How much French do I *really* need to learn before visiting Paris?
February 16, 2022 2:38 AM Subscribe
I've been fantasizing about visiting Paris lately, I think I'd like go to there for my first post-Covid vacation (I'm imagining in a year or two). I'm a horrible language learner, though. I'm just bad. How much French do I really need to learn before I visit Paris? What are the specific things I should focus on when learning French?
I'm from western Canada and I had a really, really rough time learning French in school as a child. Enough to make me not want to learn it at all after finishing my compulsory lessons after grade 6. The teacher was mean, it was confusing, I hated speaking, etc. It was a terrible experience from grades 4 to grade 6. All of that is to say, I suppose I have a bit of a complex about learning French.
Ironically, I've always loved French films, French music, etc.
But I'm just afraid to learn French! The thought of having to learn *so much* French to travel reminds me of being a miserable 11-year-old in my French classes all over again.
I've also visited several major European cities where I didn't learn the language besides counting and a few *basic* phrases. Those trips were fine. I didn't even visit traditionally "friendly" countries either. Maybe it's just the reputation precedes it, but I feel like I have to become fluent in it to visit Paris successfully. What's the reality? How much French should I focus on learning? What areas would specifically be good to focus on?
There are lots of resources in my city that I can look to for lessons, we have an Alliance Française and the local major university has well regarded French language classes.
I'm from western Canada and I had a really, really rough time learning French in school as a child. Enough to make me not want to learn it at all after finishing my compulsory lessons after grade 6. The teacher was mean, it was confusing, I hated speaking, etc. It was a terrible experience from grades 4 to grade 6. All of that is to say, I suppose I have a bit of a complex about learning French.
Ironically, I've always loved French films, French music, etc.
But I'm just afraid to learn French! The thought of having to learn *so much* French to travel reminds me of being a miserable 11-year-old in my French classes all over again.
I've also visited several major European cities where I didn't learn the language besides counting and a few *basic* phrases. Those trips were fine. I didn't even visit traditionally "friendly" countries either. Maybe it's just the reputation precedes it, but I feel like I have to become fluent in it to visit Paris successfully. What's the reality? How much French should I focus on learning? What areas would specifically be good to focus on?
There are lots of resources in my city that I can look to for lessons, we have an Alliance Française and the local major university has well regarded French language classes.
I know barely any French, just stuff I’ve picked up about food and greetings from films and books! I have been absolutely fine on my several visits to Paris and around the country. If you want to learn, I’d start with Duolingo in your free time and see how much you click with it, then maybe look for formal classes.
posted by ozgirlabroad at 2:55 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by ozgirlabroad at 2:55 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Just to visit? Zero. I visited for nearly three weeks and had a whale of a time without a word if French. I did pick up simple greetings to say at cafes and shops, could make out signs, and was able to decipher the names of subway stations on announcements. But that was all after I got there. I didn’t even have basic French in school like you!
I also heard that people in Paris are snobbish about language/don’t know English and found that to be quite untrue.
(People will tell you that CDG is a confusing airport and you will get lost. Similarly untrue.)
posted by redlines at 2:59 AM on February 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
I also heard that people in Paris are snobbish about language/don’t know English and found that to be quite untrue.
(People will tell you that CDG is a confusing airport and you will get lost. Similarly untrue.)
posted by redlines at 2:59 AM on February 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
I've also visited several major European cities where I didn't learn the language besides counting and a few *basic* phrases. Those trips were fine. I didn't even visit traditionally "friendly" countries either. Maybe it's just the reputation precedes it, but I feel like I have to become fluent in it to visit Paris successfully. What's the reality?
Your experience in Paris will be like the other European cities. Don't worry about the reputation. Paris gets a huge number of tourists and Parisians know how to deal with it.
The few places that will be snooty about your French are pretty much snooty to everybody for any reason.
posted by vacapinta at 3:25 AM on February 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
Your experience in Paris will be like the other European cities. Don't worry about the reputation. Paris gets a huge number of tourists and Parisians know how to deal with it.
The few places that will be snooty about your French are pretty much snooty to everybody for any reason.
posted by vacapinta at 3:25 AM on February 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
You definitely don't need to be fluent, but knowing a little French will smooth your journey. Duolingo is a great suggestion, and there are also lots of podcasts and YouTube channels focused on language learners. Basic hello/goodbye, understand the difference between tu and vous, being aware of false cognates. Even if people switch to English, they'll appreciate your trying. Counting and making change is a bit more advanced; may not be necessary nowadays if your credit card works overseas.
