A small phrase bank for your trip
| English phrase | French meaning |
|---|---|
| Excuse me. | Excusez-moi. |
| Could you speak more slowly, please? | Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s’il vous plaît ? |
| Could you repeat that, please? | Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? |
| I’m learning English. | J’apprends l’anglais. |
| Where is the nearest bus stop? | Où est l’arrêt de bus le plus proche ? |
| Which platform does the train leave from? | De quel quai part le train ? |
| Could I have a return ticket to London, please? | Pourrais-je avoir un billet aller-retour pour Londres, s’il vous plaît ? |
| How much is it? | Combien cela coûte-t-il ? |
| Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ? |
| I have a reservation under the name Martin. | J’ai une réservation au nom de Martin. |
| What time is check-out? | À quelle heure faut-il libérer la chambre ? |
| Could you help me, please? | Pourriez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? |
| Could I see the menu, please? | Pourrais-je voir la carte, s’il vous plaît ? |
| I’d like some water, please. | Je voudrais de l’eau, s’il vous plaît. |
| Is there a vegetarian option? | Y a-t-il une option végétarienne ? |
| Could I have this without cheese, please? | Pourrais-je avoir ce plat sans fromage, s’il vous plaît ? |
| Could we have the bill, please? | Pourrions-nous avoir l’addition, s’il vous plaît ? |
| Where are the toilets, please? | Où sont les toilettes, s’il vous plaît ? |
| I’m looking for this address. | Je cherche cette adresse. |
| Thank you for your help. | Merci pour votre aide. |
Small words that help a conversation
Excuse me politely attracts someone’s attention. Please accompanies a request and thank you acknowledges help. The patterns Could I have…? and Could you…? work in many everyday situations, including buying a ticket, ordering food and asking for assistance.
If you do not understand the reply, use phrase 2 or phrase 3. Asking someone to slow down is a successful communication strategy, not a failed conversation. You can also prepare the name of your destination or an address to show alongside your spoken question.
British and American vocabulary
In Britain, a return ticket commonly means a ticket for the outward and return journeys. In the United States, a round-trip ticket is the common expression. For a journey in one direction, you will meet a single ticket in Britain and a one-way ticket in the United States.
At a restaurant, the bill is common in British English, while the check is common in American English. Where is the restroom? is a usual American way to ask for the toilets. These are useful tendencies, not rigid borders between varieties.
Turn the list into a short exchange
Choose three phrases and say them aloud. Next, change one detail. Replace London with your destination or Martin with the booking name. In a café, try I’d like a tea, please. Notice the difference between some water and a tea, meaning one cup of tea.
With a partner, practise a request, a reply and a thank-you. Focus on being clear before trying to speak faster. Then cover the English column of the table and use the French meanings to recall your three chosen phrases. Revisit them in another short session.
Your turn
Try these three situations without reading the whole list again.
- At a British railway ticket office, politely ask for a return ticket to Oxford.
- At a hotel, explain that you have a reservation under the name Dubois.
- Someone replies too quickly. Ask them to speak more slowly.
For another round, imagine the first situation in an American context and use round-trip ticket.
Show the explained answers
- Could I have a return ticket to Oxford, please?
- I have a reservation under the name Dubois.
- Could you speak more slowly, please?
American vocabulary: Could I have a round-trip ticket to Oxford, please? Other polite formulations may also be suitable.
Take it with you
Prepare a few adaptable phrases and a way to ask for help: you can reuse them across many small travel situations.