Language Guide

You needn’t be fluent in French to enjoy your time in France, but it’s really, really helpful to commit a few words to memory to ingratiate yourself to the locals, who’ll then help you by speaking in English. (Never mind what you’ve heard; most people speak English, but they don’t always let on that they do.)

Being nice and polite can go a long way. Begin every phrase with “Excusez-moi” or “Madame/Monsieur, s’il vous plaît” and you’ll be met with warmth and friendliness that almost always yields positive results.

Navigating Restaurant Menus

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These are some of the most common terms you’ll encounter at restaurants throughout France.

Je suis	I’m
végétarien(ne)	vegetarian
végétalien(ne)	vegan
Sans produits laitiers	Without dairy
Sans oeufs	Without eggs

La carte – The menu

Formule/Menu – A set meal, which usually includes two options: entrée and main dish, or main dish and dessert. Often a better deal than buying à la carte.

À la carte – Ordering dishes individually rather than as a “formule” or “menu.”

Petit déjeuner	Breakfast
Déjeuner	Lunch
Dîner	Dinner
A emporter	Take-away
Le hors-d’oeuvre	Starter
Le plat principal	Main dish
Le dessert	Dessert
Le gâteau	Cake

Les boissons–The drinks

À boire To drink, usually presented as “quelque chose à boire?” or “something to drink?”

La carte des vins	Wine list
Une bouteille de vin	A bottle of wine
Un verre	A glass
Rouge	Red
Blanc	White
Brut	Dry
Doux	Sweet
Corsé	Full bodied
Léger	Light
Mousseux	Sparkling, fizzy
Sec	Dry
Une bière	A beer
Le cidre	Cider
Un pichet	small pitcher,
Carafe d’eau	Carafe of tap water
Jus d’orange	Orange juice
La limonade	Lemonade
Avec de la	with
glace /	ice /
des glaçons	ice-cubes
Un café	A coffee
Décaféiné	Decaffeinated
Un thé	A tea
L’infusion	Herbal tea
La camomille	Camomile tea
Le thé à la menthe	Mint tea

Safe for Vegans

Abricot	Apricot
Ail (“eye”)	Garlic
Airelle	Cranberry
Algues	Seaweed
Amande	Almond
Amidon	Starch
Ananas	Pineapple
Asperge	Asparagus
Avocat	Avocado
Avoine	Oat
Aubergine	Eggplant
Baguette aux céréal/graine	Baguette with seeds inside
Banane	Banana
Basilic	Basil
Betterave	Beetro
Beurre d’arachides/	Peanut butter
Beurre de cacahuètes	Peanut butter
Beurre végétal	Vegan butter
Blé	Wheat
Brocoli	Broccoli
Cacahuète	Peanut
Cacher	Kosher
Carotte	Carrot
Noix de cajou	Cashew nut
Cassis	Blackcurrant
Céleri	Celery
Cerise	Cherry
Champignon	Mushroom
Chou	Cabbage
Chou-fleur	Cauliflower
Chou(x) de Bruxelles	Brussels sprout(s)
Citron	Lemon
Citrouille	Pumpkin
Concombre	Cucumber
Confiture	Jam
Coriandre	Cilantro/coriander
Coulis	Fruit reduction sauce
Courgette	Zucchini
Cresson	Watercress
Cru	Raw
Crudités	Raw veg
Cuit	Cooked
Datte	Date
Endive	Chicory
Epinards	Spinach
Épeautre	Spelt
Farci	Stuffed (as in peppers etc)
Farine	Flour
Fenouil	Fennel
Figue	Fig
Un fruit	Piece of fruit
Fruits secs	Dried fruit
Galette de sarrasin	Buckwheat crepe (almost always vegan though might be cooked in butter)
Germe de soja	Beansprout
Gingembre	Ginger
Graisse végétal	Vegetable oil
Grenade	Pomegranate
Fève	Fava bean
Flageolot	Kidney bean
Fraise	Strawberry
Framboise	Raspberry
Frites	French frieds
Fumé	Smoked
Haricots	Beans
Haricot rouge	Kidney bean
Huile d’olive	Olive oil
Laitue	Lettuce
(feuille de)
Laurier	Bay (leaf)
Légumes	Vegetables
Légumineuses	Legumes/Pulses
Lentilles	Lentils
Levure	Yeast
Maïs	Sweetcorn
Mangue	Mango
Moutarde	Mustard
Mûre	Blackberry
Noix	Nuts
Navet	Turnip
Noisette	Hazelnut
Noix	Walnut
Nouilles	Noodles
Oignon	Onion
Orge	Barley
Origan	Oregano
Pain complet	Wholemeal bread
Pamplemousse	Grapefruit
Panais	Parsnip
Pastèque	Watermelon
Patate douce	Sweet potato
Pâtes	Pasta (not pâté)
Pêche	Peach
Persil	Parsley
Petits pois	Peas
Piment	Chilli
Pistache	Pistachio
Poire	Pear
Poireau	Leek
Pois chiche	Chick pea/Garbanzo
Poivre	Pepper (condiment)
Poivron	Peppers (veg)
Pomme	Apple
Pomme de terre	Potato
Potiron	Squash
Pousse	Sprout
Prune	Plum
Pruneau	Prune
Puttanesca	Tomato sauce with peppers and olives
Radis	Radish
Raisin	Grape
Raisin sec	Raisin
Riz	Rice
Riz complet	Brown rice
Romarain	Rosemary
Sauge	Sage
Séché	Dried
Sel	Salt
Semoule	Semolina
Soja	Soy
Sucre	Sugar
Tofu	Tofu
Tomate	Tomato
Tonyu	Soya drink
Tournesol	Sunflower
Truffe	Truffle
Vinaigre	vinegar
Yaourt de soja	Soy yogurt

