Going on holiday to france/Useful french phrases?

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toubab

What time does the train leave?
A quelle heure part le train.

I have lost my mum/dad
J'ai perdu ma mere/mon pere

I have lost my daughter/son
J'ai perdu ma fille / mon fils

Where could I get a taxi?
ou est-ce que je peux trouver un taxi?

I don't speak much french.
Je ne parle pas vraiment francais

How can I find my hotel?
comment est-ce que je peux trouver mon hotel?

How much is this?
combien coute ceci

And maybe some other useful phrases?
ou sont les toilettes (where's the bathroom)

tip: get your hand on a french phrase books (they are also sold at airport sometimes) and identify the phrase you might need the most.copy them on cards so you can easily take them with you and show them to people if you get in trouble.

WISE OWL

You already have been given the sentences that you asked for.
If you are in town to-day and have an Oxfam bookshop there, they have some of those little pocket phrasebooks for a few pence, so that you can give one to several people in your party. These are arranged by topic and give you all the essential sentences that you may need in most situations including translation of dishes you will find on menus.

It is true that the French appreciate if you make an effort, but you will find that many people do speak English if you are completely stuck, and waiters in restaurants etc...actually like practising their English and very often have the menu translated in English too. At Euro Disney most of the staff are fluent English speakers. In other places, English has been taught at school and most people except the older generation have some understanding of it. The problem is more likely to be with their responses in French if your family's understanding is limited.

Here are sites that will give you useful sentences and you can click on associated topics for the traveller to find some more:
http://www.smartphrase.com/French/fr_general_words_phr.shtml
http://french.about.com/library/begin/bl_travel.htm
If you have a printer you can also give a sheet to each member of your party with the sentences that you consider most useful.
Just one word of warning. If you are going to Paris, at the moment there are organised bands of pickpockets or bag snatchers from eastern European countries operating there and they home in on foreigners travelling in a group, so keep your money in a safe place in inside pockets and put the minimum in the purse that you are using to pay for fares, snacks or souvenirs. Give each member of your party a card with the name and address of your hotel just in case you do get separated. When you arrive at your hotel , they give you free plans of the town where you are. Have one for each member of your party with the location of the hotel on the map clearly indicated by a circle.
Wherever you are going, have a lovely time.

Veronica Alicia

Get yourself a French phrase book to take with you. You can always just point to a sentence, look appealing, and attempt to say it.
In France more than anywhere else in the World I've visited, they do expect you to make an effort even if you aren't word perfect.
If you don't make an effort to speak French, they generally won't put themselves out to speak English even if they can.
I usually get away with "Pardonnez moi, Monsieur, mais mon marie dit que je parle le Francais comme une vache Espagnol". It raises a laugh if nothing else. (and I have French ancestors - shame the knowledge of a language isn't passed on with the DNA!)
If you think French is a problem, I've been invited to a big 'do' in Israel next Spring!
How much - Combien?
I have lost - j'ai perdu ------(mes enfants, mon mari,
I am looking for - je cherche ------ une taxi, l'hotel, une cafe
Where is - ou est -------- ?

Adrian C

Treat your self to a holiday language CD or better still sign up for a 6 week course at night school. It doesn't matter how many of the phrases you can remember the moment some one answers to your question you will not understand and this will only add to your frustration, there is little point in writing it down as you need to hear the spoken answers to your questions with a selection of possible replies. good luck

zafir

Get yourself an English/French phrasebook, and you'll have all this covered. Phrasebooks are quite small so will fit easily into a purse/handbag, backpack or pocket, and you'll have the information at your fingertips.

Jerry 71

The advice about a pocket phrase book is great. One phrase book I liked was "French at a Glance" but there are many phrase books that will work well. Most have "typical situations"-- at the train station, at the restaurant, etc.

cazfoster72

C'est combien - how much is this
Ou est le taxi - where is the taxi
je ne pas parle francais - i dont speak french
ca'va - how are you
ca'va bien - i am good

sil vous plait - please
merci - thank you
bonjour - hello

hope this helps

i love red tank tops

Bonjour...

Merci...

Lol sorry thats the only french words i know! =P

wait_what

What time does the train for ... leave?
A quelle heure part le train pour ...?

Where can I get a taxi?
Ou puis-je trouver un taxi?

I don't speak much French.
Je ne parle pas bein francais.

How do I get to...?
Comment puis-je aller a...?

How much is it?
Combien vous dois-je?

How much is this?
Combien coute ceci?

Feel free to e-mail me for anything else. =]

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