And remember, French time works a little differently and is often given on a 24-hour cycle, so if someone responds with dix-sept heures (literally, “17 hours”), they mean 5 p.m. Phrases for Dining Out in French An apéritif is a beverage one drinks before eating—typically something alcoholic like whiskey, vodka or pastis, for example. Je voudrais… (I would like…)

One of the most popular publishers in the world, Penguin has a great hold on the foreign language market and has produced a guide with everything you need! If you’re a real beginner and are traveling to a French-speaking country for the first time, it’s likely that you’ll want to focus on the basics first. Vowels in French can have accent marks, which generally have no noticeable impact on pronunciation, but they often distinguish between homophones in writing ( ou, meaning or, and où, meaning where, are pronounced the same). The only really important one is é, which is always pronounced "ay", and changes the meaning of the word. Like in other Romance languages, nouns in French are either "masculine" or "feminine"; adjectives vary accordingly. Don’t worry if you don’t understand. Simply excuse yourself, say that you don’t understand and if you would like to continue the conversation, try the following French phrase:There are many differences between French spoken in Québec and that spoken in France. One is state and one is king french. The two main differences are that Québec has retained many 18th & 19th century French words, while French spoken in France has incorporated many English words. Furthermore, aside from Europe & Québec, many French-speaking regions have incorporated many local words or formed a distinctive dialect/language known as creole. In the combination "geo" (as in pigeon or bourgeois), the "e" should not be pronounced, as it is only there to force the pronunciation of the soft "g" ( IPA: ʒ). When the e is marked with an acute accent (as in géologie) it is pronounced the normal way. If you like learning French on your own time and from the comfort of your smart device, then I'd be remiss to not tell you about FluentU. Before you leave for your trip, try making a list of things you’d like to do. This way, you can adjust the phrases you learn accordingly and be ready to ask about certain exhibitions in the area or how to find a place to eat that serves a certain local dish you’d like to try. A great tip is to try and memorize a few essential words before you go, such as bonjour (hello), merci (thank you) and s’il vous plaît (please). Getting these under your belt will also help with pronunciation down the road.

Use of courriel, short for courrier électronique (electronic mail), is recommended by the Académie française, but this is all but ignored in France Like that of English, unlike almost all the other Romance languages, French spelling is not very phonetic. The same letter used in two different words can make two different sounds, and many letters are not pronounced at all. In general, it's not impossible to sound out words, but suffice it to say that many experienced non-native French speakers(and even some native speakers) mispronounce words often. Everyone loves a souvenir, and it’s likely that you’ll take your camera along with you to capture precious memories. In touristy zones, natives are used to being asked to take photos, but if you’re going to do it, it’s especially nice to be able to inquire in French. French spelling is not very phonetic. The same letter used in two different words can make two different sounds, and many letters are not pronounced at all. The good news, though, is that French generally has more regular pronunciation rules than English. This means that with sufficient practice, one can generally pronounce written French fairly accurately. However, the large number of homophones and silent letters make it such that attempting to write down spoken French often results in spelling mistakes, even for native speakers. Some rules are as follows: You can get a head start on polite conversation for practical, everyday matters with ed2go’s Beginning Conversational French course. This is a short online course that prepares you for communication in places like restaurants, hotels and other typical scenarios you may encounter on your travels.

What Was That? Clarifying French Phrases

Bien cuit – "Well cooked", but not well done. More like medium, with pink on the inside, though there should be no blood.

Monday lundi ( luhn-DEE) Tuesday mardi ( mahr-DEE) Wednesday mercredi ( mehr-kruh-DEE) Thursday jeudi ( juh-DEE) Friday vendredi ( vahn-druh-DEE) Saturday samedi ( sahm-DEE) Sunday dimanche ( dee-MAHNSH) Months [ edit ] The revolutionary calendar isn't in use any longer, but inscriptions where it's been used can be seen here and there For more options, you’ll want to explore Lonely Planetto see what’s available. There are French phrasebooks for every corner of the French-speaking world, and some have additional features like accompanying audio files, travel guides or apps. Research local customs Note: Like other romance languages, nouns in french are either "masculine" or "feminine" and adjectives vary accordingly. Très bien cuit – This should get you a "well done" steak that is totally cooked through. Mais, attention! If chef is not used to catering to les Anglo-Saxons, he might just overdo it and give you a plate of leather. Again, travel French isn’t just about getting around, eating well and having fun. There are also French phrases to know in case of emergency.The phrases in the book relate to traveling abroad, finding a hotel or hostel and exchanging currencies and are sure to make your travel time a breeze! Nobody wants to face an emergency but if you do, you want to make sure you have all of the right information to hand. The phrasebook will link you to all of the emergency services, including embassies, on the rare occasion that you need to use them. You can rest assured in your travels; the phrasebook will do all of the hard work for you! 4. “The Penguin French Phrasebook” One great phrasebooks for French learners are the “Collins French Phrasebook,” which contains a French dictionary for your convenience. WikiPedia:French language This is a guide phrasebook. It covers all the major topics for traveling without resorting to English. But please Plunge forward and help us make it a star!

Stress is fairly even in French, but the stress almost always falls on the last syllable. In words where the stress falls on an earlier syllable, it's not uncommon to hear the last syllable or sound of some words cut off or "swallowed." For example, Possible can sound like poss-EEB and hymne can sound like eem. This is particularly noticeable in Quebec, but exists in other accents too. French calendars normally start on Monday. Unlike in English, the names of days are not capitalised in French: Don’t worry about seeming rude—French people are often willing to help learners with their language skills, and will likely have no problem adjusting their speed. Basic French Phrases for Shopping France is notorious for its etiquette rules and, if you’re not aware of them, you could find yourself in a very tight spot. Helping you to separate your tu from your vous, and to spot the correct greeting for any situation, the Lonely Planet guide can be an invaluable tool to use. Saying “hello” and “goodbye” to people in official settings is essential in France, and something that you might not naturally do.

Retailers:

In this post, I’ll introduce you to 108 basic French phrases for travelers, as well as tips and cultural context so they’re easier to memorize ahead of time. Note: Generally, most final consonants are silent except for c, q, f, l, and r (except in the combination "-er", normally found in verb infinitives). Note that the plural ending "-ent" for verbs is never pronounced, though it is pronounced in other words.