To the Restaurant
Le nouveau vocabulaire
Below are some common vocabulary words and phrases used while dining in a restaurant. Familiarize yourself with these terms and practice your pronunciation by repeating each term aloud after the speaker. Click each vocabulary word to hear the pronunciation.
Customers | |
French | English |
Je voudrais | I would like |
Je prends | I’m having |
Je vais prendre | I’m going to have |
Excusez-moi Monsieur | Excuse me Sir |
Excusez-moi Madame | Excuse me Ma'am |
Excusez-moi Mademoiselle | Excuse me Miss |
Pardon Monsieur | Excuse me Sir |
Pardon Madame | Excuse me Ma'am |
Pardon Mademoiselle | Excuse me Miss |
La carte, s’il vous plait | The menu, please |
L’addition, s’il vous plait | The check, please |
Ça fait combien? | How much does that make?/What's the total? |
Qu’est-ce que vous avez comme boissons? | What do you have for drinks? |
Qu’est-ce que vous avez comme sandwichs? | What do you have for sandwiches? |
Merci | Thank you |

Servers | |
French | English |
Vous avez choisi? | Have you chosen/decided? |
Nous avons... | We have... |
Il y a | There is/There are... |
Voilà | Here it is |
Ça fait... | That makes.../That comes to... |

Table Setting | |
French | English |
le couvert | table setting |
la serviette | napkin |
l’assiette | plate |
le bol | bowl |
la fourchette | fork |
la cuillère | spoon |
le couteau | knife |
le verre | drinking glass |
la tasse | cup |
Servers in French restaurants offer a different style of service that many Americans are not used to. In fact, some Americans may falsely perceive the service as bad, not knowing it was simply different. In this interactivity, you will learn about some of the differences between the styles of service in French and American restaurants. Click the player to begin.
View a printable version of this interactivity.
To the Restaurant Review
Now that you have learned about going to restaurants in French-speaking countries, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player to get started.