Vegetarian, but not vegan

Croissant	Breakfast pastry
Pain au chocolat (both generally made with butter)	Chocolate pastry
Beurre	Butter
Brebis	Sheep’s milk cheese
Café noisette	Coffee with a hint of milk to turn it the color of noisettes (hazelnuts)
Cantal	A common type of cheese
Chèvre	Goat cheese
Crème	Cream
Ecrèmé	Made with cream
Fondue	Melted cheese
Fromage	Cheese
Gratin	With cheese on top
Lait	Milk
Miel	Honey
Nutella	Hazelnut spread (made with milk)
Oeuf	Egg
Quiche aux	Vegetable
légumes	quiche
Tarte Provençale	A pie-like tart (often cheese- and egg-based, made with Mediterranean vegetables)
Viennoiserie	Breakfast pastries

The Verboten List

A list of things most herbivores will want to avoid. Helpful for restaurant dining, and for reading ingredients lists at grocery stores too.

Anchois	Anchovy
Agneau	Lamb
Boeuf	Beef
Bolognese	Tomato sauce with meat
Canard	Duck
Croque	Grilled ham
Monsieur	and cheese sandwich
Croque	Grilled ham,
Madame	cheese, and egg sandwich
Dinde	Turkey
Espadon	Swordfish
Epaule	pork shoulder
Escargot	Snail
Faux Filet	Flank steak
Foie	Liver
Gambas	Shrimp
Graisse d’oie	Goose fat
Homard	Lobster
Jambon	Ham
Langoustine	Giant shrimp
Lardons	Bacon
Mouton	Mutton
Noix de Saint-Jacques	Scallops
Oie	Goose
Parmentier haché	Hamburger with potatoes
Poisson	Fish
Porc	Pig
Poulpe	Octopus
Poulet	Chicken
Saumon	Salmon
Thon	Tuna
Veau	Veal
Viande	Meat

Extras

Un couteau	A knife
Une cuillère	A spoon
Une Fourchette	A fork
Une serviette	Napkin
Les toilettes	The bathroom/toilet

Bon appetit!

l’Addition	the bill/check
Le montant	total
Le couvert	Cover charge
Le pourboire	Tip
Gardez la monnaie	Keep the change
C’est ma tournée	It’s my round
A votre santé!	Good health!
Santé!	Cheers!