Copyright
HarperCollins Publishers
Westerhill Road
Bishopbriggs
Glasgow G64 2QT
Fourth Edition 2016
© HarperCollins Publishers 1993, 2007, 2010, 2016
Source ISBN: 9780008135881
Ebook Edition © March 2016 ISBN: 9780008163464
Version: 2016-03-01
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.
If you would like to comment on any aspect of this book, please contact us at the given address or online.
E-mail: dictionaries@harpercollins.co.uk
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Editor
Holly Tarbet
Contributors
Marie Ollivier-Caudray
Anna Stevenson
David White
For the Publisher
Gerry Breslin
Janice McNeillie
Helen Newstead
Using your phrasebook
Whether you’re on holiday or on business, your Collins Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary is designed to help you locate the exact phrase you need, when you need it. You’ll also gain the confidence to go beyond what is in the book, as you can adapt the phrases by using the dictionary section to substitute your own words.
The Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary includes:
• Over 60 topics arranged thematically, so that you can easily find an expression to suit the situation
• Simple pronunciation which accompanies each word and phrase, to make sure you are understood when speaking aloud
• Tips to safeguard against any cultural faux pas, providing the essential dos and don’ts of local customs or etiquette
• A basic grammar section which will help you to build on your phrases
• FACE TO FACE dialogue sections to give you a flavour of what to expect from a real conversation
• A handy map of the country which shows the major cities and how to pronounce them
• YOU MAY HEAR sections for common announcements and messages, so that you don’t miss important information when out and about
• A user-friendly 3000 word dictionary to ensure you’ll never be stuck for something to say
• A short chapter of LIFELINE phrases for quick reference. These basic words and phrases will be essential to your time abroad
Before you jet off, it’s worth spending time looking through the topics to see what is covered and becoming familiar with pronunciation.
Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
Using your phrasebook
Pronouncing French
Top ten tips
Talking to people
Hello/goodbye, yes/no
Key phrases
Signs and notices
Polite expressions
Celebrations
Making friends
Work
Weather
Getting around
Asking the way
Bus and coach
Metro
Train
Taxi
Boat and ferry
Air travel
Customs control
Car hire
Driving
Petrol
Breakdown
Car parts
Road signs
Staying somewhere
Hotel (booking)
Hotel desk
Camping
Self-catering
Shopping
Shopping phrases
Shops
Food (general)
Food (fruit and veg)
Clothes
Clothes (articles)
Maps and guides
Post office
Technology
Leisure
Sightseeing and tourist office
Entertainment
Nightlife
Out and about
Music
Sport
Walking
Communications
Telephone and mobile
Text messaging
Internet
Practicalities
Money
Paying
Luggage
Laundry
Complaints
Problems
Emergencies
Health
Pharmacy
Doctor
Dentist
Eating out
Eating places
In a bar/café
Reading the menu
In a restaurant
Dietary requirements
Wines and spirits
Menu reader
Reference
Alphabet
Measurements and quantities
Numbers
Days and months
Time
Time phrases
Public holidays
Phonetic map
Grammar
Dictionary
English – French | A – C |
D – F | |
G – I | |
J – L | |
M – O | |
P – R | |
S – U | |
V – Z | |
French – English | A – C |
D – F | |
G – I | |
J – L | |
M – O | |
P – R | |
S – U | |
V – Z |
LIFELINE words and phrases
About the Publisher
Pronouncing French
In this book we have used a simple system to help you pronounce the phrases. We have designed the book so that as you read the pronunciation of the phrases you can follow the French. This will help you to recognize the different sounds and enable you to read French without relying on the guide. Here are a few rules you should know:
French | sounds like | example | pronunciation |
au | oh | autobus | oh-toh-bews |
c (+ a, o, u) | ka, ko, ku | cas, col, cure | ka, kol, kewr |
c (+ e, i), ç | s | ceci, ça | suh-see, sa |
ch | sh | chat | sha |
é | ay | été | aytay |
è | eh | très | treh |
eau | oh | beau | boh |
eu | uh | neuf | nuhf |
g (+ e, i) | zhe, zhee | gel, gîte | zhel, zheet |
gn | ny | agneau | a-nyoh |
oi | wa | roi | rwa |
u | ew | sur | sewr |
ui | wee | huit | weet |
e is sometimes weak and sounds like uh. This happens either in very short words (je zhuh, le luh, se suh, etc.) or when the e falls at the end of a syllable: retard ruh-tar, depuis duh-pwee.
h is not pronounced: hôtel oh-tel, haricot a-ree-koh.
There are nasal vowels in French (represented by ñ):
un uñ
fin/bain fañ/bañ
on oñ
dans/en dahñ/ahñ
Word endings are often silent: Paris pa-ree, Londres loñdr, parlent parl. However, the ending is sometimes pronounced if it is followed by a word which begins with a vowel:
avez-vous a-vay voo but vous avez voo za-vay.
In French, unlike English, there is normally no strong accent on any syllable, but instead a slight emphasis on the final syllable of each word, phrase and sentence, which takes the form of a rising intonation rather than an increase in volume.
Top ten tips
1 Use vous instead of tu until you are asked to use the familiar form. Do not use first names until you are invited.
2 If you visit French people at their home, your hosts will appreciate a small gift of something typically British, such as tea, jam or biscuits.
3 Do not forget to stamp your train ticket before getting on the train – otherwise it will not be valid.
4 By law, French people must carry their ID cards all the time, and there could be ID inspections in the street (especially in big cities). The police will ask ‘Vos papiers, s’il vous plaît’.
5 If giving someone flowers, you should avoid chrysanthemums (they are funeral flowers) and red roses (they have romantic connotations).
6 Keep your hands on the table at all times during a meal – do not place them on your lap. Elbows, however, should be kept off the table!
7 If you are travelling by car in France, you should always be aware not to leave valuables in plain sight when parking in tourist sites and villages.
8 When addressing a stranger, always add Monsieur or Madame, even if you are only asking for directions.
9 In some areas (especially the countryside) people do not speak a word of English, so have your phrasebook ready!
10 If you are travelling and have a medical issue, you can call SOS Médecins (dial 3624). They will come to your hotel or home at any time, 24/7. You will usually be charged around 50–70 euros for this service.
Talking to people
Hello/goodbye, yes/no
You will find the French quite formal in their greetings, shaking hands both on meeting and on parting. French people, when they know each other well, greet each other with a kiss on each cheek. Bonjour, madame or bonjour, monsieur are the politest ways to greet someone. Mademoiselle is becoming less frequently used. Salut is more informal than bonjour. If someone offers you something, perhaps an extra serving of food, and you simply reply merci, they will take this to mean ‘no’. You must say oui, merci or you will go hungry!
Please | S’il vous plaît seel voo pleh |
Thanks (very much) | Merci (beaucoup) mehr-see (boh-koo) |
You’re welcome! | De rien! duh ryañ! |
Yes | Oui wee |
No | Non noñ |
Yes, please | Oui, merci wee, mehr-see |
No, thanks | Non, merci noñ, mehr-see |
OK! | D’accord! da-kor! |
Sir/Mr | Monsieur/M. muh-syuh |
Madam/Mrs/Ms | Madame/Mme ma-dam |
Miss | Mademoiselle/Mlle mad-mwa-zel |
Hello/Hi | Bonjour/Salut boñ-zhoor/sa-lew |
Goodbye/Bye | Au revoir/Salut oh ruh-vwar/sa-lew |
Bye for now | À bientôt a byañ-toh |
Good evening | Bonsoir boñ-swar |
Goodnight | Bonne nuit bon nwee |
See you tomorrow | À demain a duh-mañ |
Excuse me! (to catch attention) | Pardon, monsieur/madame! par-doñ, muh-syuh/ma-dam! |
Sorry! | Pardon! par-doñ! |
I’m sorry | Je suis désolé(e) zhuh swee day-zo-lay |
How are you? | Comment allez-vous? ko-mahñ ta-lay voo? |
Fine, thanks | Très bien, merci treh byañ, mehr-see |
And you? | Et vous? ay voo? |
I don’t understand | Je ne comprends pas zhuh nuh koñ-prahñ pa |
I speak very little French | Je parle très peu le français zhuh parl treh puh luh frahñ-seh |
Key phrases
You don’t need to say complicated things to get what you want. Often simply naming the thing and adding s’il vous plaît will do the trick, even when asking for directions.
