Les principes fondamentaux de français - The Basics Of French

[Faiza]

Haha, french is pretty cool, I've just started AS French and I really like it
I thought perhaps a list of country may come in handy
Royaume-Uni = United Kingdom
Angleterre = England
l'Écosse (f) = Scotland (note most countries are masculine, this and a few others being the expection!)
Les Pays de Galles = Wales
Les États-Unis = America
Canada = Canada
Japon = Japan
Afrique = Africa (continent)
Marroc = Morocco
L'Union Européenne = European Union
La Belgique = Belgium
L'Allemande (f) = Germany
L'Australie (f) = Australia
l'Espagne (f) = Spain

anyone else whose done French GCSE recently - found you can still recall your french oral presentation accurately? Or is that just me?

[Andeeh]

This is some helpful phrases if your ever need help in france
English French
Yes Oui
No Non
Please S'il vous plaît
Thank you Merci
Excuse me Excusez-moi
Sorry (apology AND request to repeat previous phrase) Pardon
Hello Bonjour
Goodbye Au revoir
How are you? Comment allez-vous?
I'm very well, thankyou. Ça va bien, merci.
Do you speak English? Parlez-vous anglais?
I don't understand. Je ne comprends pas.
Could you speak slowly and clearly, please. Pourriez-vous parler lentement et clairement, S'il vous plaît.
Could you repeat that please? Pouvez-vous répéter cela, s'il vous plait?
Good evening (arriving or leaving) Bonsoir
See you later. A plus ****.
See you soon. A bientôt.
Goodnight Bonne nuit

Introductions

English French
Delighted to meet you. Enchanté de faire votre connaissance.
As a shorter alternative you can simply say: Enchanté.
What is your name? Comment vous appellez-vous?
My name is... Je m'appelle...
There follows a series of nationalities given in the masculine form. For the female form an 'e' is added to the end of the word, which affects the pronunciation.
Are you French? Etes-vous français(e)?
I am ... Je suis ...
... English. ... anglais(e).
... American. ... americain(e).
... Irish. ... irlandais(e).
... Scottish. ... écossais(e).
... Welsh. ... gallois(e).
... Canadian ... canadien(ne).
... Australian. ... australien(ne).
... a New Zealander ... néo-zélandais(e).
... South African ... sud-africain(ne).
...German. ... allemand(e).

Mealtimes

English French
A meal Un repas
Breakfast Le petit déjeuner
Lunch Le déjeuner
Dinner Le diner
To order Commander
To eat Manger
To drink Boire
The menu La carte
A set menu Un menu
Today's special Plat du jour
Toasted cheese and ham sandwich Croque-monsieur
The bill (US; the check) L'addition
Is the tip included? Est-ce que le service est compris?1
Wine Le vin
A glass/A bottle of red/white wine Un verre/Une bouteille de vin rouge/blanc
A jug of wine Un pichet de vin
A beer (usu 25cl draught lager) Une bière (or 'un demi')
A large beer (50cl) Un sérieux2
A (small) coffee (usu an espresso) Un (petit) café
A large white coffee (as compared to espresso) Un grand café au lait
A cup of tea (tea comes black as standard, you'll need to specify if you want milk) Un thé (au lait)
Bread Du pain
An orange juice Un jus d'orange
A jug of water Une carafe d'eau
A bottle of (flat/fizzy) water Une bouteille d'eau (plate/gazeuse)

Questions

English French
I'm sorry to bother you, but... Je suis désolé de vous déranger, mais...
Who Qui
What Quoi (or 'que' in many questions)
What is it? Qu'est-ce que c'est?
When Quand
What time is it? Quelle heure est-il?
Where Où
Where is the railway station? Où est la gare?
Where is the tourist information office? Où est l'office de tourisme?
Where are the toilets? Où sont les toilettes?
Where can I find a city plan? Où est-ce qu'on peut trouver un plan de la ville?
Where can I change some money? Où est-ce que je peux changer de l'argent?
Where are the nearest public toilets? Où se trouvent les toilettes publiques les plus près d'ici?
Which way is the town centre from here? Il faut prendre quelle direction, pour aller vers le centre ville?
Why? Pourquoi?
How much? Combien?
How many? Combien?
What are you doing? Que faîtes-vous?
Is it allowed? Est-ce permis?
Is it forbidden? Est-ce interdit?

Emergency

English French
Excuse me! Excusez-moi!
Help! Au secours!
Help me, please! Aidez-moi, je vous prie!
I'm lost. Je suis perdu.
Stop! Arretez!
Police La police
Ambulance Le Samu
Fire-service Les pompiers
Forbidden Interdit

Numbers

English French
one un
two deux
three trois
four quatre
five cinq
six six
seven sept
eight huit
nine neuf
ten dix
eleven onze
twelve douze
thirteen treize
fourteen quatorze
fifteen quinze
sixteen seize
seventeen dix-sept
eighteen dix-huit
nineteen dix-neuf
20 vingt
42 Quarante-deux
50 Cinquante
100 cent
1000 mille
10000 dix mille
74,357 Soixante-quatorze mille, trois cent cinquante-sept

Very long but helpful (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2465435)

[VPSwow]

Bonjour, je m'appelle Karl.
Je suis cool

LOL i was bored

[666101]

Pff, je deteste les anglais, carr il me fait chier!

[H]

I thought so so was com ce com sa (Sp?)

Yes that's what I thought as well..

[Alexicles.]

Thats a really useful guide.

At school I've volunteered to help organise this day and teach some kids some German lolol. ;D

[Kowther]

Nice Guide.
I only knew Comment Ca Va, Bonjour, Merci, Au reviour, and Comme ci comme ca, ca va bien, je suis de bonemuer, je suis triste and je suis on colere.

[OMGitsJordan]

You should put the prouncation in there to!

[Smarteh.]

Yea, were learning French at school and its compulsory. Its kinda boring though.

[Jord]

I found a good translator


http://uk.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt