Phrases in French with transcription. Basic phrases and words in French for tourists

Do you want to learn French or are you going to visit a French-speaking country? First, it doesn't hurt to learn how to thank a person in French. The easiest way to say thanks- this word merci(merci), but in some cases one word is not enough. As in Russian, there are many phrases in French to express gratitude.

Steps

Simple Expressions

Say "merci". single word merci is the most common way to say "thank you" in French. It is used by all French speakers in the world, so they will always understand you.
- Word merci suitable for both formal and informal settings, and the pronunciation does not change regardless of the person you need to thank.
- If you have to agree to an offer, smile, say "merci" and nod slightly. When it is required to refuse, it is also enough to say "merci" and shake your head.
Add "madame" (madame) or "monsieur" (monsieur) for politeness. Referring to a stranger, especially older in age or position, add the French equivalents of the words "madam" and "master" to gratitude.
- Always use such words when addressing a person politely, similar to "ma'am" or "mister" in Russian. In case of doubt, it is better to play it safe with politeness. The person himself will correct you if such an official appeal turns out to be excessive.
Use adjectives to express special gratitude. At times a simple word merci hardly enough. Some additional words and phrases will help emphasize your special gratitude.
- Most often they say merci beaucoup(mersi boku), which means "thank you very much", "thank you so much".
- Also common is the expression merci mille fois or mille mercis, which translates as "a thousand thanks" or "many thanks."
Say "merci bien" in an appropriate tone. Word bien(bien) means "good" or "kind", and in combination with merci the phrase takes on the meaning of "thank you very much." At the same time, in French-speaking countries, such a phrase is often perceived as a mockery.
- For example, the sentence "Merci bien, mais j'ai pas que ça à faire!" can be translated as "Thank you very much, but I have more important things to do!".
- When in doubt, instead of "merci bien" it is better to say "merci beaucoup".
Add pour(pur) to express specific gratitude. In French, the word pour means "for" and is used before an action or item for which you need to express gratitude. If you also speak English, then note that this word is spelled similar to the English verb "pour", but the pronunciation is more like "por".
- For example, say "Merci pour les fleurs," which means "Thank you for the flowers."
Say "c'est vraiment gentil de votre/ton part" If a person has done you a favor or offered something, then tell him that he is extremely kind. This phrase literally means "it's very nice of you." Use votre when addressing someone who is older than you or who you don't know, or tone when referring to friends, peers, and people younger than you.
- Such a phrase is used in the same cases as the Russians "very nice of you" or "you are so kind."
- As in Russian, these phrases can be combined with the word merci. So, if on a hot day a person offered a glass of cold water, then say "C" est vraiment gentil de ton part, merci!
Verb "Remercier"
1. Consider the context of the situation. Verb remercier means "to thank" in French, but when used in speech it sounds much more formal than in Russian. Usually such a verb should be used in formal, written communication.
  - In oral speech, such a verb would be appropriate in formal situations such as an interview or in an appeal to government authorities.
2. Conjugate the verb correctly. In most cases, you will have to use the first person singular form if the gratitude comes from you. If you need to thank not only on your own, then use the first person plural form.
  - Remercier- reflexive verb. Conjugate it according to the subject of the sentence, not the person to whom the thanks are intended. Use a polite reflexive pronoun vous when addressing elders in age or position.
  - The phrase "thank you / you" sounds like "je te remercie" (same te remercie) or "je vous remercie" (same woo remercie).
  - The phrase "thank you / you" sounds like "nous te remercions" (well, that's remercion) or "nous vous remercions" (well, woo remercion).
3. State the reason for the thanks. As in the case with merci, you can use the preposition pour to indicate exactly the reason for your gratitude. This wording is often used when expressing gratitude some time after the event.
  - For example, when meeting a person who sent you flowers as a gift last week, say "Je te remercie pour les fleurs," which means "Thank you for the flowers."
4. Express gratitude with a verb remercier in letters. Often gratitude is expressed already at the end of the letter, for example, after a formal request addressed to the organization and official.
  - For example, a letter of application to an employer might end with "je vous remercie de votre attention", which translates to "thank you for your attention".
5. Use remercier in noun form for formal correspondence. Similar to English, the French verb remercier can be turned into a noun. Drop the verb ending and add -ments.
  - Word remerciements commonly used in traditional and email messages to express gratitude. Ending s indicates plural. thanks. Most often, this word is used in the plural. The plural article "les" must be used before the word.
  - For example, if you want to convey the gratitude of another person, then write "Tu as les remerciements de Pascal", which means "Pascal thanks you."
  - Word Remerciements also used to complete a letter. For example, you could say "avec tout mes remerciements", which translates to "with great gratitude".
  How to respond to gratitude
  1. Say "de rien" (de rien). Such a phrase is the easiest and most common way to respond to gratitude. These words literally translate as "out of nothing", but the literary version sounds like "no way".
    - In the word rien french is used R, one of the more difficult sounds to learn French. French R is a guttural sound that occurs in the throat, without the participation of the tip of the tongue.
    - You can also say "ce n" est rien "(se ne rien), which translates as" not at all.

