Comments on: How to Learn Key Phrases in French

on 8/8/2006 To say 'Where is...', you would say, 'Ou est...' which can be pronounced as, 'Oo ay...'.

on 8/8/2006 Some of the phrases put up by others would probably illicit some smiles, smirks, maybe even a snicker or two from French folks on the street. Case in point: the word "Tabernac" -- this is used in French-speaking Canada - not in France. Also, "Je suis bien" means "I'm comfortable", NOT "I'm okay". You'll want to say "Je vais bien" for that.

Want to get someone's attention? Make sure you use "S'il vous plaýt" up front, followed by "Monsieur" or "Madame" or "Mademoiselle".

Vocabulary is good - keep a list for a day or two of things you do, say and/or use in English, then learn those phrases and/or vocabulary words. Use post-its around the house for every-day items you may want to learn and make sure you practice every time you see it or use it.

Also, learning the conjugations of the "fab-five" of irregular verbs (ýtre, avoir, aller, faire, and prendre) is useful to have under your belt. A large portion of French expressions are made up of these verbs.

Take a look at various web sites (do a search for "French expressions") which can help you with pronunciation guides and/or with pronunciation audio files.

on 6/30/2006 To say 'Where is...', you would say, 'Ou est...' which can be pronounced as, 'Oo ay...'.

on 11/22/2005 English / French translation

I need help / Aidez-moi
I don't speak French / Je ne parle pas francais.
Where is my hotel? / Ou est mon hotel.
I'm thirsty / J'ai soif
Go away / Allez-vous!
Come here / Venez-ici.
Thank you / Merci

Good one to add is "Parlez-vous anglaise?"

on 11/22/2005 It's great to be able to say that you don't speak French, if you're in a situation where you can't get by with basic expressions.

Say "Je ne parle pas francais." It's usually accepted with a nod, and they may start speaking English to you. I had 2 women come up to me, vigorously trying to get me to answer them. I think they might have been asking for directions. I was able to use the phrase to get them to stop trying.

on 11/22/2005 "I am hungry" is "j'ai faim" (the m at the end of faim is not pronouced). "I'm thirsty" is j'ai soif (pronounced swaff).
"How much it costs" is "Combien sa coute."

on 11/22/2005 C'est tout. Literal translation is "it is all," but it can be used to mean finished, done, all gone, that's all, no more, I'm through, it's over, and propably a whole host more. C'est tout !

on 11/22/2005 Asking for help is "J'ai besoin d'aide" (zhay beh-zwon dead). It is "J'ai," not "Je."

on 11/22/2005 To say "I'm sorry" in French is "je suis desole."
Also, you can just say "desole."

on 11/22/2005 This probably will never come in handy but I love to say it in my French classes...

Ou est le grand chochon?

Meaning...where is the large pig?

on 11/22/2005 With so many wineries and without having to choose specific millýsimes, France has a lot of good table wine that compares with some millýsimes without the price tag. Usually, they are specialties of the restaurant or bistro you are visiting. Here is how to ask "Avez-vous des vins maison?" It's pronounced "Ave-vou day VIN (don't know the english phonetic equivalent) may zonh?"

on 11/22/2005 Paris bistros offer excellent food at much lower prices and with the real Parisian atmosphere. How do you ask for one? "Pouvez-vous nous recommander un bon bistro?" This would be said as "Pooh vay-vou nou reh comm end ey um bon bistro?"

on 11/22/2005 Another word they hate to hear is TABERNAC! It's their favorite cuss word, and they never expect to hear it from Anglophones.

on 11/22/2005 As long as you try to speak French, most of the natives will be willing to speak enlish with you.

on 11/22/2005 Just in case a montreal native demands you speak french or otherwise upsets you, just use one of their favorite phrases, TANTPIS! pronounced tawnt-pee.

This lets them know you mean business, it means "too bad!"