Biggest cultural mistake I see is not saying "Bonjour !" or "Bonsoir !" when entering a shop or restaurant. Maybe not a big department store or something. But smaller spaces? Say hello! Even if there's no one immediately visible; the shopkeeper is probably in the back. Also, "merci" (thank you") when you've finished the transaction. Maybe Canadians do already, but it's not common in the US, at least not in cities.
Enjoy your trip! PS go up to the roof of the Galeries Lafayette at sunset. Amaaaazing.
posted by basalganglia at 3:26 AM on February 16, 2022 [14 favorites]
Biggest cultural mistake I see is not saying "Bonjour !" or "Bonsoir !" when entering a shop or restaurant. Maybe not a big department store or something. But smaller spaces? Say hello! Even if there's no one immediately visible; the shopkeeper is probably in the back. Also, "merci" (thank you") when you've finished the transaction. Maybe Canadians do already, but it's not common in the US, at least not in cities.
Enjoy your trip! PS go up to the roof of the Galeries Lafayette at sunset. Amaaaazing.
posted by basalganglia at 3:26 AM on February 16, 2022 [14 favorites]
My French is so rusty, most French people I've met so far will immediately switch to English if I try it. So I guess, the good news is, most French people I've met so far are perfectly willing and able to do this.
Went to Paris twice, as a kid with no French, and later as an adult with rusty French. Never had a problem communicating in English there.
Learn French because you want to - to broaden your horizons, to override that school French trauma, etc. - but don't feel any time pressure. You won't need it for the Paris trip.
posted by sohalt at 3:27 AM on February 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Went to Paris twice, as a kid with no French, and later as an adult with rusty French. Never had a problem communicating in English there.
Learn French because you want to - to broaden your horizons, to override that school French trauma, etc. - but don't feel any time pressure. You won't need it for the Paris trip.
posted by sohalt at 3:27 AM on February 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
The key to not having people snub you is not expecting them to speak perfect English before you even try French. "Bonjour," and brushing up enough to be able to pronounce place names for direction purposes is perfectly enough.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 3:33 AM on February 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 3:33 AM on February 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
At the very least, learn "excuse me, do you speak English?". I've found people a lot more friendly if you ask that first instead of just talking to them in English. They will usually reply "a little bit" and then speak fluent English.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:34 AM on February 16, 2022 [14 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:34 AM on February 16, 2022 [14 favorites]
Came in to repeat that you don't need any French in Paris. But then saw basalganglia's comment and now I want to second that you do need to be polite. I have never experienced those legendary rude Parisians, but I have seen Parisians scold tourists who were rude (according to Parisian norms).
You can enter a store or restaurant and say hello! thus indicating that you speak English, and that is fine. But you can't just blurt out an order for some item. And you have to say thank you, too, and look people in the eyes when you do so.
posted by mumimor at 3:40 AM on February 16, 2022 [11 favorites]
You can enter a store or restaurant and say hello! thus indicating that you speak English, and that is fine. But you can't just blurt out an order for some item. And you have to say thank you, too, and look people in the eyes when you do so.
posted by mumimor at 3:40 AM on February 16, 2022 [11 favorites]
Only indirectly an answer to your question, but I think you'll enjoy This American Life's episode Americans in Paris. Especially act one, 'Him Talk Pretty Three Days", with David Sedaris.
I am using Duolingo to brush up on my French, and it is so smooth and enjoyable.
posted by Desertshore at 4:21 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
I am using Duolingo to brush up on my French, and it is so smooth and enjoyable.
posted by Desertshore at 4:21 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
You will be fine. My parents have traveled to Paris both with and without me and my rusty-but-serviceable French knowledge, and got along just fine both ways. There was always someone able and willing to speak English, and no one was ever mean or snobby about it, though people were generally visibly pleased that I was attempting to speak French. A little politeness and willing to try goes a long way.
posted by Stacey at 4:22 AM on February 16, 2022
posted by Stacey at 4:22 AM on February 16, 2022
The whole thing about French or Parisians being snooty and rude is not true. People are same anywhere and basic predisposition of most people is neutral to positive.
posted by zeikka at 6:06 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by zeikka at 6:06 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
I speak reasonably good Canadian high school French... and everyone in Paris just replied in English to me.
