Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Twitter Linkedin

Coffee Break Languages

Ordering snacks in a café with the phrase “I would like” in French

by

Ordering snacks in a café is a delightful part of French culture.  Therefore, learning how to say “I would like in French” and other key expressions will ensure you get exactly what you want.

So, whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, knowing how to order snacks in French will enhance your café experience. In this blog post, we will cover essential phrases and vocabulary to help you confidently place your order.

“I would like” in French: common phrases for ordering food

When you walk into a café, the server might greet you with:

  • Qu’est-ce que je vous sers ? What can I get you?
  • Qu’est-ce que vous désirez ? What would you like?
  • Qu’est-ce que vous voudriez ? What would you like?

To respond politely and express what you want, you can use the phrase “I would like” in French:

  • Je voudrais… I would like…
  • Je vais prendre… I’ll have…

“I would like” in French + name of a popular snack

Here are some popular snacks you can order in a French café:

  • un sandwich a sandwich
  • au jambon ham
  • au fromage cheese
  • un croque monsieur a toasted ham and cheese sandwich
  • un croque madame a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top
  • des frites French fries

For example:

  • Je prends un sandwich au jambon, s’il vous plaît. I’ll have a ham sandwich, please.
  • Je voudrais un croque monsieur, s’il vous plaît. I would like a croque monsieur, please.

Expressing hunger and thirst

To make your experience even more authentic, you might want to express your hunger or thirst:

  • J’ai faim. I’m hungry.
  • J’ai soif. I’m thirsty.

For instance, if you are very thirsty, you might say:

  • Je prends une limonade, s’il vous plaît. I’ll have a lemonade, please.
  • Je voudrais encore un café. I would like another coffee.

Would you like to learn the pronunciation of these phrases? In episode 16 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast, you will learn how to pronounce properly the phrase “I would like” in French. You will also get more insight into these phrases and also learn other useful phrases. Listen to it now:

Asking for more

If you’d like another drink or snack, you can use “I would like in French” again:

  • Je voudrais encore un verre de vin rouge, s’il vous plaît. I would like another glass of red wine, please.

Checking if you can eat at the café

Sometimes, you might want to confirm if you can eat at the café:

  • On peut manger ici ? Can we eat here?

Enjoying your snacks

When your snacks arrive, the server might say:

  • Bon appétit ! Enjoy your meal!

If you are enjoying a drink with friends, you can toast by saying:

  • Santé ! Cheers!

Requesting the bill

When you’re ready to leave, don’t forget to ask for the bill:

  • L’addition, s’il vous plaît. The bill, please.

Illustration of food you can get at the café

Example dialogue

To illustrate how to order snacks and use the phrase “I would like” in French, here’s an example dialogue:

  • You: Bonjour, qu’est-ce que je vous sers ?
  • Server: Bonjour ! Qu’est-ce que vous désirez ?
  • You: Je voudrais un sandwich au jambon et des frites, s’il vous plaît.
  • Server: Très bien. Et pour boire ?
  • You: Je prends une limonade, s’il vous plaît.
  • Server: D’accord. Un sandwich au jambon, des frites et une limonade. C’est tout ?
  • You: Oui, merci. J’ai très faim !
  • Server: Bon appétit !
  • You: Merci !

Translation:

  • You: Hello, what can I get you?
  • Server: Hello! What would you like?
  • You: I would like a ham sandwich and some fries, please.
  • Server: Very well. And to drink?
  • You: I’ll have a lemonade, please.
  • Server: Okay. A ham sandwich, fries, and a lemonade. Is that all?
  • You: Yes, thank you. I’m very hungry!
  • Server: Enjoy your meal!
  • You: Thank you!

Ordering snacks in a café is a pleasant and necessary skill for anyone spending time in a French-speaking area. By learning how to say “I would like in French” and other key phrases, you can ensure you get exactly what you want and enjoy your café experience to the fullest. Practice these phrases, and you’ll soon feel more confident and comfortable ordering snacks in French. Bon appétit!

Do you want to keep improving your French skills and learn how to order food at the restaurant in French? Then check the article we prepared to help you order food in French.

