These are the things you must be able to say, even if you can’t say anything else! The locals will be amazed and delighted at an English visitor who actually tries to speak their language, even if you only manage to say "please", "thank you" and "a beer please"!
OK, let's get started!
All the tables on Snappy French have three columns - the first is in English, the middle one in written French and the third one is an approximation of how you should pronounce it. Because we have to show this by using sounds you will recognise in English, it won't give you 100% authentic French pronunciation, but you should be understood. Just say what you see!
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| hello/good morning |
bonjour |
bonzhooer |
| hello/good evening |
bonsoir |
bonswah |
| hi! |
salut! |
salyoo! |
| goodbye |
au revoir |
oh revwah |
| yes |
oui |
wee |
| no |
non |
non |
| I'm sorry |
je suis désolé |
zhe swee dayzohlay |
| I don't speak French |
je ne parle pas le francais |
zhe ne parl pa le fronsay |
| I don't speak French well |
Je ne parle pas bien le francais |
zhe ne parl pa beean le fronsay |
| (Could you speak) slowly please? |
lentement s' il vous plaît |
lontemon seel voo play |
| do you speak English? |
parlez-vous anglais? |
parlay voo onglay? |
| please |
s'il vous plaît |
seel voo play |
| thank you |
merci |
mehrsee |
| no thank you |
non merci |
non mehrsee |
| my name is... |
je m' appelle... |
zhe mappel |
| what is your name? |
Comment vous appelez-vous? |
Kommon vooz applay voo? |
| how are you? |
ça va? |
sa va? |
| I'm fine thanks |
ça va bien merci |
sa va bian mehrsee |
| one |
un |
ern |
| two |
deux |
derr |
| three |
trois |
trwa |
| four |
quatre |
katr |
| five |
cinq |
sank |
| six |
six |
seess |
| seven |
sept |
set |
| eight |
huit |
weet |
| nine |
neuf |
nerf |
| ten |
dix |
deess |
| I |
je |
zh |
| you (for friends) |
tu |
too |
| he |
il |
eel |
| she |
elle |
el |
| we |
nous |
noo |
| you (formal) |
vous |
voo |
| they |
ils (men) elles (women) |
eel/el |
| big |
grand |
gron |
| small |
petit |
petee |
| how |
comment |
kommon |
| what |
que |
ke |
| who |
qui |
kee |
| why |
pourquoi |
porkwa |
| where |
où |
oo |
| when |
quand |
kon |
| excuse me |
excusez-moi |
ex-kyoozay-mwa |
| I am hungry |
j'ai faim |
zhay fam |
| I am thirsty |
j'ai soif |
zhay swaf |
| I would like... |
je voudrais... |
zhe voodray... |
| I do not want... |
je ne voudrais pas... |
zhe ne voodray pa... |
| where is...? |
où est...? |
oo ay...? |
| how much is this? |
c'est combien? |
say kombeean? |
| I need... |
j'ai besoin de... |
zhay bezwan de... |
| do you have...? |
Avez-vous...? |
avay-voo...? |
TIP - If you really can't remember anything else, try to keep the most important phrase to hand: "Je suis désolé, je ne parle pas le français. Parlez-vous anglais?" ("I'm sorry, I don't speak French. Do you speak English?"). Go on, try it - works every time!
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