Speak Like a Local: Essential French Phrases That Will Make Parisians Love You (2025)

Let me share a little secret: the day I started using "Pardon de vous déranger" instead of just "Excusez-moi," Parisians' reactions to me changed completely!

After years of exploring Paris and countless conversations with locals, I've discovered that it's not about speaking perfect French – it's about showing respect for the language and culture.

Today, I'm sharing the exact phrases that will transform your Parisian experience from tourist-typical to wonderfully authentic!

1. The Golden Rule: Essential Greetings

The most crucial phrases in your French arsenal are greetings. They're your key to unlocking Parisian warmth!

Morning to Afternoon:

• "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur" (Bohn-ZHOOR) When to use: Every time you enter a shop, restaurant, or interact with anyone before 6 PM

Evening:

• "Bonsoir Madame/Monsieur" (Bohn-SWAHR) Use after 6 PM

Leaving:

• "Au revoir!" (Oh ruh-VWAHR)

• "Bonne journée!" (Bun zhoor-NAY) - Have a nice day!

• "Bonne soirée!" (Bun swah-RAY) - Have a nice evening!

Pro tip: Always add Madame/Monsieur to your greetings. It's the difference between basic politeness and earning genuine smiles!

2. The Magic Phrase: Polite Interruption

Here's your secret weapon for starting any interaction:

• "Pardon de vous déranger..." (Par-DON duh voo day-rahn-ZHAY) Meaning: "Sorry to bother you..."

Follow it with:

• "...mais je ne parle pas très bien français" (...may zhuh nuh parl pah treh byahn frahn-SAY) Meaning: "...but I don't speak French very well"

This combination shows respect and humility, often leading to Parisians switching to English with a smile!

3. Restaurant and Café Essentials

Let's make ordering food and drinks a breeze:

To Get Seated:

• "Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît" (Un tahbl poor duh, seel voo PLEH) For a table for two

Ordering:

• "Je voudrais..." (Zhuh voo-DREH) - I would like...

• "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" (Lah-dee-see-ON seel voo PLEH) - The bill, please

• "C'était délicieux!" (Seh-teh day-lee-SYUH) - That was delicious!

Coffee Orders:

• "Un café, s'il vous plaît" (Un kah-FAY) - Espresso

• "Un café crème" (Un kah-FAY KREM) - Coffee with cream

• "Un café allongé" (Un kah-FAY ah-lon-ZHAY) - American-style coffee

4. Shopping and Directions

Essential phrases for exploring the city:

Shopping:

• "Je regarde seulement" (Zhuh ruh-GARD seul-MAHN) - I'm just looking

• "C'est combien?" (Seh kom-BYAHN) - How much is it?

• "Avez-vous ma taille?" (Ah-vay voo mah TYE) - Do you have my size?

Directions:

• "Où est..." (Oo eh) - Where is...

• "Je suis perdu(e)" (Zhuh swee pehr-DU) - I'm lost

• "La station de métro" (Lah stah-see-ON duh may-TRO) - The metro station

5. Emergency and Help Phrases

Keep these handy for unexpected situations:

• "Au secours!" (Oh suh-KOOR) - Help!

• "J'ai besoin d'aide" (Zhay buh-SWAN dehd) - I need help

• "Parlez-vous anglais?" (Par-lay voo ahn-GLEH) - Do you speak English?

• "Je ne comprends pas" (Zhuh nuh kom-PRAHN pah) - I don't understand

6. Making Friends: Social Phrases

Ready to connect with locals? Try these:

• "Enchanté(e)" (Ahn-shahn-TAY) - Nice to meet you

• "À votre santé!" (Ah votr sahn-TAY) - Cheers!

• "C'est une belle journée" (Seh tun bel zhoor-NAY) - It's a beautiful day

• "Vous pouvez me recommander...?" (Voo poo-VAY muh ruh-koh-mahn-DAY) - Can you recommend...?

7. Cultural Must-Knows

These phrases show cultural awareness:

• "S'il vous plaît" (Seel voo PLEH) - Please

• "Merci beaucoup" (Mehr-see boh-KOO) - Thank you very much

• "De rien" (Duh ree-YEN) - You're welcome

• "Désolé(e)" (Day-zo-LAY) - Sorry

8. Shopping at Markets

Perfect for those market adventures:

• "C'est frais?" (Seh FREH) - Is it fresh?

• "Je peux goûter?" (Zhuh puh goo-TAY) - Can I taste?

• "Un peu plus" (Un puh PLOOS) - A bit more

• "Un peu moins" (Un puh MWAHN) - A bit less

9. Understanding Responses

Common replies you'll hear:

• "Bien sûr" (Byahn SOOR) - Of course

• "Là-bas" (Lah BAH) - Over there

• "Tout droit" (Too DRWAH) - Straight ahead

• "À gauche/à droite" (Ah GOHSH/ah DRWAT) - Left/right

10. Express Appreciation

End interactions positively:

• "C'était parfait" (Seh-teh par-FEH) - That was perfect

• "À bientôt" (Ah byahn-TOH) - See you soon

• "Passez une bonne journée" (Pah-say un bun zhoor-NAY) - Have a good day

• "Au plaisir" (Oh pleh-ZEER) - Looking forward to seeing you again

Pro Tips for Pronunciation

Remember these key rules:

1. French is spoken forward in the mouth

2. Final consonants are usually silent

3. Pay attention to accents - they change pronunciation

4. Practice with French podcasts or YouTube videos

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes - Parisians appreciate the effort!

Final Thoughts: Your French Journey Begins

Remember, it's not about perfection – it's about connection. These phrases are your gateway to authentic Parisian experiences. Start with the basics, practice daily, and watch as Paris opens up to you in ways you never imagined!

Want to sound even more like a local? Download our free "Paris Pronunciation Guide" audio files below. Practice these phrases with native speakers and gain the confidence to use them in real situations!

Ready to dive deeper into French language and culture? Check out our digital guide "Speak Paris" for detailed pronunciation videos, cultural insights, and neighborhood-specific language tips. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly French phrases and local recommendations!