You are heading to Paris, and you don't know a word of French? Don't panic, you are like millions of visitors coming each year to Paris.  

 

 

Remember that a smile is worth one hundred words and please don't listen to those horrible stories about snooty Parisians who won't speak English even if they are able to.  

 

Most Parisians can more or less speak English, but they worry about their accent, and feel often shy & uncomfortable because they don't speak fluently.  

Imagine how you would feel in your own country if a visitor walked up to you speaking French and expecting you to reply in French!  

 

So give the person in front of you a little time and just try to say: " Bonjour ! S'il vous plaît, parlez-vous anglais ? " (Boh(n)zhoo. Seel voo pleh , Pahr-lay voo ah(n)gleh? ), the French sentence for " Hello. Please, do you speak English? "  

 

You offer people the opportunity of answering “Yes, I speak English but not very well, I'm sorry.”  

And then you'll discover that Parisians are most than willing to help you!  

 

 

 

 

 

Free French lessons at home!  

 

 

A wonderful link for beginners 

 

Another excellent link to study French  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic French 

 

Bonjour Boh(n)zhoor Hello Bonsoir Boh(n)swar Good evening Au revoir Oh rvwar Good bye A bientôt Ah bye(n)toh See you soon Monsieur Missyer Sir/Mr. Madame Madam Madam/Mrs. Comment allez-vous ? Kohmah(n) ahlay voo? How are you doing? S'il vous plait Seel voo pleh Please Merci Mersee Thank you   Pardon Pahrdoh(n) Excuse me / sorry Parlez-vous anglais ? Pahr-lay voo ah(n)gleh ? Do you speak English? Je ne comprends pas zhe nuh koh(n)prah(n) pah- I don't understand Oui wee Yes Non Noh(n) No Je voudrais… Zhe voodray I would like… C'est combien ? Seh koh(n)byeh(n) ? How much it is? Où est le métro ? Oo eh le metro ? Where is the metro? Où sont les toilettes ? Oo soh(n) lay twahlet ? Where are the toilets? A droite Ah drwaht To your right A gauche Ah gosh To your left Je vous aime ! Zhe voo aym! I love you!