You don't need fluent French for a great trip to France — you need about a dozen phrases, said with confidence. Here are the ones that actually get used, plus a couple of things locals wish tourists knew.
No conjugation tables. Just what you'll actually say at a table, a counter, or a front desk.
"Bonjour" comes before everything. Walking into a shop, a café, or up to a stranger without saying "Bonjour" first is considered genuinely rude in France — not just impolite. Lead with it every time, even if your next sentence is in English, and doors open noticeably wider.
Ordering "un café" gets you an espresso. If you want something closer to American coffee, ask for a "café allongé." And many of France's national museums — including parts of the Louvre — offer free or reduced entry on the first Sunday of the month, a genuinely useful thing to plan around.
Once a month, we send hidden history, local etiquette, and travel-ready phrases for the places you're actually headed. No spam, no fluff — just the good stuff.
You're in — merci! Watch your inbox for France's good stuff. 🎉
Reading tips is one thing — actually being able to say them out loud is another. Voxolo builds a full speaking plan around your trip dates, with an AI tutor that plays the waiter, the vendor, the local — so you land ready, not just informed.
See how Voxolo works