the (masculine) | le luh |
(feminine) | la la |
(plural) | les lay |
the museum | le musée luh mew-zay |
the station | la gare la gar |
the shops | les magasins lay ma-ga-zañ |
a/one (masculine) | un uñ |
(feminine) | une ewn |
a ticket/one stamp | un billet/un timbre uñ bee-yeh/uñ tañbr |
a room/one bottle | une chambre/une bouteille ewn shahñbr/ewn boo-tay-yuh |
some (masculine) | du dew |
(feminine) | de la duh la |
(plural) | des day |
some wine | du vin dew vañ |
some jam | de la confiture duh la koñ-fee-tewr |
some chips | des frites day freet |
Do you have…? | Est-ce que vous avez…?/Vous avez…? es kuh voo za-vay…?/voo za-vay…? |
Do you have a room? | Est-ce que vous avez une chambre? es kuh voo za-vay ewn shahñbr? |
Do you have some milk? | Vous avez du lait? voo za-vay dew leh? |
I’d like… | Je voudrais… zhuh voo-dreh… |
We’d like… | Nous voudrions… noo voo-dree-oñ… |
I’d like an ice cream | Je voudrais une glace zhuh voo-dreh ewn glas |
We’d like to visit Paris | Nous voudrions visiter Paris noo voo-dree-oñ vee-zee-tay pa-ree |
Some more… | Encore du/de la/des… ahñ-kor dew/duh la/day… |
Another… | Un/Une autre… uñ/ewn ohtr… |
Some more bread | Encore du pain ahñ-kor dew pañ |
Some more soup | Encore de la soupe ahñ-kor duh la soop |
Some more glasses | D’autres verres dohtr vehr |
Another coffee | Un autre café uñ ohtr ka-fay |
Another beer | Une autre bière ewn ohtr byehr |
How much is it? | C’est combien? say koñ-byañ? |
How much is the room? | C’est combien la chambre? say koñ-byañ la shahñbr? |
large/small | grand/petit grahñ/puh-tee |
with/without | avec/sans a-vek/sahñ |
Where is/are…? | Où est/sont…? oo ay/soñ…? |
the nearest | le/la plus proche luh/la plew prosh |
How do I get…? | Pour aller…? poor a-lay…? |
to the museum | au musée oh mew-zay |
to the station | à la gare a la gar |
to Brioude | à Brioude a bree-ood |
There is/are… | Il y a… eel ya… |
There isn’t/aren’t any… | Il n’y a pas de… eel nya pa duh… |
When…? | Quand…? kahñ…? |
At what time…? | À quelle heure…? a kel ur…? |
today | aujourd’hui oh-zhoor-dwee |
tomorrow | demain duh-mañ |
yesterday | hier ee-yehr |
Can I…? | Est-ce que je peux…? es kuh zhuh puh…? |
smoke | fumer few-may |
What does this mean? | Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire? kes kuh sa vuh deer? |
Signs and notices
entrée | entrance |
sortie | exit |
ouvert | open |
fermé | closed |
chaud | hot |
froid | cold |
tirez | pull |
poussez | push |
à droite | right |
à gauche | left |
eau potable | drinking water |
à emporter | take-away |
dégustation de vin | wine tasting |
prière de… | please… |
libre | free, vacant |
occupé | engaged |
caisse | cash desk |
libre-service | self-service |
toilettes | toilets |
dames | ladies |
hommes, messieurs | gents |
hors service | out of order |
à louer | for hire/to rent |
à vendre | for sale |
soldes | sale |
baignade interdite | no swimming |
sous-sol | basement |
rez-de-chaussée | ground floor |
ascenseur | lift |
accès aux trains | to the trains |
chambres | rooms available |
complet | no vacancies |
sortie de secours | emergency exit |
sonnez | ring |
appuyez | press |
privé | private |
arrêt | stop |
billets | tickets |
accueil | information |
composter votre billet | validate your ticket |
buffet | snacks |
consigne | left luggage |
défense de fumer | no smoking |
Polite expressions
There are two forms of address in French, formal (vous) and informal (tu). You should always stick to the formal until you are invited to tutoyer (use the informal tu).
The meal was delicious | Le repas était délicieux luh ruh-pa ay-teh day-lee-syuh |
Thank you very much | Je vous remercie zhuh voo ruh-mehr-see |
Delighted to meet you | Enchanté(e) ahñ-shahñ-tay |
This is… | Voici… vwa-see… |
my husband/my wife | mon mari/ma femme moñ ma-ree/ma fam |
Enjoy your holiday! | Passez de bonnes vacances! pa-say duh bon va-kahñs! |
Celebrations
Christmas celebrations revolve around food as much as they do presents. They start on Christmas Eve (réveillon de Noël) with a lavish meal lasting many hours. The main course is usually goose, turkey, capon or white pudding followed by the traditional dessert, a bûche de Noël (Christmas log). Families start the celebrations with an apéritif before the meal accompanied by foie gras and elaborate amuse-bouche (nibbles). Champagne sometimes replaces the usual apéritif drinks.
