Praktisch · Kapitel 16
By the HolidayGenie editorial team ·
French is not an easy language — but just a few words open doors that would otherwise remain closed. The French appreciate any attempt to speak their language, even if it's clumsy. Mastering "Bonjour" and "S'il vous plaît" is already half the battle.
Basics & Pronunciation
French sounds fluent and melodic — but the pronunciation differs greatly from the written form. A few basic rules help enormously:
Pronunciation Rules
- Final letters are usually not pronounced: "Paris" = Pa-ri (not "Paris"), "petit" = pö-ti, "beaucoup" = bo-ku. Exception: c, r, f, l (mnemonic: "CaReFuL")
- -tion = -sjõ (as in "Nation" = na-sjõ)
- -oi = wa (trois = trwa, croissant = krwa-ssã)
- -eau / -au = o (château = scha-to, beau = bo)
- -ou = u (tout = tu, beaucoup = bo-ku)
- -u = ü (rue = rü, menu = mö-nü)
- -in / -ain / -ein = ä̃ (nasal ä, vin = wä̃, pain = pä̃)
- -on = õ (nasal o, bon = bõ, bonjour = bõ-schur)
- -an / -en = ã (nasal a, France = Frãss, vent = wã)
- -gn = nj (like ñ, champagne = schã-panj)
- r = rolled/grated in the throat (not at the front like in German)
- j = voiced sh (jour = schur, je = schö)
Liaison
In French, words are often spoken together: "les enfants" becomes "le-sã-fã," "un ami" becomes "ö-na-mi." This makes it initially difficult to recognize individual words in spoken French — don't worry, it comes with practice.
Tipp
Even if you don't speak a word of French: at least memorize "Bonjour," "Merci," "S'il vous plaît," and "Excusez-moi." These four words dramatically change the reaction of the French — from an annoyed look to a friendly smile.
Greetings & Politeness
"Bonjour" is the most important word in France. It's not just a greeting — it's a social contract. Forgetting it means you've already lost.
Basic Greeting
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good day | Bonjour | bõ-schur |
| Good evening | Bonsoir | bõ-swar |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | o-rö-wwar |
| Bye (informal) | Salut | sa-lü |
| Good night | Bonne nuit | bon-nüi |
| How are you? | Comment allez-vous ? | ko-mã-ta-le-wu |
| Good, thank you | Bien, merci | bjä̃, mär-ssi |
| And you? | Et vous ? | e wu |
Politeness
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Please | S'il vous plaît | ssil-wu-plä |
| Thank you | Merci | mär-ssi |
| Thank you very much | Merci beaucoup | mär-ssi bo-ku |
| You're welcome (as a response) | De rien / Je vous en prie | dö-rjä̃ / schö-wu-sã-pri |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi / Pardon | äk-skü-se-mwa / par-dõ |
| I'm sorry | Je suis désolé(e) | schö-süi-de-so-le |
| Mr. / Mrs. | Monsieur / Madame | mö-sjö / ma-dam |
| Yes / No | Oui / Non | wi / nõ |
Golden Rule: Start EVERY conversation with "Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame". In the shop, in the restaurant, at the doctor's, in the hotel, in the taxi — always. Those who jump straight to their request are perceived as rude and receive correspondingly poorer service.
Achtung
The most common mistake made by German-speaking tourists: Entering a shop and immediately asking "Do you have...?" or "How much does... cost?" — without a prior Bonjour. This is a real faux pas in France. Greet first, then speak.
In the Restaurant
Seating & Ordering
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît | ün tabl pur dö, ssil-wu-plä |
| The menu, please | La carte, s'il vous plaît | la kart, ssil-wu-plä |
| What do you recommend? | Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ? | käss-kö-wu-kõ-ssä-je |
| The daily menu, please | Le menu du jour, s'il vous plaît | lö mö-nü dü schur |
| I would like... | Je voudrais... | schö wu-drä |
| Another glass of wine, please | Encore un verre de vin, s'il vous plaît | ã-kor ä̃ wär dö wä̃ |
| Cheers! | Santé ! | ssã-te |
| It was delicious | C'était délicieux | sse-tä de-li-sjö |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît | la-di-sjõ, ssil-wu-plä |
Important Vocabulary
| German | French |
|---|---|
| Starter | Entrée |
| Main course | Plat principal |
| Dessert | Dessert |
| Cheese platter | Plateau de fromages |
| Water (Tap water!) | Une carafe d'eau |
| Mineral water with/without gas | Eau gazeuse / eau plate |
| Red wine / White wine / Rosé | Vin rouge / vin blanc / rosé |
| Draught beer | Une pression / un demi |
| Coffee (Espresso) | Un café |
| Milk coffee | Un café crème / un crème |
| I'm a vegetarian | Je suis végétarien(ne) |
| I have an allergy to... | J'ai une allergie à... |
| Gluten-free | Sans gluten |
Tipp
Always order tap water as "une carafe d'eau" — it's free and completely normal. If you just say "de l'eau," the waiter will bring expensive mineral water.