Will Coffee Break Spanish be the #1 podcast in the US?

by

Picture_3There is great excitement here at Radio Lingua as we discovered this morning that Coffee Break Spanish is currently the second most popular podcast in the US according to iTunes. That’s second most popular of all podcasts, not just Education, and at the last count I heard that means 120,000 podcasts. The question is: will we reach number 1? It’s pretty impossible to know how far away we are from This American Life from Chicago Public Radio, but it would be fantastic to be #1, even just for a short while! We’ll keep you posted…

Radio Lingua supporting the Euroscola visit, reporting live from Strasbourg, France

by

EuroscolaonlineHere are Radio Lingua we’re continuing to develop our range of services and for the past few months we’ve been supporting a number of projects within the education space in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. This week, Mark is in Strasbourg, France, working with a number of colleagues leading a student visit to the European Parliament. The students have been selected to represent their local area and are being sponsored to take part in this visit by Rotary International. The visit also receives funding from the European Parliament.

In addition to working with the other teachers who are supporting the visit, Mark is producing an on-going video and audio podcast with the students. The entire visit is being documented at www.euroscolaonline.com and you can subscribe to the video podcast in iTunes.

How to order a coffee in French? 3 essential phrases

by

When visiting a French café, knowing how to order a coffee in French is essential for enjoying the local culture. In this blog post, we’ll cover the necessary vocabulary and phrases to help you confidently order your favourite beverages in French.

Whether you’re in a bustling Parisian café or a quaint village bistro, these tips will ensure you get exactly what you want.

Understanding coffee varieties

Before you get familiar with how to order a coffee in French, you must know the different types of coffee you can order in a French café:

  • un café a coffee – This is typically a small, strong espresso.
  • un café au lait a coffee with milk – Similar to a latte, it’s made with equal parts coffee and hot milk.
  • le lait the milk – Essential for your café au lait.
  • un café crème a coffee with cream – Espresso with a small amount of cream.
  • un grand crème a large coffee with cream – Similar to un café crème but in a larger cup.
  • un allongé a long coffee – An espresso with added hot water, similar to an Americano.
  • un rallongé an extra-long coffee – Even more water than an allongé, making it a very weak coffee.

Illustration of a person ordering a take away coffee

Other popular beverages in French cafés

Aside from coffee, you might want to order other beverages in French. Here are some popular choices:

  • un thé a tea
  • un thé au lait a tea with milk
  • un thé au citron a tea with lemon
  • un chocolat (chaud) a hot chocolate
  • un jus a juice
    • un jus d’orange an orange juice
    • un jus d’ananas a pineapple juice
    • un jus de pomme an apple juice
  • une limonadea lemonade
  • de l’eau water
  • de l’eau plate still water
  • de l’eau gazeuse sparkling water
  • une bière a beer
  • un verre de … a glass of …
    • un verre de vin (a glass of wine)
  • une bouteille de … a bottle of …
  • le vin rouge red wine
  • le vin blanc white wine
  • le vin rosé rosé wine

Would you like to hear these phrases pronounced and used in context? Listen to episode 15 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast for more insights and useful expressions.

How to order a coffee in French: 3 essential phrases

The waiter might ask, ‘Vous désirez ?’ What would you like?, to which you can respond with your choice of coffee or beverage in French.

When you’re ready to order, use one of these three essential phrases to ensure you get the coffee you want:

  • Je voudrais …  I would like…
  • Pour moi … For me…
  • Pour mon …,  For my…, – you can use this phrase when ordering a beverage for someone else.

Let’s check some examples:

  1. Je voudrais un café. I would like… a coffee.
  2. Pour moi, un café au lait. For me…, a coffee with milk.
  3. Pour mon père, un grand crème. For my father, a large coffee with cream.
  4. Pour ma mère, un allongé. For my mother, a long coffee.
  5. Pour mon ami, un thé au citron. For my (male) friend, a tea with lemon.
  6. Pour mon amie, un chocolat chaud. For my (female) friend, a hot chocolate.

Example order dialogue

To illustrate how to order a coffee in French, here’s an example dialogue:

  • You: Bonjour, je voudrais un café au lait, s’il vous plaît. Hello, I would like a coffee with milk, please.
  • Waiter: Bien sûr. Et pour vous, madame ? Of course. And for you, madam?
  • Your Friend: Pour moi, un thé au lait, s’il vous plaît. For me, a tea with milk, please.
  • Waiter: Très bien. Vous désirez autre chose ? Very well. Would you like anything else?
  • You: Oui, un jus d’orange pour mon père, et un grand crème pour ma mère. Yes, an orange juice for my father, and a large coffee with cream for my mother.
  • Waiter: Parfait. Je vous apporte ça tout de suite. Perfect. I’ll bring that to you right away.

Knowing how to order a coffee in French is a valuable skill that enhances your café experience. By familiarising yourself with the different types of coffee and other beverages in French, you can confidently place your order and enjoy your time in any French-speaking café.

