French Language--is it a barrier??

I have been to several different places in France and I have always been able to find someone or several people who speak English. It is good to learn a few phrases: Hello, Good-day, thank-you, please, etc.
I think you will be just fine.

Thanks so much, that is what I need to hear!!

Don't sweat it, anyone who wants your money will speak english.

Learn some basic phrases (I've found "thank you" the most useful phrase in any language), bring a phrasebook (Berlitz, Rick Steves, ??), expect to use a lot of gestures and pantomiming. Here and here are some useful tips from this website.

Michael is usually very perceptive, but you don't want to be limited to communicating with "people who want your money." Many French people, especially younger ones, speak some English but may not want to try it with you because they're afraid of making a mistake or looking foolish. But if you try to speak their language, chances are you'll solve their problem by looking more foolish, and they'll step in with English to rescue you. This has happened to me more often than I want to admit. ;-)

They're very formal, so try to start every conversation with "bonjour, monsieur/madame," use lots of "s'il vous plait" and "merci" and "excusez-moi." The formality can be mistaken for standoffishness, and it's true that they don't go in for small talk with strangers the way Americans often do. But any interchange with locals, outside the basics of ordering food or buying tickets or such, can be rewarding. I remember meeting some French folks in line for a Dordogne cave to open, which led to a couple of them helping me with translations during the French-language tour.

BTW, if you can really understand what all the Brits and Irish are saying, you're already multilingual! ;-)

Many will speak at least some English, especially the younger generations who almost certainly will speak English to some level.

They speak English in England? I had sometimes a harder time understanding some Britons speaking English than the Frenchmen speaking broken English.

Having said that, as noted above, it's always good to pick up a 'traveler's language booklet' and learn some basic expressions before you go to France or any non English speaking country (there are also cheap CD's or free resources available online). Your traveling experience (and the service you will receive) will be 100 times better if you make a little effort to learn some foreign language expressions, even if it's just "Good morning/evening", "thank you" and "you are welcome".

In addition to learning some useful phrases, it would be well for you to read up on how French people behave and expect others to behave in shops, restaurants, etc. The greeting upon entry into a shop, e.g., referred to above. Another rule is not to touch the merchandise. Always ask for assistance. Get yourself informed about prix fixe menus; basically, no substitutions. I think I've seen a travel book series with "culture clash" in the titles, which go into detail about such matters. Btw, we've always found the French to be courteous and helpful.

In addition to Hello ( Bonjour Madame/ Monsieur ) , Goodbye ( Au Revoir Madame / Monsieur ) , Please ( S'il vous plait ) , and Thank you ( Merci ) , all of which , particularly with a warm smile , will get you a long way , have a look at David Lebovitz' wonderfully humorous book , " The Sweet Life in Paris "

Rosalyn is so right about learning about the French culture. That, and learning some polite words and phrases, will go a long way to enhancing your trip. If you have a smart phone, try the free Duolingo app.

I would also encourage you to look into the Paris Greeter program. http://www.greeters.paris/?lang=en
It's a great way to explore an area with a local. I've done it twice and had great experiences both times.

You will be fine without speaking French. I think bringing a phrase book is an excellent idea.

And if you can learn some French before you go, that will be even better! If you learn to say one thing a day, you'll be able to say 100 things by the time you go!

Don't let it stop you. France is a wonderful country! My French is very limited so I carry a phrase book with me. In smaller cities and in the country it is harder to find people that speak English than it is in Paris. I find being able to point to the word/s in the book can save me. Definitely learn the basic polite phrases as stated above. In 5 trips to France I still forget to greet people with a Bon jour too often.

I'm French and I fully agree with everything written about how formal we are (Bonjour by the way ;) ) But many of us will go out of their way to help you. 90% of my guests don't speak French and they all told me they had fun using their phrase book and pointing food at the market. You'll be fine, and bienvenue en France !

Karen, I don't speak French, either, and I spent a month in France last summer. Don't let it stop you. You will mostly be in contact with people in the hospitality and sales sectors so you will be fine. I remember being in Paris and trying out my well-rehearsed French question, and not understanding a word of the reply. I should have been arrested for assault on the French language, but everyone was patient and polite, and as helpful as possible.

Karen,

Try to learn the basics and they will appreciate it and you will learn something in the process.

i had less people speak english in Bayeux, but again, no issues.

you will have a blast in france.

happy trails.

edit to add.

if youre into the learning mood, look for any community colleges in your area. Some may have a weekend or community education language courses. They are usually less expensive, are not for credit and dont take as long. Some are one, 2 or more weekend classes. you can also try looking for any French groups/meetings too. THEre maybe some Expats in your neighborhood.