I think I'd want to be comfortable saying:
Ou sont les toilettes (where are the restrooms?)
Bonjour (hello),
Excusez-moi (excuse me),
Pardon (sorry),
Lentement, s'il vous plait (slowly, please),
Parlez-vous anglais (do you speak English?)
Merci (thank you),
De rien (you're welcome),
Au revoir (goodbye)
Combien (how much?)
Je voudrais... (I would like...)
and understanding the structure of numbers up to 100,
...Any of these would be showing a bit of effort... and then the person will probably smile... as they switch to English anyway.
Also, look at French money before you get there, so you can count it fairly quickly.
It can also help to wear a small Canadian flag on your bag or lapel- older French people tend to like Canadians due to Canada's participation in WWII.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:30 AM on February 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
I think I'd want to be comfortable saying:
Ou sont les toilettes (where are the restrooms?)
Bonjour (hello),
Excusez-moi (excuse me),
Pardon (sorry),
Lentement, s'il vous plait (slowly, please),
Parlez-vous anglais (do you speak English?)
Merci (thank you),
De rien (you're welcome),
Au revoir (goodbye)
Combien (how much?)
Je voudrais... (I would like...)
and understanding the structure of numbers up to 100,
...Any of these would be showing a bit of effort... and then the person will probably smile... as they switch to English anyway.
Also, look at French money before you get there, so you can count it fairly quickly.
It can also help to wear a small Canadian flag on your bag or lapel- older French people tend to like Canadians due to Canada's participation in WWII.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 6:30 AM on February 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
To maximize the French you already do have wander around the city you currently live in, practicing your French out loud to yourself. When you go to the library say to yourself "Où sont les toilettes?". When you go to the grocery store inform yourself, "Je voudrais des bananes - aussi du lait." When you are introduced to someone wait until they step out of earshot and repeat the same stuff in French. "Bonjour! Enchanté! Comment vous appellez vous?"
Your fear of not being able to speak it well enough may be caused by fear of clutching and drawing a blank when you need to come up with words. It's easy to find words in English - you've practiced it many times and in many locations. Every time you look at bananas in the grocery store and in the kitchen and when seeing them on TV your brain throws up the word banana for you and you have another neurological connection that makes it easy to remember the word. But when you studied French you probably only did it in limited circumstances. Right now the only trigger for you to remember "des bananes" may be to remember back to a traumatic situation you have blocked, dating back to childhood and requiring the memory of a black and white drawing of Petite Marie holding a banana on page 37. It's unlikely you were able to develop any fluency back then; you developed a stress blockage which made the whole experience both worse, and harder to retrieve now.
So play with the French you have. Walk out of the house and notice the voiture noire parked in front of your house, discover the cat sick up inside your slipper and exclaim "Ah non!" That way when the time comes you'll be reasonably confident that you can access as much French as you did when you accessed counting and basic phrases in other languages in other cities, and with no more stress than you did with your German and your Greek. You'll stop feeling that clenching sensation of "I can't do this!" and "They'll be mean!" that you learned to associate with French back when you had a sub-par teacher. And then whatever French you have will be much more sufficient because it will be there when you need it and your guts won't be tied in knots while you rummage your brain to find useful words.
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:13 AM on February 16, 2022 [7 favorites]
Your fear of not being able to speak it well enough may be caused by fear of clutching and drawing a blank when you need to come up with words. It's easy to find words in English - you've practiced it many times and in many locations. Every time you look at bananas in the grocery store and in the kitchen and when seeing them on TV your brain throws up the word banana for you and you have another neurological connection that makes it easy to remember the word. But when you studied French you probably only did it in limited circumstances. Right now the only trigger for you to remember "des bananes" may be to remember back to a traumatic situation you have blocked, dating back to childhood and requiring the memory of a black and white drawing of Petite Marie holding a banana on page 37. It's unlikely you were able to develop any fluency back then; you developed a stress blockage which made the whole experience both worse, and harder to retrieve now.
