Basic French Phrases For Family Travel

Overview

Basic French phrases serve as safety and courtesy tools on family trips. They reduce misunderstandings, speed access to help, and improve interactions with hotel staff, shopkeepers, and transport workers. We, at the Young Explorers Club, recommend focusing on 10–30 high‑impact phrases: greetings, directions, dining, and emergency lines. Program emergency numbers (112, 15, 17, 18) into phones. Carry printed and digital phrase cards plus medical summaries. Practice 10–20 minutes a day with children using brief role‑plays.

Key Takeaways

• Learn 10–30 core phrases. Start with at least 10 polite phrases and eight emergency/medical phrases.
• Program emergency numbers: add 112, 15, 17, 18 into phones. Save embassy and travel‑insurance contacts and add ICE entries on phones.
• Use formal forms (bonjour, s’il vous plaît, merci) with staff. Teach children to greet with bonjour when entering shops or restaurants.
• Carry medical information: printed and digital allergy sentences and one‑page medical summaries in French, plus passport photocopies for quick handoff.
• Practice plan: follow a two‑week routine — 10–20 minutes/day of listening, repetition, and role‑play. Keep a single printable Top‑25 phrase card in each adult’s wallet.

Practical Recommendations

Phrases to prioritize

• Greetings & courtesy: Bonjour; Bonsoir; S’il vous plaît; Merci; Excusez‑moi.
• Directions & transport: Où est…?; Je cherche…; À gauche / À droite / Tout droit.
• Dining: L’addition, s’il vous plaît; Je suis allergique à…; Un menu pour enfants.
• Emergencies & medical: J’ai besoin d’aide; Appelez une ambulance; Je suis allergique à…; Ma carte d’assurance est…

Phone & document prep

• Save numbers: program 112, 15, 17, 18, local embassy, and travel‑insurance contacts.
• ICE entry: add at least one In Case of Emergency contact labeled ICE in each phone.
• Carry copies: passport photocopies and a one‑page French medical summary accessible in print and digitally.

Two‑Week Practice Plan

1. Days 1–3 — Listen & repeat: 10 minutes/day listening to recordings of core phrases and repeating aloud.
2. Days 4–7 — Role‑play with children: 10–20 minutes/day practicing greetings, ordering food, and asking for directions.
3. Days 8–10 — Emergency practice: 10 minutes/day rehearsing how to say allergies, medical needs, and calling for help.
4. Days 11–14 — Consolidate & create cards: make a single printable Top‑25 phrase card and place one in each adult wallet; run short mixed role‑plays.

Quick Packing Checklist

• Top‑25 phrase card (printed) in each adult’s wallet.
• Digital phrase cards on phones and an offline translator app.
• One‑page French medical summary and allergy sentences (printed and saved as a screenshot).
• Passport photocopies and emergency contacts pre‑saved.

If you want, I can create a printable Top‑25 phrase card tailored for a family trip (including polite phrases, dining lines, and emergency sentences). Would you like that?

https://youtu.be/MutNdlfq42Q

Why Basic French Matters for Family Travel — Essential Facts and Emergency Numbers

We, at the Young Explorers Club, treat basic French as a practical safety and courtesy skill for family trips. French is spoken by about 300 million people and is an official language in 29 countries. France attracted roughly 89 million international visitors in 2018 (UNWTO), so families will meet many service workers and locals on any typical holiday. These numbers explain why even limited French pays off fast: fewer misunderstandings, quicker help in a pinch, and warmer encounters.

Being able to say a few key phrases changes the trip dynamic. For travel safety, clear phrases reduce confusion during minor accidents, lost-child scenarios, or when you need medical help fast. For convenience, short sentences speed up buying tickets, ordering meals, and asking for directions — and you can check practical regional tips for family travel via this family travel resource. For cultural connection, polite words like “S’il vous plaît” and “Merci” open doors and often earn friendlier service from hotel staff, shopkeepers, and guides.

I recommend focusing on a handful of high-impact phrases. Spend time on these categories:

• Greetings and politeness: Bonjour, Bonsoir, S’il vous plaît, Merci.
• Directions and facilities: Où est la toilette ? Je cherche la gare. À gauche / à droite.
• Basic needs and assistance: J’ai besoin d’aide. C’est une urgence. Mon enfant est perdu.
• Simple transactions: Combien ça coûte ? L’addition, s’il vous plaît.