We found 2 easy ways to learn new phrases. One is the online language course available through our local library. The other was a picture phrase book for teenagers.

I also think it's fun to use my phrasebook, but don't let it stop you from communicating. See more communication tips at http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sightseeing.

Hi Karen, try to learn as much as you can about the French language, country, and customs before you go. That said, don't be afraid to interact with shopkeepers, hotel people, and others you need to talk to about directions, etc. In some cases, I've had to rely on drawing pictures and charades but I got the info I needed. I took a non-credit college class and we used "French in 10 Minutes a Day" as the text. It's a good resource. There's also a CD that comes with it that has matching games that were helpful. Begin every conversation with "bonjour" and a smile and you will be off to a good start.

You may find it helpful to bring along a menu decoder, and if you get one of the phrase books mentioned above, or even refer to the translation pages in Rick Steves' or other guidebooks, you'll already have a list of French ingredients and dishes with their English names.

A friend once mentioned that the only menu item she knew or could say in French was "poulet," so she had chicken for every meal in France. I once ordered a salad in Epernay, and missed that one of the key descriptions on the menu said "rognons," so I was surprised to discover that instead of it having onions, buried under the lettuce of my salad were lots of kidneys (not kidney beans, actual kidneys) :-p

Also, unless you want expensive bottled water (and many people apparently do), ask for "Un carafe d’eau s’il vous plaît" (say "craff dough, see vu play"), and you'll get free tap water in a pitcher.

As I mentioned in another post, I was one of those who always said Don't worry, people who deal with tourists all speak English. However on my last trip, discovered not always true, including surprisingly cabbies in Paris. As suggested, try some free Duolingo lessons (even though they focus on dumb things like The boys are eating apples and The shark is eating a shrimp) and get a quickie phrase book. As Rick notes, you don't have to construct beautifully grammatical and complete sentences and paragraphs. Point and try to use the correct word (poulet, serviette, eau). I think there are now apps that will speak phrases aloud in French, but then you have to try and understand the answer!

Also helps to be able to count from 1 to 10 (or more if you're on a roll).

And if you're really in a hurry to learn some French, watch Eddie Izzard's skit on learning French:

Ha! Thanks for a good chuckle, I haven't seen Eddie for a while. Action Transvestite indeed!

There are loads of free French lessons on YouTube. The words and phrases are pronounced so you can more easily learn to speak properly. Always, ALWAYS start off every encounter with Bonjour and a smile. You won't have any trouble.

Hi,

On going to France not knowing the language, that didn't stop me in the least when I went there the first time. That should absolutely not stop you either. It may make your trip a bit more daunting, depending but you'll still enjoy it. I knew after the first time there as a non speaker then, I would be returning for a second longer stay in Paris.

Hi Karen

France is much better than it used to be as they have more or less accepted English as a language now after years of resistance. You should have no problems in main centres like Paris. I use my phone a lot for things I don't understand as I don't like carrying a book around. Google translate isn't fool proof but its pretty good especially if you put in a phrase rather than just one word.

Suggest you try watching films in French with English subtitles as an enjoyable way to get used to the "sound" of French. Yes learn a few polite phrases and have a go, also don't be put off if they look at you blankly, just keep trying. Its fun and a beautiful language if you can get the hang of it.

I agree with what's being said here. In general, the French speak better English than I speak French. We have found French people to be polite, helpful and interested in communicating despite language barriers. Begin with "Bonjour Madame/ Monsieur," along with a smile, and things will go well.

In addition to the polite phrases, it's good to ask directly (in French) if the person speaks English. One additional tip: pay attention to the nonverbal communication, not just the words. More than once, after I've struggled with a conversation using my limited French, my wife, who hardly speaks French at all, will say, "She said to go down here and turn left." How did she know? She watched as the French woman used ample hand signals to get the message across. I missed them because I was too focused on understanding French words and translating my own thoughts into French.

Please do learn the essential polite phrases before you go, but the language barrier shouldn't stop you from having a ball in France. Be prepared for the person with whom you're speaking to look at you strangely after you've said, "Can my cattle dance here?" But don't let that stop you from enjoying the trip.

Every year, millions of people visit France, and most of them can't even say "Merci". You can learn a few phrases, of course, but can you learn all the potential replies? Also, the French waiter won't be impressed by your "bounjoooor", because the Dutch, Italian or Swedish tourist sitting next to you will certainly speak better French than you do!