In France, politeness in communication is an integral element of French speech. Locals never forget to say hello, say goodbye and thank you. They are taught polite communication from childhood. Some magic words in French are known all over the world and are often used in many other languages and even in Russian speech.

Among the many words of politeness in French, the most memorable and frequently used are "Merci!", Which translates as "thank you", or "Merci beaucoup!" (thank you very much) used in a conversation to thank someone. The expressions "s'il te plaît" or "s'il vous plaît" have the same meaning - "please". They are always used at the end of a sentence, expressing a request.

The difference between "s'il te plaît" and "s'il vous plaît" is as follows: the first expression is used, as a rule, when referring to the interlocutor as "you", and the second when referring to "you". For example, in a class:

- Donne-moi ton crayon, s'il te plait! (Give me your pencil, please!)

— Mon cryon? Voilà mon crayon. (My pencil? Here's my pencil.)

— Mercy. (Thanks.)

Or in a restaurant:

- Une bouteille de vin, s'il vous plait!

- A bottle of wine, please!

— Voila! (Here!)

— Mercy. (Thanks.)

The following rhyme will help students remember these and other most famous magic words:

Bonjour, Monsieur!

Bonsoir, Madame!

We all know the words!

When we meet people

We speak such words.

S'il te plaît or S'il vous plait

Ask for help in trouble.

Thanks for the help,

Say French "Merci".

And if you suddenly want to leave,

"Au revoir!", "Bon chance"!

You speak.

"Please" as a response to gratitude

The word "please" in French is also used to express gratitude. Usually in response to "thank you" you can hear one of three options: "Je vous en prie" or "Je t'en prie" (depending on how the interlocutor is addressed to "you" or "you"), " De rien" and "Pas de quoi" or "Pas de tout". Literally, this translates as "no way," and has the meaning "please." Here are some examples:

Merci pour ton soutien! (Thank you for support!)

- Je t'en prie. (Please).

— Mercy beaucoup! (Many thanks!)

— Derien. (My pleasure).

— Je te remercie pour la carte postale! (Thank you for the postcard!)

— Pas de quoi. (My pleasure.)

Thus, it can be seen that in French there are politeness formulas for each case and situation. However, being polite and courteous in French is not difficult at all. To do this, remember the necessary words and expressions, as well as the cases of their use in French speech.

In addition to the forms of greetings and the word "please", the French use many other words and expressions that are designed to demonstrate their good disposition and courtesy towards the interlocutor or several. The table below shows the most commonly used, their knowledge will help to remain courteous even in the simplest and shortest conversation.

Russian language	French
Yes	Oui
Not	Non
Mister, Mrs.	Monsieur, Madame
Thank you (thank you very much)	Merci (merci beaucoup)
Please (as a response to gratitude)	Je vous en prie
My pleasure	De rien, Pas de quoi
Please (please)	S'il vous plaît
Sorry	Pardon / excusez-moi
Hello!	Bonjour!
Good evening!	Bonsoir!
Goodbye	Au revoir
Bye	Salut!
See you later!	A bientot
Do you speak french? …in English?

The French language attracts with its beauty. It is spoken by 270 million people worldwide. In this article, you will learn how to speak politely in French.