Shopping
In the Shop
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm just looking | Je regarde, merci | schö rö-gard, mär-ssi |
| How much does this cost? | C'est combien ? / Quel est le prix ? | sse kõ-bjä̃ / käl-ä lö pri |
| Do you have this in another size? | Vous l'avez en une autre taille ? | wu la-we ã-ün-otr taj |
| Can I try this on? | Je peux l'essayer ? | schö pö lä-ssä-je |
| Where is the checkout? | Où est la caisse ? | u-ä la käss |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ? | schö pö pä-je par kart |
| A bag, please | Un sac, s'il vous plaît | ä̃ ssak, ssil-wu-plä |
| Too expensive | C'est trop cher | sse tro schär |
| I'll take it | Je le prends | schö lö prã |
At the Market
| German | French |
|---|---|
| A kilo of tomatoes, please | Un kilo de tomates, s'il vous plaît |
| A piece (of cheese/cake) | Un morceau |
| A slice (of ham) | Une tranche |
| This is for tonight | C'est pour ce soir |
| What is this? | Qu'est-ce que c'est ? |
| Can I try? | Je peux goûter ? |
| That's all | C'est tout |
On the Go
Orientation
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is...? | Où est... ? | u-ä |
| How do I get to...? | Comment aller à... ? | ko-mã-ta-le a |
| Left / Right / Straight ahead | À gauche / À droite / Tout droit | a gosch / a drwat / tu drwa |
| Near / Far | Près / Loin | prä / lwä̃ |
| Train station | La gare | la gar |
| Subway station | La station de métro | la sta-sjõ dö me-tro |
| Bus stop | L'arrêt de bus | la-rä dö büss |
| Airport | L'aéroport | la-e-ro-por |
| Pharmacy | La pharmacie | la far-ma-ssi |
| Hospital | L'hôpital | lo-pi-tal |
| Toilet | Les toilettes | le twa-lät |
Transportation
| German | French |
|---|---|
| A ticket to..., please | Un billet pour..., s'il vous plaît |
| Round trip | Aller-retour |
| One way | Aller simple |
| When does the next train to... leave? | Le prochain train pour... part à quelle heure ? |
| From which platform? | De quel quai ? |
| Is this seat free? | Cette place est libre ? |
| I would like to get off here | Je voudrais descendre ici |
Emergencies
| German | French | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Au secours ! | o sö-kur |
| Call the police! | Appelez la police ! | a-pö-le la po-liss |
| Call an ambulance! | Appelez une ambulance ! | a-pö-le ün ã-bü-lãss |
| I need a doctor | J'ai besoin d'un médecin | sche bö-swä̃ dä̃ med-ssä̃ |
| I'm sick | Je suis malade | schö süi ma-lad |
| I'm in pain | J'ai mal | sche mal |
| I have a fever | J'ai de la fièvre | sche dö la fjävr |
| I've been robbed | On m'a volé | õ ma wo-le |
| I've lost my passport | J'ai perdu mon passeport | sche pär-dü mõ pass-por |
| Where is the nearest pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ? | u-ä la far-ma-ssi la plü prosch |
| I'm allergic to... | Je suis allergique à... | schö süi a-lär-schik a |
| Fire! | Au feu ! | o fö |
Useful Phrases
Communication
| German | French |
|---|---|
| Do you speak German/English? | Parlez-vous allemand / anglais ? |
| I don't speak French | Je ne parle pas français |
| I speak a little French | Je parle un peu français |
| Can you repeat that, please? | Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? |
| Slower, please | Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas |
| Can you write that down? | Pouvez-vous l'écrire ? |
| What does that mean? | Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? |
Numbers
| Number | French | Number | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | zéro | 10 | dix |
| 1 | un/une | 20 | vingt |
| 2 | deux | 30 | trente |
| 3 | trois | 40 | quarante |
| 4 | quatre | 50 | cinquante |
| 5 | cinq | 60 | soixante |
| 6 | six | 70 | soixante-dix |
| 7 | sept | 80 | quatre-vingts |
| 8 | huit | 90 | quatre-vingt-dix |
| 9 | neuf | 100 | cent |
Everyday Phrases
| German | French |
|---|---|
| No problem | Pas de problème |
| Alright / Agreed | D'accord |
| Of course | Bien sûr |
| Maybe | Peut-être |
| Today / Tomorrow / Yesterday | Aujourd'hui / Demain / Hier |
| It's nice here | C'est beau ici |
| I love France | J'adore la France |
| Have a nice day! | Bonne journée ! |
| Have a nice evening! | Bonne soirée ! |
| Have a good trip! | Bon voyage ! |
Pro Tip: The numbers 70, 80, and 90 are notorious in French: 70 = soixante-dix (60+10), 80 = quatre-vingts (4×20), 90 = quatre-vingt-dix (4×20+10). In Belgium and Switzerland, people simply say "septante," "huitante"/"octante," and "nonante" — but in France, you'll at best get a chuckle with that.
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