Small effort yields big returns. Even five to ten practiced phrases beats starting from zero. A child asking “Où est la toilette ?” can stop a meltdown. A parent saying “S’il vous plaît” and “Merci” often changes tone and outcome.

Emergency numbers — PROGRAM THESE NOW

Below are the numbers every traveler should program and print for wallets:

• 112 — EU emergency number (works across member states)
• 15 — Medical / SAMU
• 17 — Police
• 18 — Fire

Also save your local embassy or consulate number and your travel insurance emergency line in each adult’s phone. We recommend a printed copy in every adult’s wallet and adding the key numbers as ICE (In Case of Emergency) contacts on phones.

Core Politeness & Pronunciation Basics — Top 10 Phrases to Learn First

We, at the Young Explorers Club, focus on practical phrases families can use immediately. Keep them short, repeat them with kids, and model the formal forms with shop or hotel staff. For more family travel tips see voyage en famille.

Top 10 polite phrases (translation · phonetic · note)

Below are the ten essentials, with how to say them and when to use them.

1. Bonjour — Hello / Good morning (bon-zhoor). Use on entering shops, hotels, or when meeting strangers; formal/standard.
2. Bonsoir — Good evening (bon-swahr). Use after late afternoon or in the evening.
3. Salut — Hi / Bye (informal) (sa-lü). Casual; for kids, friends, or familiar people.
4. Merci — Thank you (mehr-see). Polite and universal for all ages.
5. Merci beaucoup — Thank you very much (mehr-see boh-koo). Stronger thanks for extra politeness.
6. S’il vous plaît — Please (formal) (seel voo pleh). Use with shop/hotel staff and strangers. For kids or friends use “S’il te plaît”.
7. Excusez‑moi / Pardon — Excuse me / Sorry (ex-kew-zay mwa / par-dohn). Get attention or offer a quick apology.
8. Au revoir — Goodbye (oh ruh-vwahr). Standard parting phrase used in stores and hotels.
9. Oui / Non — Yes / No (wee / non). Short, clear, and essential.
10. Parlez‑vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? (par-lay voo ahn-glay). Ask this before switching languages.

Use the formal forms by default with shop staff, hotel staff, and strangers: say bonjour, s’il vous plaît, and merci. Switch to salut and s’il te plaît with children or people you already know. Teach kids to start interactions with bonjour when entering a store.

Pronunciation basics to practice daily: nasal vowels (on/an/in) don’t add an “n” sound; silent final consonants often disappear (parlez → par-lay); accents change vowel quality (é = “ay”, è/ê = “eh”); and liaison links final consonants to following vowels (les enfants → lay-zahn-fahn). Imitate short native clips and repeat aloud to feel the rhythm.

Practice routine I recommend: learn 10–15 polite phrases, spend 5–10 minutes a day on listening, then do short repetition and 2–3 minute role‑plays with kids (shop, hotel check-in). Keep sessions playful and consistent.

Dining, Food & Kids’ Meals — Ordering, Allergies and Helpful Phrases

Essential phrases to use at the table

Below are the most useful lines to say clearly; practice them and keep a printed card handy.

• Une table pour quatre, s’il vous plaît — A table for four, please.
• La carte / le menu, s’il vous plaît — The menu, please.
• Je voudrais… — I would like…
• C’est pour les enfants — It’s for the children (seh poor layz ahn-fahnt).
• Est‑ce qu’il y a un menu enfant ? — Is there a kids’ menu?
• J’ai une allergie à… — I have an allergy to… (zhay oon ah-lehr-zhee ah).
• Sans gluten / sans lactose / sans noix — Gluten‑free / dairy‑free / nut‑free.
• L’addition, s’il vous plaît — The bill, please.

We, at the Young Explorers Club, recommend practicing “Je voudrais…” followed by the dish name. Say it slowly when ordering for kids. Use the kids’ menu question early, so wait times stay short.

Allergies, safety and billing

Print exact allergy sentences and carry them on a card. Say them slowly and repeat the ingredient name clearly. For example, have these ready on your phone and on paper: “Je suis allergique aux arachides” and “Mon enfant est allergique aux noix.” Always ask about cross‑contamination; repeat the ingredient twice and watch the staff’s reaction.