In this article, you will learn ways to say "please" in French and figure out in which situations to use them.

Why learn French

The French language is distinguished by its melody. In a conversation, the French voice rises and falls. From the fact that the words in the sentence are interconnected, the speech sounds like one melody. This makes French seem like an incredibly beautiful language. This is one of the reasons why it is very popular.

Another reason to learn French is the history and culture of the country. Everyone who loves Hugo, Dumas, Voltaire and other famous personalities wants to read their works in the original, speak their language and even think in it.

French is the official language of the UN. It is spoken by almost 300 million people worldwide. For 35 countries of the world, French is the official language.

"Please" in Russian and French

Being in another country, people cannot avoid communicating with its inhabitants in the local language. No matter how hard you try to abstract from the outside world, in an unfamiliar place you sometimes have to ask for directions, ask for help or find out some important information.

Without knowing the language in a foreign country, it is difficult to survive. That is why tourists learn the basics of a foreign language before the trip or, in extreme cases, take phrasebooks with them.

However, not everyone knows, for example, how to pronounce "please" in French. Phrasebooks do not always prescribe pronunciation in Russian letters.

At the same time, in Russian the word "please" we can use:

When we ask for something. For example: Give me this book please.
When we answer a request. For example: Is it possible with you? - Please.
When we respond to gratitude. For example: Thank you very much! - Please.
When we send something. For example: Please, your payment.
When we experience emotions: indignation, indignation, surprise, etc. For example: Here you are please!
When we want to be polite. For example: Weigh me, please, this piece of meat.

In French, we use different words and phrases in these situations. Let's try to figure out how it will be "please" in French in different speech situations.

Request and response to gratitude

So, in French, there are two versions of the word "please" when asking:

S "il vous plaît - sil wu ple(pronunciation of "please" in French in Russian letters). The phrase "sil wu ple" is used either when addressing a large number of people, or to express respect in a formal speech.
S "il te plait - strength cho ple. This phrase is used when referring to loved ones, peers, and in general to everyone with whom you are on "you".

When we want to respond to gratitude, the phrases "sil vu ple" and "sil te ple" are not suitable. There are several options for "please" in French in response to "thank you".

Je vous en prie - same vuzanpri. This is a common phrase in response to "merci". This is a respectful form of address.
Je t "en prie - same tanpri. The same phrase, but when referring to "you".

There are several colloquial phrases that the French use in everyday life:

Il n "y a pas de quo i or just pas de quoi - il nya pa de cua / pa de cua - " It's my pleasure".
C "est tout a fait normal - se here a fe normal- "everything is fine".
C "est vraiment peu de choses - se vraeman pyo de shoz- "it's a real trifle."

The following phrase is similar to Spanish De nada:

De rien - le ryan- "It's my pleasure". This is an abbreviated version of the phrase Ne me remerciez de rien (n yo myo römercier gyoryan), translated into Russian - "Don't thank me for anything."

The English often use the phrase No problem in speech. (know problems)- No problem. The French also began to use this combination. This is often the answer to Excusez-moi ( Excuze mua) i.e. "sorry".

Pas de probleme - pa de problems - "no problem".
Y'a pas de souci - I pa de sushi- "no problem" (this is a more colloquial version of the phrase above).

Regional Expressions of Thanks

In Quebec, people respond to "thank you" like this:

Bienvenue - bianwenu- "please". Looks like English You are welcome (yu a wellcome)

This expression sounds in Lorraine (northeast France) and in the western regions of Switzerland:

A votre service - a votr service- "at your service".

If you want to indicate that helping a person was a joy to you, then you can use the following phrases:

C "est un plaisir - satan plazier- "it's a pleasure" ("with pleasure").
Ca me fait plaisir - sa myo fe plaisir"It gave me pleasure."

And this phrase is often heard in the south of France in the city of Toulouse:

Avec Plaisir - avec plezir- "with pleasure".

However, if you say so in the north of France, you may be misunderstood.

