Order anything by pointing in French
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten French words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 French phrases in this lesson
- Je voudrais...zhuh voo-DRAY
- I would like...
- Celui-cisuh-LWEE see
- This one
- C'est combien ?say com-bee-AHN
- How much is it?
- L'addition, s'il vous plaîtlah-dee-see-OHN, seel voo PLEH
- The bill, please
- Par cartepar KART
- By card
- En espècesahn es-PES
- In cash
- De l'eauduh LOH
- Water
- Un caféuhn ka-FAY
- Coffee
- Un théuhn TAY
- Tea
- Une bièreoon bee-AIR
- Beer
- Sans...sahn
- Without...
The polite conditional: "je voudrais un café". Always after a bonjour.
Use when pointing at something. The feminine form is "celle-ci." If in doubt, just point and say "ça" (that), which always works.
A direct but polite way to ask the price. You can also say "ça fait combien ?" which sounds slightly more casual.
Always ask for the bill directly rather than making a writing gesture. In France the waiter will not bring it unless you ask.
Most Paris shops accept card payments. Contactless (sans contact) is common. Some small market stalls and old-school cafés are cash only.
Espèces is the banking word for coin and note, so this is closer to "in specie" than to anything about species. You will also hear "en liquide" in casual speech, meaning the same thing.
Tap water (eau du robinet) is safe to drink in France. In restaurants, ask for "une carafe d'eau" for free tap water rather than paying for bottled.
A café in France is a short black espresso by default. If you want milk, ask for "un café crème" or "un noisette." Filter coffee is "un café filtre" and less common.
A small draft is "un demi" (uhn duh-MEE), the standard bar order.
"Sans glaçons" (sahn gla-SOHN), without ice.
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