How will I be able to get around Paris, France if I don't understand French?

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Rillifane

You need have no concerns whatever. Paris is the most visited tourist destination in the world and they have visitors from everywhere. When these visitors cannot speak French they usually speak English. For this reason almost everyone in the hospitality industry (waiters, hotel clerks, etc) speaks at least a little English.

Indeed, I often find that once people realize that I speak English (because I'm speaking to my traveling companion in English) they will stop speaking to me in French (which I speak fairly well) and speak English.

So don't worry. Everything will be fine.

P.S. Even if you only know a few words of French use them! People will appreciate the effort you have made.

Here's a few more to help you out:

Bonjour Madame/Monsieur Say hello whenever you go into a place of business. Its considered polite.

"S'il vous plait" - Say please and thank you (merci) even more than your old fashioned grandmother would have.

"Au revoir" - Say a pleasant goodbye when you leave.

"Parlez-vous anglais?" Asking someone if they speak English before you begin speaking English to them is only polite. Rarely will a waiter or other service person say they don't speak English

"Je ne parle pas français" While it may be obvious you don't really speak French its not a bad idea to point it out (people will take pity on you)

"Où est le WC?" Where's the toilet is one of those phrases that its always best to know in the local language (grin).

Responses (aside from pointing you in the right direction) might be: "à gauche" (to the left) "à droite" to the right) "tout droite" (straight ahead).

Sebastien

You will have no problem in Paris. Lots of parisians speak english and especially in touristic locations.
You might have troubles with taxi drivers even if most of them speak at least a few words. But make sure to speak clearly and articulate because most french are not used to accents.

pete m

Yes alot of people do speak English here but if you just rely on your English to get what you want all the time the French will soon be annoyed, they appreciate it and are alot more helpful if you at least tried to speak a little French.

Kate T

alot of french people speak english enough to be able to direct you places and understand you at a restaurant. but definitely brush up on your french before you go, notice i said alot, not all ha ha.

SexyVampire V

Hello!
I live here, and trust me there's nooo problem..
You know french people learn english at school!
The only little problem might be their frenchy accent - which i find hilarious by the way -
But seriously in most cases they'll understand.. especially in hotels and restaurants and everything.. I mean France in general is the most visited country on the world, so I guess they've grown use to having to communicate with people from foreign countries, mostly in english!
Have Fun! Great choice of destination! x

Rocket

Just be extra polite and practice some of the basics and you'll be fine. Good luck!

Kenley

You'll find that a lot of people in Paris do speak English, but I would brush up on your French before you go. Even if you know the most basic words, it will help you a great deal. There are a lot of CD courses that will help you and there's a lot of podcasts that will help you as well. Podcast wise, check out Coffee Break French; they cover a lot of the basic stuff in it; and I highly recommend that you practice speaking the language with someone, I found it helpful when I was studying French in high school. Best wishes and enjoy the trip!

alexandra m

Dear Mommy to Alexia --

Bonjour! As an American who has lived in Paris for almost a year, with only a basic understanding of French, my answer to your question is YES, You most definitely can visit paris and be understood, even if you only speak english. Great news!

My only advice is to be pleasant and you will get a lot of help -- but I guess it is the same, all over the world.

The basics go a long way - "bonjour" for hello or good morning, "merci" for thank you, "bonsoir" for good evening. "Au revoir" for goodbye. If you attempt to say something in french, it shows them respect, and they will love you for it.

You could ask, "Parlez-vous anglais?" Do you speak english?
And that will be very polite instead of just speaking directly to them in english, which will sometimes make french people unhappy, as it appears that some american "demand" them to speak english.

Something I have begun to notice about Americans (and Italians) in Paris is -- they are very loud (in comparison to french who are pretty softspoken). If I ever hear someone speaking on the bus, it is for sure an american, and they don't seem to notice, because I think in the US it is more widespread that people speak at a level in which others can hear what is said.

If you really want French people to respect and want to help you, try to lower your voice so that others around you cannot hear your conversation. If you notice, french people are respectful of other's space, and being polite is what they really value, over the ability to speak french.

Extra advice if you want to stay somewhere full of charm and quiet for your baby -- try the 7th arrondissement, near the Eiffel Tower. There are lots of places to have picnics and to walk. This area has more open spaces, and bigger sidewalks. You can take nice walks to the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine, and walk to many museums in peace.
The 7th arrondissement hotels have the zipcode 75007.

Have a great time, I hope this helps!

Altea72

I don't understant french too but I've been twice in Paris!
Don't worry, a lot of people understand english and you can go everywhere by metro and train in which you find all informations written on big tables!
Maybe it woulb be useful to bring a travel guide just to translate french cuisine dishes.... but they are all delicious!!!

Enjoy Paris, I fell in love with Le Sacre Coeur...

Cabal

In the tourist trade you'll find most people speak English, a necessity in a city seeing a few millions foreign tourists every year. Hotels, restaurants, especially around tourist areas will know enough English to understand you. Speak slowly and clearly.
However you'll have a warmer welcome if you pick up a few rules of French politeness. Probably not in a place drowning under flows of tourists but among French people. We are a verrrry old fashioned people when it comes to politeness but the rules are sometimes different.
Bonjour when you enter a shop, bonjour when you order something, be it a coffee or a meal, bonjour before you speak to someone. Au revoir when you leave the shop, the café, the restaurant.
"Excuse me, do you speak English" sounds way much better than "Hi" to French ears. We are very old fashioned in that way. And I hate... I mean we hate to be grabbed.
We don't smile to strangers, we keep a neutral pleasant look. That's polite French way. We don't hate you, we just don't share the American habit to grin to strangers.
Parisians themselves are usually as friendly, welcoming and smiling as New Yorkers. :D

Have a very nice trip.

Just to correct Rillifane: 'Ou sont les toilettes?' is better when asking for the loo

Party Princess_ 92

I'm pretty sure that they have people who speak english but your so lucky to go to Paris,France

Mary M

well...i think ur screwed, to be honest.french sounds nothing like english.you might want to start getting familiar with french terms and questions.

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