Where French is required

In what cases you can not do without knowledge of French:

You are going to work in France. There is no language here. You can start a career in a French company in Russia, but you still have to learn the language.
You are going to live in countries where French is the official language. The French respect their culture, so getting off with knowledge of English will not work here.
You are going to study in France. Higher education will require you to have a high level of foreign language proficiency.

In this article, you learned how to say "please" in French, and explored several variations of how to use it depending on the situation.

If you want to study a language seriously, then you will have to master the basics of the language: phonetics, grammar, spelling, vocabulary.

1. French pronunciation is quite difficult, in particular, due to the presence of nasal vowels. When they are pronounced, the air comes out partly through the nose and partly through the mouth. When a syllable ends in a single "n" or "m", they are not pronounced, but indicate that the preceding vowel is nasal. There are three in total; in Russian transcription of words and phrases, two letters are in bold, which means one nasal sound - an (yan, am), he (om) or en.

2. The standard French “r” sound is pronounced as follows: the back of the tongue arches towards the palate, preventing the passage of air flow, and the tip of the tongue lies flat against the front lower teeth.

3. To convey the French sound "eu", where it is important for understanding, two Russian letters "oe" are used, put together. To pronounce the sound correctly, just slightly round your lips (the tongue lies flat) and try to say “o” in this position, thinking about “ё”.

4. The stress in French falls on the last syllable.

5. The French are very proud of their language. Therefore, even if you are going to communicate in English, you should start any question or sentence with the standard phrase: "Excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais?"

The fastest way to master the spoken language is by teaching Russian to foreigners, as well as by translating Russian classical literature and Russian educational literature into a foreign language. To do this, you need to know the Russian language and Russian literature well.

Russia is a world leader in attractions and cultural sites. In the future, Russia should become the most popular country for foreign tourists. The historical value of cultural sites and the opportunity for tourists to relax in Russia are much higher than any other country.

It has been noticed that many people do not know the elementary rules of the Russian language, for example:

1. The number of quotes must always be even, like brackets in mathematics.

Adjacent quotation marks can be of two types - "..." and "..." (paws and Christmas trees).

Correct: "words "words" or "words" words ""

Incorrect: "words" and "words" words

These mistakes are even in the names of large firms and some articles and books.

2. If there is information in brackets at the end of the sentence, a period is placed after the brackets, not before the brackets and inside before the closing bracket.

That's right: words (words).

Wrong: words. (words.)

Best regards, Denis Shevchuk, www.deniskredit.ru

First few words

Yes. Wee. Oui.

No. Non. Non.

Please. Sil wu ple. S "il vous plait.

Thanks. Mercy. Mercy.

Many thanks. Merci to the side. Mercy beaucoup.

Hello (Good afternoon). Bonjour. Bonjour.

Hello. Salyu. Salut.

Excuse me (to get attention). EXCUSE MUA. Excusez-moi.

Sorry. Sorry. Pardon.

Unfortunately, I don't speak French. Desole, same ne parl pa français. Desole, je ne parle pas francais.

Where is…? Have se true...? Ou se trouve…?

Where are...? Have se true...? Ou se trouvent…?

Emergencies

Help! O sekur! Au secours!

Call the police! Apple la polis! Appelez la police!

Call a doctor. Apple en medsen! Appelez un medecin!

I'm lost! Zhyo myo sui egare. Je me suis egare(e)

Stop the thief! Oh wolf! Au voleur!

Fire! Oh phe! Au Feu!

I have a (small) problem, but yon (petit) problems J "ai un (petit) probleme

Help me please ede moa sil wu ple Aidez-moi, s "il vous plait

What's wrong with you? Que vous arrive-t-il?

I feel bad Zhe (o) yon malese J "ai un malaise

I'm sick of the same mal e coeur J "ai mal au coeur

My head hurts / my stomach

I broke my leg Je me suis casse la jambe

Greetings and politeness formulas

Good afternoon. Bonjour. Bonjour.

Good evening. Bonsuar. Bonsoir.

Bye/Hi. Salyu. Salut.

Good night Bon Nui. Bonne nuit.

Goodbye. Oh Revoir. Au revoir.

See you later. And the bianto. A bientot.

Bye (in Belgium) A tantot A tantot

Good luck. Bon chance. Bonne Chance.