Remember to practice these phrases, and soon you’ll feel right at home ordering your favourite drinks in French. Whether it’s how to order a coffee in French or any other drink, you’ll be well-prepared for your next visit.

Do you want to keep improving your French skills and learn how to order snacks in French? Then check the article we prepared to help you ask for what you want to eat at a French café! 

Talking about places in town in French

by

Learning about places in town in French is an essential part of mastering the language, especially if you plan to visit or live in a French-speaking area. In this blog post, we’ll explore common places in town, how to describe their locations, and useful phrases to help you navigate your way around.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to talk about places in town in French confidently.

Common places in town in French

Let’s start with some key vocabulary for places in town in French, these terms will come in handy when you’re describing different places you might visit in a town:

  • un musée a museum
  • un marché  a market
  • une banque a bank
  • une piscine a swimming pool

Describing Locations

To describe locations, it’s useful to know how to say there is or there are in French, which is il y a. For example:

  • Il y a un restaurant. There is a restaurant.

You can also specify locations within your town. For example:

  • Dans ma ville, il y a un restaurant. In my town, there is a restaurant.

Phrases for Specific Locations

Here are some useful phrases for describing specific locations in town:

  • Dans la ville où j’habite… In the town where I live…
  • Près d’ici, il y a un restaurant. Near here, there is a restaurant.
  • Est-ce qu’il y a un restaurant près d’ici ? Is there a restaurant near here?
  • Le restaurant est près de la cathédrale. The restaurant is near the cathedral.
  • La place est loin de la piscine. The square is far from the swimming pool.
  • L’office de tourisme est en face de l’église. The tourist office is opposite the church.
  • Le marché est en face du restaurant. The market is opposite the restaurant.
  • L’église est près du musée. The church is near the museum.
  • Le marché est à côté du restaurant. The market is next to the restaurant.

Mastering places in town in French and their locations allows you to navigate and describe your surroundings fluently. Whether you’re discussing where to find key locations or giving directions, these expressions will help you engage in meaningful conversations. Keep practising, and you’ll soon feel more confident and comfortable talking about places in French.

Would you like to hear these phrases pronounced? Listen to episode 14 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast for more insights and useful phrases.

Example Sentences

Using the vocabulary and phrases above, let’s create some example sentences to see how they fit into everyday conversation:

  1. Dans ma ville, il y a un marché. In my town, there is a market.
  2. Près d’ici, il y a une banque. Near here, there is a bank.
  3. Est-ce qu’il y a une piscine près d’ici ? Is there a swimming pool near here?
  4. Le restaurant est près de la cathédrale. The restaurant is near the cathedral.
  5. La place est loin de la piscine. The square is far from the swimming pool.
  6. L’office de tourisme est en face de l’église. The tourist office is opposite the church.
  7. Le marché est à côté du restaurant. The market is next to the restaurant.

Practical Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases can be used in a practical dialogue:

  • You: Excusez-moi, est-ce qu’il y a un restaurant près d’ici ?
  • Local: Oui, il y a un restaurant près de la cathédrale. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche.
  • You: Merci! Et où est le marché ?
  • Local: Le marché est à côté du restaurant.

Translation:

  • You: Excuse me, is there a restaurant near here?
  • Local: Yes, there is a restaurant near the cathedral. Go straight ahead, then turn left.
  • You: Thank you! And where is the market?
  • Local: The market is next to the restaurant.

By learning about places in town in French, you can enhance your ability to navigate and describe your surroundings. Practice using these vocabulary words and phrases in sentences to become more comfortable.

Whether you’re asking for directions or describing a place to someone else, these skills will help you communicate more effectively in French. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. So, next time you’re talking about places in town in French, use these tips and phrases to guide you.

Do you want to keep improving your French skills? Then check the article we prepared to help you order drinks in French.

Radio Lingua på norsk

by


I’ve just spent the evening recording the latest in our One Minute Languages series in Sandefjord, Norway, with my good friend and former colleague, Norwegian teacher Dag Virik. We recorded the whole series tonight and will be releasing it in a couple of weeks’ time, so if you’re interested in picking up a “litt norsk”, (a little Norwegian) then we’ll be announcing a start date very soon.

Image originally uploaded by Petter Nordby.

Lesson 04 – One Minute Russian

by

Having learned to say that you speak a little Russian in lesson 03, the chances are that Russian speakers will be so delighted to hear you speaking Russian they’ll start talking to you in fast Russian. In lesson 04 of One Minute Russian you’ll be learning the crucial phrase “I don’t understand”.