I’d like to wish you a… | Je vous souhaite un/une… zhuh voo soo-eht uñ/ewn… |
Merry Christmas! | Joyeux Noël! zhwa-yuh noh-el! |
Happy New Year! | Bonne année! bon a-nay! |
Happy Easter! | Joyeuses Pâques! zhwa-yuz pak! |
Happy birthday! | Bon anniversaire! bon a-nee-vehr-sehr! |
Have a good trip! | Bon voyage! boñ vwa-yazh! |
Enjoy your meal! | Bon appétit! bon a-pay-tee! |
Making friends
In this section we have used the informal tu for the questions.
FACE TO FACE |
Comment tu t’appelles? ko-mahñ tew ta-pel? What’s your name? |
Je m’appelle… zhuh ma-pel… My name is… |
Tu es d’où? tew ay doo? Where are you from? |
Je suis anglais(e), de Londres zhuh swee zahñ-gleh(z), duh loñdr I am English, from London |
Enchanté(e)! ahñ-shahñ-tay! Pleased to meet you! |
De rien! duh ryañ! You’re welcome! |
How old are you? | Quel âge as-tu? kel azh a tew? |
I’m … years old | J’ai … ans zhay … ahñ |
Are you French? | Tu es français(e)? tew ay frahñ-seh(z)? |
I’m English/Scottish/American | Je suis anglais(e)/écossais(e)/américain(e) zhuh swee zahñ-gleh(z)/zay-ko-seh(z)/za-mayree-kañ/ken |
England/English | l’Angleterre f/anglais(e) ahñ-gluh-tehr/ahñ-gleh(z) |
Scotland/Scottish | l’Écosse f/écossais(e) ay-kos/ay-ko-seh(z) |
Wales/Welsh | le Pays de Galles/gallois(e) pay-yee duh gal/ga-lwa(z) |
Ireland/Irish | l’Irlande f/irlandais(e) eer-lahñd/eer-lahñ-deh(z) |
USA/American | les États-Unis/américain(e) ay-ta-zew-nee/a-may-ree-kañ/ken |
Australia/Australian | l’Australie f/australien(ne) oh-stra-lee/oh-stra-lyañ/lee-en |
Where do you live? | Où est-ce que tu habites? oo es kuh tew a-beet? |
Where do you live? (plural) | Où est-ce que vous habitez? oo es kuh voo za-bee-tay? |
I live in London | J’habite à Londres zha-beet a loñdr |
We live in Glasgow | Nous habitons à Glasgow noo za-bee-toñ a glaz-goh |
I’m… | Je suis… zhuh swee… |
single | célibataire say-lee-ba-tehr |
married | marié(e) mar-yay |
divorced | divorcé(e) dee-vor-say |
I have… | J’ai… zhay… |
a boyfriend | un petit ami uñ puh-tee-ta-mee |
a girlfriend | une petite amie ewn puh-teet a-mee |
I have a partner (male/female) | J’ai un compagnon/une compagne zhay uñ koñ-pa-nyoñ/ewn koñ-panyuh |
I have … children | J’ai … enfants zhay … ahñ-fahñ |
I have no children | Je n’ai pas d’enfants zhuh nay pas dahñ-fahñ |
I’m here on holiday/on business/for the weekend | Je suis ici en vacances/en voyage d’affaires/en week-end zhuh swee zee-see ahñ va-kahñs/ahñ vwa-yazh da-fehr/ahñ wee-kend |
Work
What work do you do? | Qu’est-ce que vous faites comme travail? kes kuh voo fet kom tra-va-yuh? |
I’m… | Je suis… zhuh swee… |
a doctor | médecin may-dsañ |
a manager | directeur dee-rek-tur |
a secretary | secrétaire suh-kray-tehr |
I’m self-employed | Je travaille à mon compte zhuh tra-va-yuh a moñ koñt |
Weather
temps variable tahñ va-ree-abl | changeable weather |
beau boh | fine |
temps orageux tahñ o-ra-zhuh | thundery weather |
It’s sunny | Il y a du soleil eel ya dew so-lay |
It’s raining | Il pleut eel pluh |
It’s snowing | Il neige eel nezh |
It’s windy | Il y a du vent eel ya dew vahñ |
What a lovely day! | Quelle belle journée! kel bel zhoor-nay! |
What awful weather! | Quel mauvais temps! kel moh-veh tahñ! |
What will the weather be like tomorrow? | Quel temps fera-t-il demain? kel tahñ fuh-ra-teel duh-mañ? |
Do you think it’s going to rain? | Vous croyez qu’il va pleuvoir? voo krwa-yay keel va pluh-vwar? |
It’s very hot/cold | Il fait très chaud/froid eel feh treh shoh/frwa |
Ücretsiz ön izlemeyi tamamladınız.