So play with the French you have. Walk out of the house and notice the voiture noire parked in front of your house, discover the cat sick up inside your slipper and exclaim "Ah non!" That way when the time comes you'll be reasonably confident that you can access as much French as you did when you accessed counting and basic phrases in other languages in other cities, and with no more stress than you did with your German and your Greek. You'll stop feeling that clenching sensation of "I can't do this!" and "They'll be mean!" that you learned to associate with French back when you had a sub-par teacher. And then whatever French you have will be much more sufficient because it will be there when you need it and your guts won't be tied in knots while you rummage your brain to find useful words.
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:13 AM on February 16, 2022 [7 favorites]
Paris gets a huge number of tourists and Parisians know how to deal with it.
This right here.
In general, for travelling, download Google Translate to your phone. That covers any situation where you might run into someone unilingual.
Also, due to our labelling laws, you may have absorbed a certain amount of vocabulary without realizing it. Not so much for remembering a word, but reading it and just knowing what it means.
posted by TORunner at 7:17 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
This right here.
In general, for travelling, download Google Translate to your phone. That covers any situation where you might run into someone unilingual.
Also, due to our labelling laws, you may have absorbed a certain amount of vocabulary without realizing it. Not so much for remembering a word, but reading it and just knowing what it means.
posted by TORunner at 7:17 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Agreeing with the crowd that you don't need any, but mastering simple phrases of courtesy will smooth your path. It can be terrifying to visit a place where you don't speak the language, but just by being Canadian and seeing dual-language announcements your whole life you are probably miles ahead of the average American who visits.
posted by praemunire at 7:24 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 7:24 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
You probably remember more French than you realize - I'm an Anglo-Canadian who dropped french after barely passing grade 9, and I was surprised at how much French was still in my hindbrain. "Bonjour", "si vous plaît", "excusé moi" and "merci" are what I used most. But it was still much easier to get around than somewhere where I didn't have any language background (like Hungary). Even just the shared cognates with English help a lot for basics.
The bit above about greeting people when you enter shops is very true, and I always was pretty formal (e.g., "Bonjour monsieur/madame"). People liked that.
We also happened to stay in a majority non-white neighbourhood (near but not on Montmartre), and that was great. Everyone was so lovely about letting us stumble through our bad French. The men in the local shawarma shop chatted and gave us French lessons (and were excited when we said we called it "shawarma", saying "That's our word!"). The only rude person I met the whole time was the white tourist information guy.
posted by jb at 7:26 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
The bit above about greeting people when you enter shops is very true, and I always was pretty formal (e.g., "Bonjour monsieur/madame"). People liked that.
We also happened to stay in a majority non-white neighbourhood (near but not on Montmartre), and that was great. Everyone was so lovely about letting us stumble through our bad French. The men in the local shawarma shop chatted and gave us French lessons (and were excited when we said we called it "shawarma", saying "That's our word!"). The only rude person I met the whole time was the white tourist information guy.
posted by jb at 7:26 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Just the golden five:
Yes
No
Please
Thank you
Sorry
Those and "Bonjour" will let you be a polite guest with virtually every person you meet. There are snooty people, but there is no amount of French you can learn that would stop them from being snooty.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:35 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Yes
No
Please
Thank you
Sorry
Those and "Bonjour" will let you be a polite guest with virtually every person you meet. There are snooty people, but there is no amount of French you can learn that would stop them from being snooty.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:35 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Memorizing key phrases is good, but also lean the likely responses!
That is, if you can ask "Where is the men's room," you also need to understand whether they want you to turn right or left in the hallway -- and what "hallway" is, too. :7)
--
Jane the Brown makes a wonderful point about how to casually absorb language. When I was in high school, my friends variously took German, French, and Spanish -- and it was a running joke to incorporate bits of all three into conversation. I can still remember "le train arrive" and "por favor" and such, because we didn't put a lot of pressure on to Learn A Language when we were just relaxing.
So I agree about narrating daily life to yourself with whatever French vocabulary you can muster, even if it's a single word at a time in your mental monologue. Eventually you will use those words without effort, and then you can add more. :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:57 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
That is, if you can ask "Where is the men's room," you also need to understand whether they want you to turn right or left in the hallway -- and what "hallway" is, too. :7)
--
Jane the Brown makes a wonderful point about how to casually absorb language. When I was in high school, my friends variously took German, French, and Spanish -- and it was a running joke to incorporate bits of all three into conversation. I can still remember "le train arrive" and "por favor" and such, because we didn't put a lot of pressure on to Learn A Language when we were just relaxing.