Well, attempting a few words is better than nothing for a short visit to someone else's country, and the point is not to be able to carry on a lengthy conversation or respond to a multitude of replies. In many cases, the reply will be "oui" or "non," and a traveler can go from there.

I don't believe there's any competition for Multilingual Tourist of the Year, either, and the French teenagers 3 tables over will likely speak better French than the Dutch, Italian, and Swedish visitors, if that was important.

That Dutch, Swedish or Italian tourist would in all likelihood speak better French since they learned the fundamentals at an earlier age, and that language would have been mandatory for them if they had been on a university track.

Learn as much as you can pick up before you leave. Still, not knowing any is no obstacle to going.

Growing up surrounded by multiple accents (including my mother's very thick accent), I have always been impressed by anyone who tries to speak a language they didn't grow up with, even if it's the most unintelligible words that come out. Who cares how well the people at the next table speak or how thick your accent is? I doubt the waiter does. And if he does, he has issues he needs to work through.

Karen.. I don't speak Italian , Spanish, German, Swiss, Dutch, or Greek.. I would hate to limit my travels to somewhere that only spoke English..

jump in.. most folks will try and be helpful as long as you are polite..

Karen.. I don't speak Italian , Spanish, German, Swiss, Dutch, or Greek.. I would hate to limit my travels to somewhere that only spoke English..

jump in.. most folks will try and be helpful as long as you are polite..

I thought Dick's advice above was especially excellent (although there have been lots of fine posts in this thread.) I took French for four years in high school and all I really know is "Pardon Monsieur/Madame. Je ne parle pas francais. Parlez-vous anglais?" (I also know that a "sortie" is an exit, and that helps a lot on the metro!) In Paris, people will generally say "a little." I am told that English speaking is less frequent outside Paris, but I don't know. I would certainly pick up the Rick Steves' phrase book or something equivalent.

It is easy to learn half a dozen politeness phrases and it is boorish to travel in any country without being able to greet people, say please and thank you and excuse me. It is also helpful to know how to ask where the restroom is. All you need is a noun and a questioning look for many queries -- and of course please. In France it is obligatory to begin EVERY interaction with Bon Jour -- not to do so marks you as rude and may well get a rude response or being ignored. This includes when coming into a shop.

But this is easily done and knowing French beyond that is not necessary. If you begin with French, then you can ask if they speak English and switch -- it honors the fact that the defect is yours -- you don't expect them to be able to speak English. The rudest behavior from French people I have observed has been in response to older British men who begin by shouting demands in English (on the theory that loud makes up for not knowing the language.)

Learn the politeness phrases and you will be fine.

It should be remembered that as recently as 100 years ago, French was the international language before English took over. The French have, understandably, been resistant to this change in much the same way as the USA is today resistant to the fact that China is becoming the number one economy. I can speak French fluently and I have often been in hotels where the staff treat English speakers rudely and am not looking forward to my turn. However, since I speak to them in French, they are as nice as pie to me. This is a situation you should expect. They particularly dislike the English because they know that French is taught at school in their country and that it was more or less compulsory for older people. Outside Paris, I doubt whether the French will be overly familiar with Americans as they usually travel in groups and not independently. I recommend you learn as many useful French phrases as possible, ones like "vous avez une chambre de libre? (Do you have a room available?), je prends un café au lait s'il vous plaît (I´ll have a coffee with milk please) etc etc etc. Buy yourself a good phrasebook such as the Berlitz ones. You should realise that everything is written in French and that includes all traffic signs, bus and train station signs, menus etc etc. Paris is the main exception, but Paris isn´t really France. There is Paris and there are the Provinces. The Provinces are the real France. However, bear in mind that Europeans travel across linguistic borders regularly and don't have problems. Because we have grown up on a multilingual continent, it doesn´t put us off. You will find it easier to travel by car than on public transport possibly. Car travel will involve considerably less of a linguistic challenge than trying to communicate with ticket staff with whom you can´t communicate. Imagine buying a train ticket in Hungary from someone who can only speak Hungarian and Slovak. You will often see Europeans making crazy international journeys by car such as from Lappland (north of Scandinavia) to Turkey which is actually further than you may think. You may assume that part of their decision is to minimise the language difficulty. I have to admit I find going by car through countries whose languages I don't speak as something of a blessing. I did once have trouble trying to figure out parking regulations written in Latvian though. France is, however, one of the easiest countries to travel in. So, go for it and enjoy it!!