Navigate France like a local — from booking hotels and navigating airports to understanding regional culture, dining etiquette, and the unwritten social rules that guidebooks miss.
Estimated Time: 45–55 minutes
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un vol | a flight |
| un aller simple / un aller-retour | one-way / round-trip ticket |
| l'enregistrement (m) | check-in |
| la carte d'embarquement | boarding pass |
| la porte d'embarquement | boarding gate |
| les bagages (m. pl.) | luggage |
| un bagage à main / en cabine | carry-on luggage |
| la douane | customs |
| le contrôle des passeports | passport control |
| une correspondance | a connecting flight / transfer |
| le décalage horaire | jet lag |
| l'atterrissage / le décollage | landing / takeoff |
Paris CDG (Charles de Gaulle / Roissy) — main international hub, northeast of Paris. Paris Orly — second Paris airport, south of the city, mostly European & domestic flights. Nice Côte d'Azur — gateway to the Riviera. Lyon Saint-Exupéry — named after the author of Le Petit Prince!
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un hôtel | hotel |
| une chambre d'hôte | bed & breakfast / guesthouse |
| un gîte | vacation rental / cottage (rural) |
| une auberge de jeunesse | youth hostel |
| une location de vacances | vacation rental |
| une chambre simple / double | single / double room |
| le petit déjeuner (inclus) | breakfast (included) |
| la réservation | reservation |
| la clé / la carte magnétique | key / key card |
| la réception / l'accueil | front desk / reception |
| le check-in / le check-out | check-in / check-out (English used!) |
| la note / l'addition | the bill |
Je voudrais réserver une chambre pour deux nuits, s'il vous plaît.
(I'd like to book a room for two nights, please.)
Est-ce que le petit déjeuner est inclus ?
(Is breakfast included?)
À quelle heure est le check-out ?
(What time is check-out?)
Il y a un problème avec la climatisation / le Wi-Fi.
(There's a problem with the AC / the Wi-Fi.)
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) | high-speed train |
| le TER (Transport Express Régional) | regional train |
| le métro | subway (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, etc.) |
| le RER | suburban rail (Paris region) |
| un billet / un ticket | ticket |
| composter le billet | to validate/stamp the ticket |
| la gare / la gare routière | train station / bus station |
| le quai | platform |
| un aller simple / aller-retour | one-way / round-trip |
| première / deuxième classe | first / second class |
| louer une voiture | to rent a car |
| le péage | toll (highway) |
| une autoroute | highway / motorway |
On regional trains and some buses, you must composter (validate/stamp) your ticket before boarding. Yellow machines are on the platform. Forgetting can mean a fine (une amende) from the contrôleur (ticket inspector). TGV e-tickets don't need composting, but paper tickets do!
France's high-speed rail network connects major cities at up to 320 km/h (200 mph). Paris → Lyon: ~2 hours. Paris → Marseille: ~3 hours. Paris → Bordeaux: ~2 hours. Book on SNCF Connect (formerly OUI.sncf). Early booking = cheaper fares (tarif Prem's).
France has incredible regional diversity. Each area has its own character, cuisine, and sometimes even its own language:
| Region | Known For | Key Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Île-de-France | Paris, museums, history, fashion | Paris, Versailles |
| Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | Lavender, Mediterranean coast, sun | Marseille, Nice, Aix-en-Provence |
| Nouvelle-Aquitaine | Wine (Bordeaux), surf, Basque culture | Bordeaux, Biarritz |
| Occitanie | Canal du Midi, Cathar castles, rugby | Toulouse, Montpellier |
| Bretagne (Brittany) | Celtic heritage, crêpes, cider, coast | Rennes, Brest, Saint-Malo |
| Normandie | D-Day beaches, camembert, Mont Saint-Michel | Rouen, Caen |
| Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | Alps, skiing, gastronomy | Lyon, Grenoble, Annecy |
| Grand Est | Alsatian culture, Christmas markets, wine | Strasbourg, Colmar |
| Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | Wine (Burgundy), mustard, medieval towns | Dijon, Beaune |
| Corse (Corsica) | Mountains, beaches, Napoleon's birthplace | Ajaccio, Bastia |
France includes overseas territories (les DOM-TOM): Guadeloupe and Martinique (Caribbean), La Réunion (Indian Ocean), Guyane (South America), Nouvelle-Calédonie and Polynésie française (Pacific). These are part of France — they use the euro (except some Pacific territories) and French is the official language.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un restaurant / un bistrot | restaurant / bistro (casual) |
| une brasserie | brasserie (open all day, broader menu) |
| un café / un bar | café / bar |
| la carte / le menu | the menu / the set meal |
| l'entrée (f) | starter / appetizer (NOT the main!) |
| le plat (principal) | main course |
| le dessert / le fromage | dessert / cheese course |
| l'addition, s'il vous plaît | the check/bill, please |
| le pourboire | tip |
| un apéritif / un digestif | pre-dinner drink / after-dinner drink |
In French, une entrée is the starter/appetizer — the first course you "enter" the meal with. The main course is le plat principal. This is opposite to American English where "entrée" means main course. Don't order three entrées thinking you're getting mains!
