Getting around
Métro
Attention à la marche.
Watch the step.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Paris
France
Paris spreads along the Seine in numbered arrondissements, from river islands to hillside quarters.
How the language is used
French is the language of the metro, the cafés, and the town hall. Service often stays on vous.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- Arabic, English and Chinese
- A local word
- Bonjour — Hello. Say it before the order.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Café
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
One coffee, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Boulangerie
Une baguette, s'il vous plaît.
One baguette, please.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Rue
Bonjour.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is the language of the ride, the shop, and the street.
In Le Marais, Belleville, Montmartre, you also hear Arabic, English and Chinese.
A first day in Paris can run on four lines: “Attention à la marche.”, “Un café, s'il vous plaît.”, “Une baguette, s'il vous plaît.”, and “Bonjour.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Shops and offices often stay with vous. Tu is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Paris, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Bonjour. It means Hello. Say it before the order..
Places you can see
- Louvre — A former palace turned museum, with glass-pyramid courts on the right bank.
- Île de la Cité — The river island at the medieval core, with Notre-Dame cathedral.
- Marais — A right-bank quarter of mansions, narrow streets, and the old Jewish Pletzl.
Food
Bistro plates, bakery bread, and cheese shops use short French names at the counter.
Getting around
The metro and the regional trains use French station names. The Seine splits left bank from right.
Daily life
You read French on street plaques and in bakeries. With staff, a polite vous is the usual address.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
