puis-je entrer". Literally
this means "May I enter".
Hopefully after using this phrase, you will be invited in! If not, it may be time to make some new
friends!
In French "Please come in" is "je vous en prie", which we learned in lesson 2 as way to say
"youre welcome." The first word "Je" means "I". It is followed by "vous", which in French is "you"
or "to you". So to recap here, we have "Je vous". Literally this means "I to you". The next word
"en" means "of it". This is followed by "prie", which in French is "pray".
So all together we have "je vous en prie". Literally this means "I pray you of it", which is similar to
"by all means" and "dont mention it".
In many households, its generally a good idea to get a gift for your home visit. Anything will do,
usually something small as a token of your appreciation.
In French "This is just a small gift." is "Ce nest quun petit cadeau". The first word "ce" means
something like "this" or "it". It is followed by "nest", which is the contraction of "ne", the first part
of a negative participle in French, and "est", which in French is "is". So to recap here, we have
"ce nest". Literally this means something like "this no is". The next word "quun" which is the
contraction of "que" and "un" and in this negative context means something like "but a". This is
followed by "petit", which in French is "little". Lastly we have "cadeau", which in French is "gift".
So all together we have "Ce nest quun petit cadeau". Literally this means "Its nothing but a little
gift".
Todays phrases will be all you need to cordially receive and return your hosts hospitality. Please
let me take a moment to explain some of the finer points of these phrases as they use some
grammar points we have yet not looked at.

As you may have noticed "je vous en prie" was taught in the lesson on how to say "youre
welcome." The informal version is "je ten prie", which may be the form most fitting between
friends. These phrases are used for other things, such as letting another person pass, take
something from you, etc. It essentially means "go ahead" in a very respectful way.
The phrase "ce nest que" means "Its nothing but" or "its only". Whenever "ne" and "que" modify
a verb, they work like the word "only" in English. When you say this phrase, it is important to
use a positive tone. If you say it flatly, "Ce nest quun petit cadeau," it can come off as a serious
statement, meaning that the gift does not mean much to you. Say it with a smile and the humility
of the jest will be expressed.
PHRASES
French English
je vous en prie "go ahead" in a very respectful way.
je ten prie
ce nest que "Its nothing but" or "its only"
merci beaucoup thank you very much
Merci de votre accueil (chaleureux). Thank you for your (warm) hospitality.
QUICK TIP
So now we know what to say when we give a gift, but what about receiving gifts? It is customary
to simply say thank you merci beaucoup. It is not necessary to get another gift in return.
QUICK TIP 2
To thank someone for their hospitality, say "Merci de votre accueil (chaleureux)." Thank you for
your (warm) hospitality.

Lesson 58: Renting a car/scooter/bike
Je cherche un location de voiture
LESSON NOTES
Todays phrases will be all you need to rent your car, scooter, or bike. Here some details about
some of the vocabulary.
The word rendre means return but only for the return of an object. To say return as in to go
back, say retourner. For example je rends la voiture I return the car Je retourne Marseille I
return to Marseille.
If you are looking for a car, bike, or scooter rental the names are as follows:
location de voiture - car rental
location de moto - scooter rental
location de velo - bike rental
If you are looking for one of these, say Je cherche ____ and then name of the one you are
looking for. For example, Je cherche un location de voiture which means Im looking for a car
rental place.
PHRASES
French English
Je cherche un location de voiture I'm looking for a car rental place
je rends la voiture I return the car
Je retourne Marseille I return to Marseille
VOCABULARY
French English
location de voiture car rental
location de moto bike rental
gazole diesel
sans plomb unleaded
transmission automatique automatic transmission

QUICK TIP
American readers will find French pumps similar to those in their home country. The pumps are
just about the same, except the money is in Euros and you buy by the liter. At the pump you can
buy: unleaded (sans plomb) in either 95 or 98 octane, super unleaded (super) or diesel (gazole).
Some stations will also sell what is called fuel in French, normally at a separate pump. Do not
buy it; it is diesel that is only sold to farmers. You can be fined, if it is found in your tank. This
diesel is colored red, unlike regular diesel.
QUICK TIP 2
Lastly, automatic transmission is rare and you have to ask for it specifically when renting a car.
To do this, say transmission automatique.

Lesson 59: Politely Declining
Non merci, cest bon
LESSON NOTES
In this lesson well introduce you to some useful phrases for when you've had enough, or want to
turn something down. One of these phrases just may make your trip!
In French "no thank you" is "non merci". The first word "non" means "no". It is followed by
"merci", which in French is "thank you" as we know. So all together we have "non merci". Literally
this means "no thank you".
This can be used when declining street vendors, food at the table, and in any other situation you
want to politely decline something.
When sitting down for a meal, or when eating, and or drinking, in excess "thank you, but I've had
enough" may just be the most useful bit of French youll ever use.
In French "thank you, but I've had enough" is "merci, mais jen ai eu assez". The first word
"merci" means "thank you" as we know. It is followed by "mais", which in French is "but". So to
recap here, we have "merci mais". Literally this means "thank you but". The next word "jen" is
the contraction of "je" and "en" and means something like "I of it". This is followed by "ai", which
in French is "have". This is followed by "eu", which in French is "had". Lastly we have "assez",
which in French is "enough". So all together we have "Merci, mais jen ai eu assez". Literally this
means "Thank you, but I have had enough of it".
Todays phrases will be all you need to politely decline. Here are some variations in case you
want to mix it up
Another way to politely say Thank you, thats enough is Non merci, cest bon. The phrase
cest bon is used quite a lot in French, and you can use it in this situation as well.
If you want to politely decline, but say you may want more later you can add pour linstant right
now at the end of your phrase. For example Merci mais jen ai eu assez pour linstant. which
means Thank you but Ive had enough for now.
PHRASES
French English
Non merci, cest bon No thanks, thats good.
Merci mais jen ai eu assez pour linstant Thank you but Ive had enough for now.

French English
Je suis plein (masc) pleine (fem) Im pregnant
a suffit! Enough!
jai bien mang I ate well
QUICK TIP
In other countries it can be considered a polite thing to say Im so full! but not in French. The
direct translation of this je suis plein (masc) pleine (fem) means Im pregnant. A better phrase
is jai bien mang I ate well.
QUICK TIP 2
If a vendor is aggressive with you and you want to put him in his place, or any other person, such
as a tempestuous child, you can say "a suffit!" literally "that suffices" and means something like
"enough!". That will stop a person in their tracks.

Lesson 60: Congratulations
flicitations
LESSON NOTES
Today we are going to introduce you to some phrases ideal for special occasions that you can
use with French speakers anywhere in the world! So whether you sending an e-mail across
the globe, or saying it in person, the following phrases for celebratory events will allow you to
express your sentiments in French.
In French "Congratulations!" is "flicitations".
"Happy birthday!!" is "bonne anniversaire".
In French "happy new year" is "bonne anne".
In French "merry christmas" is "joyeux noel".
If you want to wish someone happy holidays with out specifying the holiday say "bonnes fetes".
Here are few others that are common.
meilleurs voeux - best wishes
je suis ravi - Im delighted
A votre sant - to your health
PHRASES
French English
bonne anniversaire happy birthday
bonne anne happy new year
joyeux noel merry christmas
meilleurs voeux best wishes
je suis ravi I am delighted
A votre sant to your health

VOCABULARY
French English
flicitations congratulations
QUICK TIP
In France, there are few holidays that are not celebrated in Anglophone countries. For example,
each day of the year is attributed to different saint. If you share a name with any particular saint,
that day is called your fte.
The holiday called la fte de St Catherine is marked by putting an ugly green hat on all
unmarried women. Of course this is not common anymore, but it still happens every now and
then.
Bastille Day, July 5th, is the national holiday for French independence.
QUICK TIP 2
It can be a great eye opening experience to celebrate the holidays with locals in a foreign
country. Christmas and Hanukah, for example, are celebrated in a different way from other
countries.

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Survival Phrases - French

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Dear Valued Customer,

Basic Greetings, etiquette and manners

Basic survival communication for every situation

Ordering the food you want at restaurants

Table manners that will impress!

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

Internet Cafe, not as easy as you think!

Finding your way in the local market and SHOPPING

Money exchange and tips on money usage

Survival Phrases - French

P.S. Don't miss your opportunity to get something for nothing!

Go to FrenchPod101.com/survival1 and sign up for your

FREE lifetime account and learn even more French.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

The phone rings. PERSON 1 picks it up

PERSON 2: Bonjour, Marc. C'est Julien. (Hello, Marc. It's Julien.)

Now the conversation can continue.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

Traditionally, the bisous is reserved only for social situations:

- in which you are introduced to someone by a third person

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

a bientt: see you soon

a la prochaine: until next time

plus tard : see you later

plus: literally "until more" which is translated as "see ya"

demain: see you tomorrow

tout a l'heure: see you later (today)

tout de suite: see you very shortly / see you in a minute.

Bonne journee: have a good day

Bon aprs midi: have a good afternoon

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

Bonne fin de journe: have a good end to your day

Bonne fin d'aprs midi: have a good end to your afternoon

Bonne fin de soire: have a good end to your evening

Bon travail: enjoy your work

Bonne course: enjoy your shopping

Bon repas: have a good meal

Bon / bonne _______: put in the noun of your choice.

Bon courage: literally "good courage" and translates as "best of luck"

Bonne chance: good luck

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In French "where is the bathroom?" is "o sont les toilettes?"

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

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Now let's try a different language. How about "German ".

2007 SurvivalPhrases.com - French. All Rights Reserved.

You: "Parlez-vous anglais?"

French person: "Non"