Getting By When Your French Runs Out
Ask people to slow down, repeat, spell and correct you, and keep the conversation in French even when they offer English.
Many French people switch to English as soon as they hear an accent, so it helps to ask politely to stay in French. « Pardon ? » is the polite way to ask someone to repeat, while a bare « Quoi ? » sounds rude to strangers. Use vous with shopkeepers and strangers and tu with friends, and know that markets and cafés are great, patient places to practise.
- 1
Vous pouvez parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you speak more slowly, please?
- 2
Pardon ?
Sorry? (I didn't catch that)
Tip: The polite way to ask someone to repeat; far softer than a blunt 'what?'.
- 3
Vous pouvez répéter ?
Could you repeat that?
- 4
Je ne comprends pas.
I don't understand.
- 5
Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
What does that mean?
- 6
Comment on dit « fridge » en français ?
How do you say 'fridge' in French?
- 7
Ça s'écrit comment ?
How do you spell it?
- 8
J'apprends le français.
I'm learning French.
- 9
Je suis un peu perdu.
I'm a bit lost.
- 10
Je l'ai sur le bout de la langue.
It's on the tip of my tongue.
- 11
Vous pouvez me l'écrire ?
Can you write it down for me?
- 12
Restons en français, s'il vous plaît, j'ai besoin de pratiquer.
Let's keep going in French, please, I need the practice.
- 13
C'est comme ça qu'on dit ?
Is that how you say it?
- 14
N'hésitez pas à me corriger.
Feel free to correct me.
- 15
Vous parlez très bien français !
You speak French really well!
- 16
Merci, mais j'ai encore du chemin à faire.
Thanks, but I still have a long way to go.
- 17
Petit à petit, ça vient.
Little by little, it's coming.
- 18
Je comprends en gros.
I get the gist.
- 19
Laisse tomber, c'est pas grave.
(to a friend) Never mind, it doesn't matter.
- 20
Attends, je cherche le mot.
(to a friend) Hang on, I'm looking for the word.