Of course, being able to speak great French would make your trip that much easier. But don’t let not knowing a language keep you from discovering a beautiful country. First of all, most hotel staff speak multiple languages, above all English. This is less true with restaurant staff, however.
My advice is that you go with some basic vocabulary:
- Bonjour Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle
- Au revoir Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle
- Merci Monsieur/Madame/Mademoiselle
- Excusez-moi
- Pardon
- S’il vous plait
- Je voudrais, etc.
These words will get you far in Paris, as they show you have interest in where you are, and that you are willing to try to communicate in French.
Other useful phrases are:
- “Parlez-vous anglais?”
- ”Je ne comprends pas.”
- ”Je ne parle pas francais.”
You’ll be surprised to see how quickly waiters resort to their own choppy English in these cases.
And above all, keep your sense of humor and don’t get too flustered!