So I agree about narrating daily life to yourself with whatever French vocabulary you can muster, even if it's a single word at a time in your mental monologue. Eventually you will use those words without effort, and then you can add more. :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:57 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
My wife tried to lean on her high school French classes, and every time she got "You can order in English" as a response. I was very worried, having heard of the legendary rudeness, but we had a blast.
posted by hwyengr at 8:10 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by hwyengr at 8:10 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Some basic phrases and politeness will be just fine. Saying a few things means that you at least tried to learn something, and that will put you ahead of the "Yell slowly in English" kinds of tourists that Parisians are usually dealing with.
Also - you may find that you ended up absorbing more than you thought all those years ago! The first time I went to Paris, I was thinking I didn't know French - I'd had a couple years of high school French, and I fooled around with Duolingo for a month before I went, but that was it. But when I was actually in Paris and was doing things like asking for directions and asking how much a scarf was....that information was all there in my head when I didn't think it was. I felt like Neo in The Matrix: "Whoa, I know Kung Fu!"
But even if that doesn't happen - just knowing the basics (hello, thank you, please, where's the bathroom) is just fine. Generally I find that everywhere you go in the world, people want to help, even if they have to overcome a language barrier to do so. (One of my favorite travel memories is when a barista in Rome who didn't know English used charades to explain something to me.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:17 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also - you may find that you ended up absorbing more than you thought all those years ago! The first time I went to Paris, I was thinking I didn't know French - I'd had a couple years of high school French, and I fooled around with Duolingo for a month before I went, but that was it. But when I was actually in Paris and was doing things like asking for directions and asking how much a scarf was....that information was all there in my head when I didn't think it was. I felt like Neo in The Matrix: "Whoa, I know Kung Fu!"
But even if that doesn't happen - just knowing the basics (hello, thank you, please, where's the bathroom) is just fine. Generally I find that everywhere you go in the world, people want to help, even if they have to overcome a language barrier to do so. (One of my favorite travel memories is when a barista in Rome who didn't know English used charades to explain something to me.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:17 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
"Ironically, I've always loved French films, French music, etc."
Me too! My approach to keeping up my French has always been to lean into those interests--find movies, music, books, comics, and insist on consuming them untranslated. Sometimes it's a slog at first, but I pick up a lot of vocabulary in the end, and if it's something I enjoy enough, that gets me over the hump.
It may get you less practical French, but it will enrich the experience, and that's the important part. As others have said, day-to-day practicalities in Paris won't be hard.
(As someone who knows enough French be dangerous, my worry is usually less "will this person know English?" and more "Am I being a jerk by steering us into French for my own practice, when this person probably has perfectly serviceable English that would get us through the transaction faster?".)
posted by bfields at 8:50 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Me too! My approach to keeping up my French has always been to lean into those interests--find movies, music, books, comics, and insist on consuming them untranslated. Sometimes it's a slog at first, but I pick up a lot of vocabulary in the end, and if it's something I enjoy enough, that gets me over the hump.
It may get you less practical French, but it will enrich the experience, and that's the important part. As others have said, day-to-day practicalities in Paris won't be hard.
(As someone who knows enough French be dangerous, my worry is usually less "will this person know English?" and more "Am I being a jerk by steering us into French for my own practice, when this person probably has perfectly serviceable English that would get us through the transaction faster?".)
posted by bfields at 8:50 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Anecdotally, last time I was in Paris (late 2019), the only person who became frustrated with my lack of French was a barista who had to repeat "un euro" to me four times before I understood, which, fair enough. You'll be fine.
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:51 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseLouise at 8:51 AM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I too am bad with languages and didn't generally find people to be rude, including in Paris.
