Learn basic French for travel: at the café

If you’re planning a trip to France, learning some basic French can go a long way in making your experience more enjoyable. Being able to communicate with locals and order food and drinks at a café can make a big difference in your overall experience.

In this lesson, we’ll go over some basic French phrases and vocabulary that you can use at a café.

First, let’s go over some general phrases that you can use when entering a café or ordering at the counter:

• Bonjour! (Hello!)
• Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. (I would like a coffee, please.)
• Est-ce que vous avez des croissants? (Do you have any croissants?)
• Combien ça coûte? (How much does it cost?)
• Merci! (Thank you!)

When it comes to ordering coffee, there are a few different options in France. Here are some common coffee orders that you might encounter:

• Un café (A small cup of strong coffee, also known as un expresso)
• Un café allongé (A small cup of coffee with more water added, similar to an Americano)
• Un café crème (A small cup of coffee with a bit of milk added, similar to a latte)
• Un café au lait (A larger cup of coffee with equal parts milk and coffee)

If you want to order a pastry to go with your coffee, here are some common options:

• Un croissant (A buttery pastry in a crescent shape)
• Une brioche (A sweet, yeasty pastry)
• Une tartelette (A small tart filled with fruit or custard)

Finally, here are a few additional vocabulary words that might come in handy:

• L’eau (Water)
• Le lait (Milk)
• Le sucre (Sugar)
• La serviette (Napkin)
• La carte (Menu)

Remember, even if your French isn’t perfect, making an effort to speak the language can go a long way in making a good impression and building relationships with locals. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification if you don’t understand something. And most importantly, enjoy your café experience and soak up the French culture!