Useful French phrases ...

[tetleysid]

Here are a few useful phrases to help if you conk out en France ........... bonne ou mauvais ........ good or bad.

Je suis tombe en panne .................. I have broken down.
je voudrais aide or je voudrais assistance ...........I want help or I want assistance.
la bougie ........ spark plug
antigel ..........antifreeze
les freins .........the brakes
le liquide de frein ...........brake fluid
le serivice de depannage ........ the breakdown service.
d'embrayage ........... clutch.
le systeme electrique .......... the electrical system.
le permit de conduire .......... driving licence.
surchauffer ................ overheat
j'ai creve' .............. i have a puncture.
les pneus .............. the tyres.
avant/arriere .................. front/rear
ca ne marche pas ................ it doesn't work.
gearbox ................. boite de vitesses.

Roadsigns you will see ........
Aire de repos .........layby.
Acces interdit ............ entry forbidden.
alumez voz lanternes or alumez voz feux......... switch on headlamps.
Attention ............ danger
Billet ...........ticket (tolls etc)
Camping interdit ........... camping forbidden.
Chaussee deforme .......... bad road surface
Cotes non stabilisee ............ verges soft.
Defense de fumer ....... no smoking.
Essence ............. petrol.
Gasoile ...........diesel.
Location ......... for hire like boats bateaux, bicycles velo's or cars voitures.
dernier sorte peage ........... last exit before toll.
pietons ........... pedestrians.
priorite a droite .............. give way to the right.
roulez a droite ou gauche ............. keep right or left.
virage dangereux .............dangerous bends.
Remember a lot of towns/villages don't show a speed restriction as you enter them but they are all generally 50 km's per hour unless theres a sign to the contrary so its 50kph as you pass the village sign and continues until you pass the village sign on exit with a red stripe through it. This is a favourite hunting ground for Gendermes with radar traps ....... I know I have been caught twice in 4 years

[terryvanman]

Here are a few useful phrases to help if you conk out en France ........... bonne ou mauvais ........ good or bad.

Je suis tombe en panne .................. I have broken down.
je voudrais aide or je voudrais assistance ...........I want help or I want assistance.
la bougie ........ spark plug
antigel ..........antifreeze
les freins .........the brakes
le liquide de frein ...........brake fluid
le serivice de depannage ........ the breakdown service.
d'embrayage ........... clutch.
le systeme electrique .......... the electrical system.
le permit de conduire .......... driving licence.
surchauffer ................ overheat
j'ai creve' .............. i have a puncture.
les pneus .............. the tyres.
avant/davant .................. front/rear
ca ne marche pas ................ it doesn't work.
gearbox ................. boite de vitesses.

Roadsigns you will see ........
Aire de repos .........layby.
Acces interdit ............ entry forbidden.
alumez voz lanternes ......... switch on headlamps.
Attention ............ danger
Billet ...........ticket (tolls etc)
Camping interdit ........... camping forbidden.
Chaussee deforme .......... bad road surface
Cotes non stabilisee ............ verges soft.
Defense de fumer ....... no smoking.
Essence ............. petrol.
Gasoile ...........diesel.
Location ......... for hire like boats bateaux, bycycles velo's or cars voitures.
dernier sorte peage ........... last exit before toll.
pietons ........... pedestrians.
priorite a droite .............. give way to the right.
roulez a droite ou gauche ............. keep right or left.
virage dangereux .............dangerous bends.
Remember a lot of towns/villages don't show a speed restriction as you enter them but they are all generally 50 km's per hour unless theres a sign to the contrary so its 50kph as you pass the village sign and continues until you pass the village sign on exit with a red stripe through it. This is a favourite hunting ground for Gendermes with radar traps ....... I know I have been caught twice in 4 years

well done thats just what I need,,thank you

[72BUG]

The only place I've ever been to in France is Paris and I found I only needed one phrase.

Ferme la bouche

[AdrianC]

avant/davant .................. front/rear

No - Avant/Arriere.

Also

Gauche - Left
Droit - Right
...but...
Tout Droit - Straight on...

alumez voz lanternes ......... switch on headlamps.

Usually "Allumez vos feux" on signs (tunnels, most often) then "Fin d'Allumage des Feux"

- You have priority, the road you're on is the main road and side traffic has to give way.
(often with "Vouz n'avez pas la prioritaire" - YOU HAVE TO GIVE WAY.

72bug - you're one classy individual, y'know?

[tetleysid]

I would'nt advise useing that phrase too often 72bug. Paris is a world apart, people tend to speak English more readily but when you're out in the sticks you have to make an effort or you will be blanked

[tetleysid]

Quite correct Adrian ........... avant front ........ arriere rear. I have been here 4 years and still get it wrong, DOH!!

Edited for accuracy

[Si_P]

Got part way through a teach yourself french cd a couple of years back all I can really remember is the following:

quel est la situation economique et une politique en francais plu temp?

This is probably not grammatically right and certainly not helpful to a pigeon french speaker.

Great list provided above. Off to France for 2 weeks this summer what can possible go wrong now?

[tetleysid]

True the grammer and masculine femanine thing is a nightmare, luckily my mrs remembers a lot of her a level French otherwise I'd probably be doing a Pappilon by now ( the prison character not the insect).
I am positive I sound like the policeman in the TV comedy 'ello 'ello ..................... something like, Godd moaning, I was juice pissing by and I spooted a cohabiter

[72BUG]

I was unfortunately traumatised by my highschool French teacher. Absolutely hated the woman. As a result as soon as I hear someone speaking French it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It's a totally involuntary reaction. It's a shame because I'm told that France is a beautiful country full of warm and friendly people.

[Ian Hulley]

Coming down to Cognac this August

[tetleysid]

Coming down to Cognac this August

Pop in for a glass of vin

[Ian Hulley]

We're doing the old France passion thing round Bordeaux area but was looking at an aire in/near Cognac.

Cheers for the offer

[anaconda]

Great idea sir! Just this second booked the ferry to Dieppe. Hopefully we wont be needing the car parts translations though!

[tetleysid]

Cognac is good you will like it ........ especially if you like brandy.

[oorwullie]

Coming down to Cognac this August

Pop in for a glass of vin

feckin heck, i only got orange juice.

tune yer guitar yerself next time.