Survive in France with those 40 Top French Phrases

Survive in France with those 40 Top French Phrases

I have to be honest with you…before coming to Lyon, I haven’t know anything about France (except that French people like wine, cheese and men we are wearing scarves, girls are too chic and fashionable, that French are rude and not welcoming…I dont know where did I get those stereotypes from?) But this is not all, on top of that I could not speak any French! I am not ignorant, I love other cultures and international environments but this all happened too quickly and unexpectedly for me. So I arrived here not prepared at all and needed to act quickly. I bought a small French Phrasebook which turned out  to be completely not useful.

So I decided to do my own researches. I had a think what I really need in Lyon and how I am going to commute, spend time with people, do shopping etc. I looked for and collected the Top 40 Most Useful French Phrases and they truly helped me survive the beginning here in Lyon. Now I want to share them with you.

My List of The Top 40 Most Useful French Phrases

1. Excusez-moi, où est ___? – Excuse me, where is ___?
2. Où se trouve la station de métro la plus proche? – Where is the closest metro station?
3. Un billet, s’il vous plaît. – One ticket, please.
4. Avez-vous une carte en anglais, s’il vous plaît? – Do you have a menu is English, please?
5. Je voudrais___, s’il vous plaît. – I would like____, please
6. Au secours! – Help! Emergency!
7. J’ai besoin d’un médecin qui parle anglais. – I need a doctor who speaks English.
8. Où est la pharmacie? – Where is the pharmacy?
9. J’ai une douleur ici. – I have a pain here
10. A bientôt – See you soon
11. Vous parlez anglais? – Do you speak English?
12. Comment allez-vous? – How are you? (formal)
13. Très bien / mal / pas mal – Very good / bad / not bad
14. Ça va? – How are you? (informal)
15. Ça va. I’m fine.  – (informal) response to Ça va ?
16. Oui / non – Yes / no
17. Comment vous appelez-vous? – What’s your name? (formal)/Tu t’appelles comment? – What’s your name?
18. Je m’appelle…My name is…(informal)
19. Enchanté(e) – Nice to meet you.
20. Je suis de… / Je viens de… I am from…
21. Où habitez-vous? Where do you live? (formal)
22. J’habite à…I live in…
23. Je ne parle pas espagnol. I don’t speak Spanish./ Je parle allemand. I speak German.
24. Parlez-vous français? / Tu parles anglais? Do you speak French? (formal) / Do you speak English?(informal)
25. Je comprends – I understand
26. Je ne comprends pas – I don’t understand
27. Pouvez-vous m’aider ? / Tu peux m’aider ? – Can you help me? (formal / informal)
28. Comment ? What?
29. Bien sûr – Of course.
30. Je ne sais pas – I don’t know/ Je sais – I know
31. Voici / Voilà – Here is/are… / There it is.
32. Il y a … / Il y avait...There is / are… /There was / were…
33. Comment dit-on ____ en français? – How do you say ____ in French?
34. Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça? – What is that?
35. J’ai chaud / J’ai froid. – I’m hot / I’m cold.
36. J’ai faim / J’ai soif. – I’m hungry / I’m thirsty.
37. Ce n’est pas grave. – It’s no problem. / It’s alright.
38. J’ai oublié. – I forgot.
39. Félicitations! Congratulations!
40. Je vous aime / Je t’aime I love you (formal & plural / informal)

So this is cool, isnt it? I advise you on learning only 40 phrases and I do guarantee that you will survive in France. Yes, indeed! Trust me, just print it Top Basic French Phrases here, read it few times, take with yourself and there is no way something is going to go wrong…oh well, i would also recommend having a look at my Mini French Phrasesbook which I created for you here as well; get your Google Translator App working and GPS Personal Tracker  on your mobile – they have been very handy as well. So ready to go? Pack the suitcase and France awaits you!