Ready to see a bunch of words that your brain will see and say, “I know how to pronounce those”, but that in reality, you are saying completely inaccurately (you are also probably using too many of the letters)?
Welcome to French.
The following is a very rough guide to the French language. Hopefully, this will be adequate enough to at least get yourself some wine, a baguette, and a striped shirt.
I would like to thank the good Mr. Indie for helping me put this post together. A Frenchman since birth, Indie has traveled the world, impressing the masses with his stunning good looks and genuine kindheartedness. Recently, he made the pilgrimage from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail, and he has now returned to France to search for his next great adventure. Check out Indie’s posts here.
So basically, if you’ve got a problem with anything here, take it up with him.
FOR THE BASICS
- Hello – Bonjour
- Goodbye – Au Revoir
- Yes – Oui
- No – Non
- Foreigner – Etranger
- The bathroom – Salle de bain (toilette if it’s to take a piss or a dump)
- Fuck! –
- Shit! – Merde!
- Good morning – Bonjour (as in hello)
- Good afternoon – Bon après midi (or just Bonjour)
- Good evening – Bonsoir
- Please – S’il vous plaît
- Thank you – Merci
- You’re welcome – De rien
- Excuse me – Excusez moi
- Sorry – Pardon
- France – La France
- Restaurant – Restaurant
- Menu – Menu
- The check – L’addition
- Recommendation – Recommandation
- A beer – Une bière
- Water – De l’Eau
- Chicken – Poulet
- Beef – Bœuf
- Kitten – Chaton
- Pork – Porc
- Fish – Poisson
- Vegetarian – Végétarien
- Cheers! – Santé!
FOR THE EATING
FOR THE USEFUL PHRASES
- I don’t understand. – Je ne comprends pas.
- I don’t speak French. – Je ne parle pas français.
- I don’t know. – Je ne sais pas.
- I prefer to be naked. – Je préfère être nu.
- Your hair is ugly today. – Vos cheveux sont moches aujourd’hui.
- It’s a trap! – C’est un piège!
FOR THE TRANSPORTATION
- The hotel – L’Hôtel
- The hostel – L’auberge (de jeunesse)
- Car – La Voiture
- Taxi – Taxi
- Bus – Bus
- Subway – Métro
- Donkey – Âne
- Bus station – Gare routière
- Airport – Aéroport
- Left – Gauche
- Right – Droite
FOR THE QUESTIONS
- Who? – Qui?
- What? – Quoi?
- Where? – Où?
- Where is…? – Où est…?
- When? – Quand?
- Why? – Pourquoi?
- How? – Comment?
- Do you speak English? – Parlez vous anglais?
- Did you fart? – Avez vous pété ?
- How are you? – Comment allez vous?
- How much is…? – Combien coûte…?
- I want… – Je voudrais…
FOR THE NUMBERS
- One – Un
- Two – Deux
- Three – Trois
- Four – Quatre
- Five – Cinq
- Six – Six
- Seven – Sept
- Eight – Huit
- Nine – Neuf
- Ten – Dix
- Twenty – Vingt
- Thirty – Trente
- Forty – Quarante
- Fifty – Cinquante
- One hundred – Cent
Going to be needing some French in the future? Don’t know how to say something? Think something else should be added to this list?
Leave a comment below and let me know!
Thanks! I suppose that’s what I get for not independently confirming this information with another French-speaker before posting 🙂
Post updated!