If a child can’t tolerate heat, ask: “Est‑ce que c’est épicé ?” We advise tasting sauces first and requesting milder versions when possible. Use short allergy phrases like “J’ai une allergie à…”, then name the ingredient (peanuts, shellfish, milk). Keep one copy of the allergy line in every adult’s wallet and save it as a contact or note on your phone for quick access.

Remember local etiquette: in France you should say “bonjour” when you enter a restaurant or shop. Do it loudly and clearly; staff will appreciate it. Also check the bill for “service compris” — that means service is included, though leaving a little change is common practice.

We include a practical travel tip: tuck a small printed card with these phrases into each parent’s wallet and program the allergy sentences into your phone.
For family trip planning and activity ideas, see our guide on voyage en famille.

https://youtu.be/Dp6CTV4pWuc

Directions, Transport & Accommodation — Travel Phrases to Reduce Stress

Nous, au Young Explorers Club, recommandons d’apprendre 10–15 phrases pratiques pour voyager sereinement en train, métro, taxi et hôtel. Les automates et certaines gares offrent peu d’anglais ; connaître quelques formules simples évite les erreurs et les files d’attente.

Phrases essentielles

Voici une liste compacte à mémoriser et à imprimer pour vos trajets et vos arrivées à l’hôtel :

• Où est… ? — Where is…? (oo eh)
• Combien ça coûte ? — How much does it cost?
• Un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plaît — One ticket to Paris, please.
• Un billet pour Lyon, s’il vous plaît — Substitute place names as needed.
• Un billet aller‑retour pour… — A return ticket to…
• À quelle heure part le train ? — What time does the train leave?
• Le prochain métro pour… — The next metro to…
• Pouvez‑vous m’aider ? — Can you help me?
• J’ai une réservation au nom de… — I have a reservation under the name…
• Il y a une chambre pour quatre ? — Is there a room for four?
• Y a‑t‑il un ascenseur ? — Is there an elevator?
• Où sont les toilettes ? — Where are the toilets?
• Je voudrais louer une voiture — I’d like to rent a car

Conseils rapides et pratiques

Les TGV demandent souvent une réservation ; vérifiez les règles de la compagnie ferroviaire, par exemple SNCF. Les TER régionaux laissent généralement les places libres. Demandez toujours « tarif enfant » au guichet, car les conditions et les coupe‑âge changent selon l’opérateur.

Remplacez rapidement les noms de ville dans les phrases pour gagner du temps à l’achat de billets. Téléchargez les billets hors ligne et imprimez les confirmations pour les TGV ; conservez une copie papier des phrases clés.

Pour des idées d’activités et itinéraires adaptés aux familles, consultez voyage en famille.

Nous apprenons aussi les chiffres de 0 à 20 et les formules de politesse (« s’il vous plaît », « merci », « excusez‑moi »). Ces petits détails réduisent le stress et rendent chaque interaction plus fluide.

Emergency & Medical Essentials — Top Phrases and Preparation

We, at the Young Explorers Club, make emergency readiness a non‑negotiable part of every family trip. Memorize a handful of short French phrases, keep printed copies, and keep critical numbers where you can reach them fast.

Emergency numbers (repeat): 112 / 15 / 17 / 18 — program these now.

Key phrases and what to prepare

Below are the phrases to learn and the concrete document steps we always carry; keep a printed copy and a digital photo on your phone for quick access.

• Appelez une ambulance ! — Call an ambulance!
• J’ai besoin d’un médecin — I need a doctor.
• Mon enfant est malade — My child is sick.
• Il a une allergie — He/She has an allergy.
• Où est l’hôpital ? — Where is the hospital?
• J’ai perdu mon passeport — I lost my passport.
• Il y a eu un accident — There has been an accident.
• Aidez‑moi, s’il vous plaît — Help me, please.
• Prepare a one‑page medical summary in French for each child: include full name, date of birth, allergies, current medications with dosing instructions, the child’s doctor contact, and insurance details. Carry printed copies and a digital photo.
• Save emergency numbers and your local embassy/consulate number in your phone; test that contacts call correctly.
• Carry printed copies of key emergency phrases and the medical summary in both French and your family’s native language for quick handoff to medical staff or police.
• Keep originals like passports locked and carry clear photocopies in a separate bag; store scanned copies on a secure cloud account you can access from any device.

