Basic phrases in French for Russian-speaking tourists

Content:

1. Hotel
2. Restaurants and cafes
3. Airport
4. Public transportation
5. Store
6. Necessary phrases to help navigate in an unfamiliar city
7. The most popular expressions

French is a very melodious, beautiful and inspiring language. So many people want to learn this beautiful language, but especially its knowledge will be useful for tourists who want to see Paris.

The fascination for this language and country is growing day by day. Those who are familiar with the history of this amazing country cannot stay away and not visit the land of great heroes and not get acquainted with French culture and art. Great people spoke in this language, they created and wrote their works that will remain forever with mankind.

Many Parisians speak English and if you ask them something, they will gladly help you. But everyone you talk to will be pleased to hear a few French phrases. Some restaurants and hotels give discounts to those tourists who can explain in French what they need.

Before you start learning the most common French phrases, you should remember that the accent does not move, it is fixed and always on the last syllable. The only exceptions are borrowed phrases and words from other languages. Another important rule is that a sentence, no matter how long it is, sounds like a whole word.

Phrases every tourist should know

Hotel

Well, you’re in Paris. Now you need to check in and you can go sightseeing in the most beautiful and romantic place in the world.

In absolutely any hotel, you will be met at the reception by the receptionist. You should greet him and ask if the hotel has any rooms available and how much the accommodation will cost.

Useful phrases:

• Do you have any seats available? – Avez-vous des places libres?
• I made a reservation in advance – J’ai fait la reservation;
• Single room – une chambre individuelle;
• Double room double;
• The extra bed is un lit supplementaire;
• I wish I could. Je voudrais;
• How much is the room rate including breakfast? – Quel est le prix d’une chambre avec le petit dejeuner inclus?
• I will rent this room for two days/week. – Je vais prendre cette chambre pour deux jours / une semaine;
• Is there a pool/sauna here? – Y a-t-il une piscine / un sauna?
• Could you call a cab? – Pourriez-vous appeller le taxi?
• Where is the buffet/restaurant located? – Où se trouve le buffet / le restaurant?

Restaurants and cafes

Parisian restaurants and cafes are world-famous for their dishes. And most visitors come here to get a closer taste of the national cuisine.

To make an order the tourist needs to know the following expressions:

• I’d like to place an order. – Je voudrais faire une commande;
• Give me the menu, please. – La carte, s’il vous plaît;
• Do you have the menu in English / in Russian? – Avez-vous la carte en anglais / en russe?
• What would you recommend? – Que pourriez-vous me conseiller?
• I’d like to order your specialty. – Je voudrais goûter la specialité de la maison;
• What wine do you recommend? – Quel vin recommandez-vous?
• I would like a cup of coffee/tea – Je voudrais un café / un thé;
• The bill, please. – L’addition, s’il vous plaît.

Airport

To see the neighborhoods of Paris and to see other famous and notable places in France, you need to book tickets in advance.

To make a request, you need to know a few duty expressions:

• I’d like to book a plane ticket. – Je voudrais réserver un vol;
• I’d like to confirm the order. – Je voudrais confirmer la reservation;
• I’d like to change the order. – Je veux changer la reservation;
• Is this a direct flight? – Est-ce le vol direct?
• How much is the ticket? – Combien coûte un billet?
• Where does the registration take place? – Où se passe l’enregistrement?
• When does the planting start? – Quand commence l’embarquement?
• Here’s my passport. – Voilà mon passeport;
• Where can I get my luggage? – Où puis-je prendre mes bagages?
• That’s my suitcase. – C’est ma valise;
• I can’t find my luggage. – Je ne peux pas trouver mes bagages.

Public transportation

You can get around the city by bus or cab.

Knowing some French expressions in this case will be a must for you.

These are the following phrases:

• Where can I buy a subway ticket? – Où puis-je acheter un ticket de métro?
• Where can I buy a bus ticket? – Où puis-je acheter un ticket de d’autobus?
• How much does it cost... – Combien coûte…;
• How much is one ticket? – Combien coûté un ticket?
• How to get to…? – bans quelle direction faut-il aller jusqu’à…?
• What’s the name of the next stop? – Quelle est la prochaine le prochain arrêt?
• Are you coming out now? – Descendez-vous maintenant?
• Could you please tell me when I can get off? – Prevenez-moi, s’il vous plaît, quand je dois descendre?
• How much do I owe you? – Combien vous dois-je?
• Pouvez-vous me compudiere à l’aéroport.

Store

Every tourist, coming to a new city for him, tries to buy something for himself and his loved ones.

In the French capital, it is a sin not to stroll through small stores and huge supermarkets, where you can buy anything.

Phrases that will help you make a purchase:

• Show me, please, this… – Montrez-moi cela, s’il vous plaît;
• How much is this one? – Combien ça coûte?
• Sale – Soldes/promotions/ventes;
• Can I try this on? – Puis-je l’essayer?
• What size is that? – C’est quelle taille?
• I need a size… – J’ai besoin de la taille/pointure….;
• Do you accept credit cards? – Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit?
• When do you close? – A quelle heure fermez-vous?
• Non, merci, je regarde tout simplement;
• Please, I’ll have a kilo… – S’il vous plaît un kilo….;
• Give, please... – Donnes-moi, s’il vous plaît….

Necessary phrases to help navigate in an unfamiliar city
It is good when you are walking around the city with a Russian-speaking guide who understands what you want to see and who can navigate the cramped city streets. And if you are exploring Paris on your own, you need to know the following expressions:

• Map of the city – le plan de la ville;
• Where can you buy…? -qu puis-je acheter…?
• This street … – cette rue;
• Where’s here…? – qu se trouve…?
• Can you please tell me where is…? – dites, s’il vous plait qu se trouve…?;
• I’m lost – je me suis egare;
• What’s the first thing to see? – qu’est-a qu’il faut regarderen premier lieu?
• Is it walkable? – puis-je y arriver a pied?
• Is it far from here? – c’est loin d’ici;
• How to get through…? – comment aller…?

The most popular expressions

Every self-respecting traveler should know the duty phrases that will help him to orient in an unfamiliar city and just to thank his assistants.

• Hello/Hello – Bonjour;
• Bonsoir;
• Merci – Merci;
• S’il vous plaît;
• Pardon me – Pardon;
• Au revoir;
• Yes – Oui;
• Non – Non;
• My name is ... – Je m appelle …;
• I live… – J’habite ….;
• Aidez-moi, s’il vous plaît;
• Do you speak Russian/English? – Parlez-vous russe/anglais?