Greet on entering: Always say "Bonjour" when entering any shop, restaurant, or café. Not doing so is considered very rude.
Tipping: Service is included (service compris) by law — 15% is built into prices. Leaving small change (1–2€) for good service is nice but not expected. Never tip 15–20% like in the US.
Bread: Place it directly on the table (not on the plate). It's for eating with cheese or sopping up sauce, not as a pre-meal snack with butter.
Water: Ask for une carafe d'eau (free tap water). Otherwise you'll get eau minérale (bottled) and pay for it.
Pace: Meals are long. The waiter won't rush you or bring the bill until you ask. "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" when ready.
Coffee: Un café = espresso. Want American-style? Ask for un café allongé or un américain. Coffee comes AFTER dessert, never during the meal.
| Topic | What To Know |
|---|---|
| La bise | Cheek kisses for greetings — 2 in Paris, up to 4 in some regions. Follow the local's lead. |
| Vous vs. Tu | Default to vous with strangers, elders, and in shops. Switch to tu only when invited. "On se tutoie ?" = Shall we use tu? |
| Bonjour | Say it EVERY TIME you enter a shop, taxi, elevator with one person. It's not optional. |
| Au revoir | Say it when leaving. Bonne journée (have a good day) adds warmth. |
| Punctuality | Being 10–15 minutes late to social events is normal (le quart d'heure de politesse). Be on time for business. |
| Sunday | Most shops are closed on Sunday (dimanche). Plan accordingly. Supermarkets may open mornings only. |
| August | Many shops, restaurants, and businesses close for vacation in August (les vacances d'été). Paris empties out. |
| Strikes | La grève (strike) is a French tradition. Transport strikes happen regularly — check news and have backup plans. |
| French | English |
|---|---|
| visiter / faire du tourisme | to visit / to sightsee |
| un monument / un musée | monument / museum |
| une cathédrale / une église | cathedral / church |
| un château / un palais | castle / palace |
| une exposition | an exhibition |
| l'entrée (f) / le tarif réduit | admission / reduced price |
| un plan / une carte | a map |
| un guide touristique | a guidebook / tour guide |
| faire la queue | to stand in line / queue |
| une visite guidée | a guided tour |
| C'est magnifique / incroyable ! | It's magnificent / incredible! |
| French | English | French | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| un passeport | passport | une assurance voyage | travel insurance | |
| une valise | suitcase | un sac à dos | backpack | |
| un plan de la ville | city map | un office de tourisme | tourist office | |
| un bureau de change | currency exchange | un distributeur (de billets) | ATM | |
| la pharmacie (de garde) | pharmacy (on-duty/night) | les urgences | emergency room | |
| un chargeur | charger | un adaptateur | adapter (France uses Type E plugs) |
Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English?
Je ne comprends pas — I don't understand
Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? — Can you repeat, please?
Où se trouve… ? — Where is…?
C'est combien ? — How much is it?
Je suis perdu(e) — I'm lost
Au secours ! — Help!
Appelez la police / une ambulance ! — Call the police / an ambulance!
— Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a un office de tourisme près d'ici ?
(Excuse me, is there a tourist office near here?)
— Oui, c'est à cinq minutes à pied, tout droit puis à gauche.
(Yes, it's five minutes on foot, straight ahead then left.)
— Merci beaucoup ! Et pour visiter le château, il faut réserver ?
(Thank you very much! And to visit the castle, do you need to book?)
— Non, vous pouvez acheter les billets sur place. Il y a un tarif réduit pour les étudiants.
(No, you can buy tickets on-site. There's a reduced rate for students.)
— Bonjour, je voudrais un billet pour le TGV Paris-Lyon, s'il vous plaît.
(Hello, I'd like a ticket for the Paris-Lyon TGV, please.)
— Aller simple ou aller-retour ?
(One-way or round-trip?)
— Aller-retour, en deuxième classe. C'est combien ?
(Round-trip, second class. How much is it?)
— Soixante-cinq euros. Vous voulez un siège côté fenêtre ou couloir ?
(Sixty-five euros. Would you like a window or aisle seat?)
1. In a French restaurant, what is "une entrée"?
2. How do you get free water in a French restaurant?
3. What does "composter le billet" mean?
4. What is "le quart d'heure de politesse"?
5. What should you ALWAYS do when entering a shop in France?
✦ Always say "Bonjour" when entering any establishment. It's the #1 social rule.
✦ "Entrée" = starter (NOT main course). "Le plat" = main. Don't get caught out!
✦ Ask for "une carafe d'eau" for free tap water. Service is included — don't over-tip.
✦ The TGV is fast, affordable (book early), and connects all major cities.
✦ Composter your paper train tickets or risk a fine from le contrôleur.
✦ France has incredible regional diversity — Brittany's Celtic coast, Provence's lavender, the Alps.
✦ August closures and Sunday closures are real. Strikes (la grève) happen — have backup plans.
✦ Default to "vous" with strangers. Wait for the "On se tutoie ?" invitation.