We encourage families traveling in Switzerland to check practical trip tips on our voyage en famille page before departure.

We also advise practicing a quick role‑play at home so children know how to say or show the right phrase under stress.

Practice Plan, Kids’ Activities, Top 25 Printable Card and Resources

Nous, au Young Explorers Club, fixons un objectif clair : 25–30 phrases clés en deux semaines.

We set a daily rhythm that fits busy families and boosts confidence fast.

Two-week plan, daily routine, activities and printable resources

Below I list the daily routine, a two-week lesson outline, family activities, kid phrases, the Top 25 printable card, recommended tools and the final checklist.

Daily routine (10–20 minutes/day)

• 5 minutes listening (audio/app)
• 5–10 minutes repeating / role‑play
• 5 minutes flashcards / review

Two‑week plan outline

• Week 1: Greetings + dining + basic directions
• Week 2: Transport + emergencies + kids’ phrases

Targets before departure

• Learn 25–30 core phrases.
• Memorize at least 10 polite phrases.
• Memorize at least 8 emergency/medical phrases.

Three quick family activities to reinforce learning

• “Phrase of the day” with sticker rewards for kids. Keep it visible on the fridge.
• Role‑play ordering ice cream (practice “Je voudrais…” and flavors).
• Museum scavenger hunt using simple French clues.

Sample kid phrases to teach (say these exactly as written)

• J’ai faim / J’ai soif — I’m hungry / I’m thirsty.
• Je veux ça — I want that.
• Où est la toilette ? — Where is the bathroom?
• Combien ? — How many / How much?
• Les couleurs: rouge, bleu, vert — Colors: red, blue, green.

Top 25 Phrases — Ready to Print Card (use this list as a single printable sheet)

1. Bonjour
2. Bonsoir
3. Salut
4. Merci / Merci beaucoup
5. S’il vous plaît
6. Excusez‑moi / Pardon
7. Parlez‑vous anglais ?
8. Où est… ?
9. Combien ça coûte ?
10. Un billet, s’il vous plaît
11. La carte / le menu
12. Je voudrais…
13. Est‑ce qu’il y a un menu enfant ?
14. J’ai une allergie à…
15. J’ai faim / J’ai soif
16. Où est la toilette ?
17. Appelez une ambulance !
18. J’ai besoin d’un médecin
19. J’ai perdu mon passeport
20. L’addition, s’il vous plaît
21. J’ai une réservation au nom de…
22. Il y a une chambre pour quatre ?
23. Pouvez‑vous m’aider ?
24. Les couleurs (rouge, bleu, vert)
25. Au revoir

Recommended tools & resources (use these exactly)

• Duolingo (app) — good for kid-friendly short lessons.
• Babbel (app) — conversational phrases and pronunciation.
• Memrise (app) — spaced repetition vocabulary.
• Google Translate (app) — offline phrase packs and camera translate.
• iTranslate (app) — phrasebook and voice.
• Pimsleur French (audio) — strong for pronunciation and listening.
• Michel Thomas Method (audio) — stress‑free spoken practice.
• Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary — compact travel phrases.
• Collins French Phrasebook — concise reference.
• Children’s music: “Comptines françaises” or simple French children’s songs compilation.

Final checklist (follow this exactly before you leave)

• Program emergency numbers; download offline apps and phrasebooks; print phrase cards (one per family member); create medical summaries in French.
• Set daily 10–20 minute practice for 2 weeks.
• Reinforce targets: memorize at least 10 polite phrases and 8 emergency/medical phrases; aim for 25–30 phrases total.

Practice recommendation

Aim for 5–10 minutes/day listening practice and 10–20 minutes/day total during the two‑week pre‑trip period to reach the target phrase counts. For logistics and trip ideas, we also link our family travel guide.

Sources

Organisation internationale de la Francophonie — La langue française dans le monde

UNWTO — International Tourism Highlights

Service-public.fr — Urgences : quels numéros contacter en France ?

Lonely Planet — French Phrasebook & Dictionary

Collins — French Phrasebook

Duolingo — Learn French (course)

Babbel — Learn French online

Pimsleur — Learn French

Michel Thomas — Learn French with the Michel Thomas Method

Google Translate Help — Use Translate offline

BBC — 10 rules of etiquette in France

The Guardian — Tipping in France

SNCF — Travel information and tickets