French Words and Phrases
For Travelers

Rognons Blanc are Not
White Kidneys!

French Words and Phrases. By now we hope you've learned how to say "please" and "thank you", "hello" and "goodbye". (If not, it's a good idea to learn these French greetings.)

Here you'll find more French words and phrases to help you on your trip to Paris, including basic vocabulary for the hotel and pharmacy.

We also tell you how to order some interesting French dishes that you'll want to try. (And a few you might want to avoid!)

Finally, if you're struck with a maladie (illness), you'll learn some basic vocabulary to communicate with your local pharmacie.

French Words and Phrases – le Restaurant

The French are very fond of wild game. If you're lucky enough to be in Paris during the fall and winter be on the look-out for these menu items. Wild game is often cooked slowly in stews and the meat is tender and delicious.

biche — deer
cerf — venison
sanglier — wild boar

Parisians prefer their meat cooked a saignant — rare, so if you prefer your steak cooked a little more, here's how to order —

a saignant — cooked rare
a point — cooked medium rare
bien cuit — well done
Je voudrais un steak, a point, s'il vous plait? — I'd like the steak cooked medium, please.

To many Americans rabbit seems… challenging. However, rabbit is a lovely, tender meat, much like chicken. (Don't they always say that?) Guinea fowl, too, is often served in French restaurants and it is also a delicous small game hen. We recommend you order it whenever possible.

lapereau — bunny
lapin — rabbit
pintade — guinea fowl
caille — quail
faisan — pheasant

The "Other" Foods

The French are adventurous when it comes to food. Although it's not as common as previously, offal (organ meats) and challenging dishes like andouilette (grizzly sausage) can still be found on restaurant menus.

Here are some advanced menu items that you might want to memorize before you go to Paris.

rognons — kidneys
rognons blanc — testicles
andouille — big tripe (as in cow stomach) sausage
andouillette — small tripe sausage

fromage de tete — head cheese
cervelles — brains
cervalas — seasoned brain sausage
boudin noir — blood sausage

grenouille — frog
tripe — slowly stewed cow stomach
gesier — gizzard
bifteck de cheval — horse steak

French Words and Phrases – le Pharmacie

J'ai l'indigestion — I have indigestion.
le rhume — a cold
la constipation — constipation
un mal de gorge — a sore throat
mal au ventre — stomach ache
J'ai mal de tête — I have a headache.

l'Hotel

le prix — price
la salle de bain — bathroom
la reservation — reservation
reserver — to reserve
le clé, s'il vous plait — the key, please

le passeport — passport
l'employé — clerk
la porte — door
la femme de chambre — chambermaid
la fenêtre — window

Excusez-moi, monsieur. J'ai reservé deux chambres pour ce soir — Excuse me, I reserved two rooms for tonight.
…il ya six semaines — …six weeks ago.