Have a good day. Bon journe. Bonne journey.

Have a nice weekend Bon week-end Bon week-end

See you tomorrow A demain A demain

Until the evening A ce soir A ce soir

Bon appetit Bon appetit Bon appetit

Your health (at the table) A votre sante A votre sante!

Be healthy (at parting) Portez-vous bien!

Bless you (when sneezing) A vo sue A vos souhaits!

This is Mr Durand. Se Monsieur Durand. C "est monsieur Durand.

This is Mrs. Durand. Se Madame Durand C "est Madame Durand.

This is Mademoiselle Durand. Se Mademoiselle Durand C "est mademoiselle Durand.

What is your name? Coman vuzaplez-vu Comment vous appellez-vous?

What is your name? Koman tapel tu Comment t "appelles-tu?

My name is Petya, Mr. Smirnov Je mapel Petya (Monsieur Smirnov) Je m "appelle Petia (Monsieur Smirnov)

Very nice Enchante Enchante(e)

How are you? Sa wa? Ca va?

Everything is fine. And you? Trebian. E woo? Tres bien. Et vous?

How are you doing? Coman ale-woo Comment allez-vous?

How are you doing? Koman wa tu Comment vas-tu?

So-so Comsi - Comme Comme ci, comme ca

How old are you? Quel age avez-vous?

How old are you? Quel age as-tu?

Where do you come from? D "ou venez-vous? D" ou venez-vous?

I'm from Russia, and you? Je viens de Russie, et vous?

Say hello to your parents (Mr. Petrov) / (official var.) Dit bon jour a vos para (n) (Monsieur Petrov) / Me salutation a ... Dites bonjour a vos parents (monsieur Petrov) / Mes salutations a ...

Search for mutual understanding

Do you speak Russian? Parle wu ryus? Parlez vous russe?

Do you speak English? Parle wu angle? Parlez vous anglais?

You understand? Komprene wu? Comprenez vous?

I understand. Zhe compran. Je comprends.

I do not understand. Zhe ne compran pa. Je ne comprends pas.

Does anyone here speak English? Es-kyo kelken isi parl angle? Est-ce que quelqu "un ici parle anglais?

Can you speak slowly? Purye wu parle muen vit? Pourriez-vous parler moins vite?

Repeat, please. Repete, sil vu ple. Repetez, s "il vous plait.

Please write it. Ekrivé le, sil vu ple. Ecrivez-le, s "il vous plait.

French is deservedly considered the most sensual language in the world - in its everyday life there are several hundred verbs denoting emotions and feelings of various kinds. The lyrical melody of the throat sound “r” and the exquisite precision of “le” give a special charm to the language.

Gallicisms

The French words used in Russian are called gallicisms, they have firmly entered the Russian-speaking conversation with a large number of words and derivatives from them, similar in meaning or, conversely, only in sound.

The pronunciation of French words differs from Slavic ones in the presence of throat and nasal sounds, for example, “an” and “on” are pronounced by passing the sound through the nasal cavity, and the sound “en” through the lower part of the front wall of the throat. Also, this language is characterized by an accent on the last syllable of the word and soft hissing sounds, as in the word "brochure" and "jelly". Another indicator of gallicism is the presence in the word of suffixes -azj, -ar, -izm (plume, massage, boudoir, monarchism). Already these subtleties make it clear how unique and diverse the state language of France is.

Abundance of French words in Slavic languages

Few people realize that "metro", "baggage", "balance" and "politics" are primordially French words borrowed by other languages, beautiful "veil" and "nuance" too. According to some data, about two thousand gallicisms are used every day in the territory of the post-Soviet space. Clothing items (knickers, cuffs, vest, pleated, overalls), military themes (dugout, patrol, trench), trade (advance payment, credit, kiosk and mode) and, of course. the words accompanying beauty (manicure, cologne, boa, pince-nez) are all gallicisms.

Moreover, some words are consonant by ear, but have a distant or different meaning. For example:

A frock coat is an item of men's wardrobe, and literally means "on top of everything."
Buffet - for us it is a festive table, for the French it is just a fork.
A dude is a dapper young man, and a dude in France is a dove.
Solitaire - from the French "patience", in our country it is a card game.
Meringue (a kind of fluffy cake) is a beautiful French word for a kiss.
Vinaigrette (vegetable salad), vinaigrette is just French vinegar.
Dessert - originally this word in France meant clearing the table, and much later - the last dish, after which they clean up.

Language of love

Tete-a-tete (one-on-one meeting), rendezvous (date), vis-a-vis (opposite) - these are also words from France. Amor (love) is a beautiful French word that has stirred the minds of lovers so many times. A stunning language of romance, tenderness and adoration, the melodic murmur of which will not leave any woman indifferent.

The classic “je tem” is used to denote strong, all-consuming love, and if “byan” is added to these words, then the meaning will already change: it will mean “I like you.”

Peak of popularity

French words in the Russian language first began to appear during the time of Peter the Great, and from the end of the eighteenth century they significantly moved native speech aside. French became the leading language of high society. All correspondence (especially love) was conducted exclusively in French, beautiful long tirades filled the banquet halls and negotiation rooms. At the court of Emperor Alexander the Third, it was considered shameful (bauvais ton - bad manners) not to know the language of the Franks, the stigma of ignorance was immediately hung on a person, so French teachers were in great demand.

The situation changed thanks to the novel in verse "Eugene Onegin", in which the author Alexander Sergeevich acted very subtly by writing a monologue letter from Tatyana to Onegin in Russian (although he thought in French, being Russian, as historians say.) By this he returned former glory of the native language.

Popular phrases in French now

Comme il faut in French means "as it should", that is, something made comme il faut - made according to all the rules and wishes.

Se la vie! - a very famous phrase meaning "such is life."
Je tem - singer Lara Fabian brought worldwide fame to these words in the song of the same name "Je t'aime!" - I love you.
Cherchet la femme - also known to everyone as "look for a woman"
A la ger, com ger - "in war, as in war." Words from the song that Boyarsky sang in the popular film of all time "The Three Musketeers".
Bon mo is a sharp word.
Fézon de parle - manner of speaking.
Ki famm ve - que le ve - "what a woman wants, God wants it."
Antre well sau di - it is said between us.

History of several words

The well-known word "marmalade" is a distorted "Marie est malade" - Marie is sick.

In the Middle Ages, Stuart suffered from seasickness during her trips and refused food. Her personal doctor prescribed slices of oranges with peel, thickly sprinkled with sugar, and the French chef prepared decoctions of quince to stimulate her appetite. If these two dishes were ordered in the kitchen, they immediately whispered between the courtiers: "Marie is sick!" (mari e malad).

Chantrap - the word for idlers, homeless children, also came from France. Children who did not have an ear for music and good vocal abilities were not taken to the church choir as singers (“chantra pas” - does not sing), so they wandered around the streets, smoking and having fun. They were asked: "Why are you idle?" Answer: "Shantrapa".

Podshofe - (chauffe - heating, heater) with the prefix under-, that is, heated, under the influence of heat, adopted for "warming". A beautiful French word, but the meaning is just the opposite.

By the way, everyone knows why it was called that? But this is a French name, and she also has a handbag from there - a reticule. Chapeau - translates as "hat", and "gag" is akin to a slap. The slap-folded hat is a folding top hat, which was worn by the mischievous old woman.

Silhouette is the surname of the controller of finance at the court of Louis XV, who was famous for his craving for luxury and various expenses. The treasury was empty too quickly and, in order to remedy the situation, the king appointed the young incorruptible Etienne Silhouette, who immediately banned all festivities, balls and feasts. Everything became gray and dull, and the fashion that arose at the same time for images of the outline of a dark-colored object on a white background was in honor of the miserly minister.

Beautiful French words will diversify your speech

Recently, word tattoos have ceased to be only English and Japanese (as fashion dictated), they have increasingly begun to come across in French, and some of them have an interesting meaning.

The French language is considered quite complex, with many nuances and details. To know it well, you need to study painstakingly for more than one year, but this is not necessary to use several catchy and beautiful phrases. Two or three words, inserted at the right time into a conversation, diversify your vocabulary and make your speech in French emotional and lively.