Top 50 phrases to get by France: Dining out
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Key Phrases
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
A table for two, please.
Je voudrais commander.
I would like to order.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
Could we have the bill, please?
Skills You'll Learn
How to ask for a table and mention the number of people.
Comment demander une table et indiquer le nombre de personnes.
How to order food and drinks politely in a restaurant.
Comment commander des plats et des boissons poliment au restaurant.
How to ask for the bill and pay using cash or card.
Comment demander l'addition et payer en espèces ou par carte.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
oon tahbl poor duh seel eel voo pleh
A table for two, please.
Vous avez une réservation ?
voo ah-vay oon ray-zair-vah-syon
Do you have a reservation?
🇫🇷 In a restaurant, this is a normal first question from staff at the door. It is neutral and polite, not abrupt.
See breakdown →J'ai une réservation.
zh ay oon ray-zair-vah-syon
I have a reservation.
La carte, s'il vous plaît.
lah kart seel eel voo pleh
The menu, please.
🇫🇷 In France, [la carte] usually means the menu. For the bill, ask for [l'addition], not [la carte].
See breakdown →Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
k eh suh kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-day
What do you recommend?
💬 [Qu'est-ce que] is a very common way to ask [what ... ?] before a full clause: [Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?], [Qu'est-ce que vous prenez ?]. [Qu'] is joined to the next word and cannot stand alone.
See breakdown →Quel est le plat du jour ?
kel eh luh plah doo zhoor
What is today's special?
💬 [Du jour] means "of the day" and is the standard way to say a daily special: [le plat du jour], [la soupe du jour].
See breakdown →Je voudrais commander.
zhuh voo-dray koh-mahn-day
I would like to order.
💬 [Je voudrais] is the softer, more polite way to say what you want: [Je voudrais un café], [Je voudrais commander].
See breakdown →Je prends ça.
zhuh prahn sah
I'll have this.
💬 In [Je prends ça], [ça] means "that/this" and sounds like pointing or choosing. You can swap in the thing instead: [Je prends le poulet].
See breakdown →Je voudrais...
zhuh voo-dray
I would like...
💬 [Je voudrais] is a useful polite starter you can finish with almost any order: [Je voudrais de l'eau], [Je voudrais le plat du jour].
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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