Zoe Erotopoulos

Whether you’re planning a trip to France or to a French-speaking country or you just want to learn a little French, knowing a few helpful expressions can make you feel more comfortable with the language.In this handy Cheat Sheet, you'll find basic French expressions, questions for gathering information or asking for help, and phrases to use in a restaurant.

By mastering the basics of conversation in French, you put yourself and the person you're talking to at ease. Everyone should learn essential French conversational words and phrases before traveling to a French-speaking country. These words and expressions are sure to come up in most everyday conversations. Basic courtesies Being polite is important anywhere you go, here or abroad, because it shows respect for the person and the culture.

Knowing how to ask a few basic questions in French can come in very handy when you travel to a French-speaking country and need to know the time or where something is located or just want to get some basic information, English French Pronunciation Do you speak English? Est-ce que vous parlez anglais? ehs-kuh vooh pahr-ley ahN-gleh?

These French greetings and expressions will come in very handy when you travel to a French-speaking country. With these expressions, you can communicate politely when speaking to French natives. English French Pronunciation Hello/Good day! Bonjour! bohN-zhoohr! Good evening! Bon soir! bohN-swahr! Good-bye! Au revoir!

Making small talk in French is just the same as in English. Touch on familiar topics like jobs, sports, children — just say it in French! Small talk describes the brief conversations that you have with people you don't know well. Small talk is where friendships are made. If you know how to make small talk in French you'll be able to "break the ice" and get to know some of the people you meet during your trip.

Develop a French shopping vocabulary to gain a new cultural experience when traveling. Whether you're shopping for clothes, food, or souvenirs, you can use the following phrases in any French-speaking country to help you find just the right thing. The following phrases will be useful no matter what kind of shopping you plan on doing.

Know how to ask for help in French before you have an actual emergency. Save valuable time in a crisis by knowing simple French words and phrases to cover emergencies with illness or theft. The simplest way to ask for assistance is Au secours!, which means Help! You can also use the phrases: Est-ce que vous pourrez m’aider?

How do you ask basic questions in French? Well, French interrogative words mean the same as they do for English: who, what, when, where, why, and how. By knowing basic French interrogatives, you'll be able to express your questions, even without an extensive vocabulary. For example, say you're at a French street market and you want find a beautiful antique clock.

Exploring French-speaking countries can be quite an adventure, but you need to know how to ask for directions in French and to understand what you're told. After all, if you don't understand the directions, you might miss the very things you hoped to see. The first thing you need is to know how to ask for directions.