Advice I got: Always start with "Bonjour (Madame/Monsieur)," when possible (e.g., walking into a shop or restaurant) give things a game try with the initial phrase from a phrasebook, and know how to say "I'm sorry, do you speak English?" when the conversation goes off (and do, in fact, sound apologetic rather than frustrated or impatient).
posted by mark k at 8:52 AM on February 16, 2022
Advice I got: Always start with "Bonjour (Madame/Monsieur)," when possible (e.g., walking into a shop or restaurant) give things a game try with the initial phrase from a phrasebook, and know how to say "I'm sorry, do you speak English?" when the conversation goes off (and do, in fact, sound apologetic rather than frustrated or impatient).
posted by mark k at 8:52 AM on February 16, 2022
There is a level of French that will demonstrably improve your experience of Paris - but I would say that it involves knowing enough to hold extensive chats about any subject that comes up. (And being outgoing enough to use it). That opens up the realm of people you can talk to beyond those working with tourists. But might take a decade to acquire. If you don’t want to do that - then a few words and phrases will still put you ahead of the set of tourists who only use English.
posted by rongorongo at 10:24 AM on February 16, 2022
posted by rongorongo at 10:24 AM on February 16, 2022
Agree very much on the tip to study the culture as much as the language. You win so many brownie points by behaving decently like a properly-raised local. And, it's not that hard. The saying "hello" when you enter a shop is a perfect example. Even breezy, basic tourist culture guides will give you a good headstart.
One of the overarching rules is: don't be a demanding jerk. If you're the sort of person who argues a bill, asks to see a manager, makes lots of fussy menu changes in a restaurant order......you will be unhappy. You will not have a good experience. Go with the flow, be considerate, show some emotional intelligence, ask conditionally instead of demanding, and you'll have a wonderful time.
Paris is an unholy hellscape for Karens--that's what makes it one of the most wonderful places on Earth.
As long as you're not demanding or insistent on speaking English (or broken French, for that matter!), the language negotiations will work out just fine. You're not the first person to visit Paris with just basic French.
posted by gimonca at 11:53 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
One of the overarching rules is: don't be a demanding jerk. If you're the sort of person who argues a bill, asks to see a manager, makes lots of fussy menu changes in a restaurant order......you will be unhappy. You will not have a good experience. Go with the flow, be considerate, show some emotional intelligence, ask conditionally instead of demanding, and you'll have a wonderful time.
Paris is an unholy hellscape for Karens--that's what makes it one of the most wonderful places on Earth.
As long as you're not demanding or insistent on speaking English (or broken French, for that matter!), the language negotiations will work out just fine. You're not the first person to visit Paris with just basic French.
posted by gimonca at 11:53 AM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Maybe it's just the reputation precedes it, but I feel like I have to become fluent in it to visit Paris successfully. What's the reality?
Paris is a very tourist-friendly city, and English-speaking tourists are especially well accommodated. You have nothing to worry about.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:26 PM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Paris is a very tourist-friendly city, and English-speaking tourists are especially well accommodated. You have nothing to worry about.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:26 PM on February 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
You asked about language, but customs and etiquette are equally important wherever you go in France. If a French thief walked into a bakery, he/she would say: "Bonjour, Madame" first before stealing a baguette. So one hundred percent of the time, every single time, say: "Bonjour, Madame/Monsieur" when you walk in the door of a shop or restaurant, pay for something, ask for directions, or buy a ticket. "Merci Madame/Monsieur" is obligatory as well once you've gotten your "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur" out of the way.
Before you go, here's a quick book that's as valuable as Duolingo. The Bonjour Effect will help you negotiate questions of customs and etiquette. The French are no more rude than North Americans. They just have different etiquette. "Bonjour" to a French person is much more important than a big smile; it's their particular form of respect and friendliness. They're very quiet in most restaurants because they value conversation, so it's rude to talk loudly in many restaurants. If you don't want a cold stare, have your exact change ready for small amounts of money. If you need to interrupt someone on the street for any reason, you say: "Bonjour, Monsieur. Excusez-moi de vous déranger." ("Hello. Excuse me for bothering you.") Memorize that. If you bump into someone accidentally: "Désolé" totally covers it even if you step on a French person's foot.
You'll be fine with those three words and phrases. What is very, very rude in Paris is major league pickpocketing and the police's inability to curb it. So take all the precautions the guidebooks recommend. Other than that, you can walk the streets at 3:00 AM and not worry about crime while the pickpocketers are asleep.
posted by Elsie at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Before you go, here's a quick book that's as valuable as Duolingo. The Bonjour Effect will help you negotiate questions of customs and etiquette. The French are no more rude than North Americans. They just have different etiquette. "Bonjour" to a French person is much more important than a big smile; it's their particular form of respect and friendliness. They're very quiet in most restaurants because they value conversation, so it's rude to talk loudly in many restaurants. If you don't want a cold stare, have your exact change ready for small amounts of money. If you need to interrupt someone on the street for any reason, you say: "Bonjour, Monsieur. Excusez-moi de vous déranger." ("Hello. Excuse me for bothering you.") Memorize that. If you bump into someone accidentally: "Désolé" totally covers it even if you step on a French person's foot.
You'll be fine with those three words and phrases. What is very, very rude in Paris is major league pickpocketing and the police's inability to curb it. So take all the precautions the guidebooks recommend. Other than that, you can walk the streets at 3:00 AM and not worry about crime while the pickpocketers are asleep.
posted by Elsie at 1:29 PM on February 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
It can also help to wear a small Canadian flag on your bag or lapel- older French people tend to like Canadians due to Canada's participation in WWII.
The youngest people that could possibly remember any part of WWII are around 90 years old... the reason to wear a Canadian flag is to not be mistaken for an American. Even then... ecchh. Not super useful in my experience.
posted by rhymedirective at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
The youngest people that could possibly remember any part of WWII are around 90 years old... the reason to wear a Canadian flag is to not be mistaken for an American. Even then... ecchh. Not super useful in my experience.
posted by rhymedirective at 1:47 PM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Really all you need is "Où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît?"
posted by radioamy at 6:30 PM on February 16, 2022
posted by radioamy at 6:30 PM on February 16, 2022
Really all you need is "Où sont les toilettes, s'il vous plaît?"
And the ability to hear the difference between "à droite" (to the right) and "tout droit" (straight ahead).
posted by Joleta at 8:53 PM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
And the ability to hear the difference between "à droite" (to the right) and "tout droit" (straight ahead).
posted by Joleta at 8:53 PM on February 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
I live in Paris and speak fluent French with an accent that isn’t placed as English or even Anglophone, just not French, and at least once a week in a tourist setting someone will speak English to me assuming I don’t speak French. You will be fine with a few basic phrases, and saying bonjour when you enter somewhere and au revoir when you leave.
posted by ellieBOA at 11:25 PM on February 16, 2022
posted by ellieBOA at 11:25 PM on February 16, 2022
The most useful phrase I had on my Paris trip was "la prochaine", aka "the next", which I learned from a cool kid I babysat who went to French school. I really struggled with saying the numbers when I was in France, so instead of saying "the 10:45 train" I'd just say "the next, please", and it worked great. Someone also fortunately clued me in to the "bonjour" thing. Nthing that most Parisians speak English, and nobody got especially frustrated with me. I also made a point of keeping my voice really modulated and level, and I honestly think that helped most of all.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:14 AM on February 25, 2022
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:14 AM on February 25, 2022
Most people have covered the main way to be polite in small shops. The other part, which I didn't learn for an embarrassingly long time, is that small shops have a line of people. They may not appear to have a line. They will not be standing in any order at all. (This is really for like, a bakery or something tiny like that.) The way it works is, when you walk in, you take note of the people already there. Those are the people ahead of you. Once they've been served, approach the counter, because it's your turn. This works as long as everyone is paying attention and going at that right time, and other than tourists who are unaware, they are.
posted by blueberry monster at 10:36 AM on March 24, 2022
posted by blueberry monster at 10:36 AM on March 24, 2022
One fun note - there are some French terms which have come into English kind of "slang" usage, and you may amuse people if you use them, or confuse them.
I was trying to get up to the roof of Notre Dame when I was there (this was a few years back, before the fire alas), and went to check with a guard about how to do that. He very apologetically said it was closed, but perhaps I could try again tomorrow. When I said it was my last day, and I was flying back to New York tomorrow, he apologized again. And completely without thinking, I said "eh, c'est la vie". And it made that dude's day.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on March 24, 2022
I was trying to get up to the roof of Notre Dame when I was there (this was a few years back, before the fire alas), and went to check with a guard about how to do that. He very apologetically said it was closed, but perhaps I could try again tomorrow. When I said it was my last day, and I was flying back to New York tomorrow, he apologized again. And completely without thinking, I said "eh, c'est la vie". And it made that dude's day.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on March 24, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by corvine at 2:54 AM on February 16, 2022 [12 favorites]