Download episode | Subscribe in iTunes | RSS Feed | Bonus Materials

Asking and giving directions in French

by

Navigating a new place can be challenging, but knowing how to ask for and understand directions in French makes it much easier. In this article, we’ll cover essential vocabulary and phrases to help you find your way around French-speaking areas. 

Whether you’re looking for a restaurant or the nearest bank, these phrases will come in handy.

Key locations

Before we dive into directions in French, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some common places you might need to find:

  • le restaurant the restaurant
  • le musée the museum
  • le marché the market
  • le supermarché the supermarket
  • la banque the bank
  • la cathédrale the cathedral
  • la piscine the swimming pool
  • la place the square
  • l’office de tourisme the tourist office
  • l’église the church

Illustration of people looking for diretions

Asking for Directions

When you need to ask for directions in French, it’s important to be polite and clear. Here are some essential phrases and how to use them in different contexts:

Où est … ? 

This is the simplest and most direct way to ask where something is. For example:

  • Où est le restaurant ? Where is the restaurant?

Où est la banque, s’il vous plaît ?

Adding “s’il vous plaît” (please) makes your request more polite. It’s a good habit to include this in your questions, especially when asking strangers for help. For instance:

  • Où est la cathédrale, s’il vous plaît ? Where is the cathedral, please?

Où se trouve la banque, s’il vous plaît ?

This phrase is a bit more formal and can be used interchangeably with “Où est la banque, s’il vous plaît ?” It implies that you’re asking for the specific location of the bank. Examples include:

  • Où se trouve l’office de tourisme, s’il vous plaît ? Where can I find the tourist office, please?

La banque, s’il vous plaît ? 

This is a very concise way to ask for directions in French, often used when you want to quickly grab someone’s attention or when you’re in a hurry. It’s less formal and might be followed by a more detailed question or statement. For example:

  • Le supermarché, s’il vous plaît ? The supermarket, please?

Giving directions in French

Once you’ve asked for directions, understanding the response is crucial. And if any French speaker comes to you and asks you about a direction. Here are some phrases you might find useful:

  • allez tout droit go straight ahead
  • tournez à gauche turn left
  • tournez à droite turn right
  • et puis and then

Would you like to learn the pronunciation of these phrases to ask and give directions in French? In episode 13 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast, you can learn how these phrases and more are pronounced in French. Listen to it now: 

Proximity Questions

When asking for directions in French, it’s often helpful to know how close or far a location is from your current position. Here are some useful phrases to help you determine proximity:

C’est près d’ici ? 

This phrase is a simple and direct way to ask if a location is close to where you are. It’s informal and commonly used in casual conversations. For example:

  • Le musée, c’est près d’ici ? Is the museum near here?

Est-ce que c’est près d’ici ? (more formal)

This is a more formal way to ask if something is nearby. It’s useful in more polite or formal contexts, such as when speaking with someone you don’t know well. For example:

  • Est-ce que la banque est près d’ici ? Is the bank near here?

C’est loin d’ici ? 

This phrase helps you find out if a location is far from your current position. It’s straightforward and informal, suitable for everyday use. For example:

  • La cathédrale, c’est loin d’ici ? Is the cathedral far from here?

Est-ce que c’est loin d’ici ? (more formal)

This is a more formal way to ask if something is far away. It’s polite and can be used in more formal situations. For example:

  • Est-ce que l’office de tourisme est loin d’ici ? Is the tourist office far from here?

Illustration of a person following directions

Example dialogue

To give you a practical example of how to ask for directions in French, here’s a dialogue that incorporates the vocabulary and phrases seen above:

You: Bonjour, où est la banque, s’il vous plaît ?
Local: Bonjour ! Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche. La banque est à côté de la cathédrale.
You: Merci beaucoup ! Est-ce que c’est près d’ici ?
Local: Oui, c’est très près d’ici, à environ cinq minutes à pied.

Translation:

You: Hello, where is the bank, please?
Local: Hello! Go straight ahead, then turn left. The bank is next to the cathedral.
You: Thank you very much! Is it near here?
Local: Yes, it’s very close, about a five-minute walk.

Mastering directions in French is a valuable skill that enhances your travel experiences and daily interactions in French-speaking areas. By learning key locations and essential phrases, you’ll be well-equipped to ask for and understand directions with ease. Remember to practice regularly and don’t hesitate to ask locals for help—they’re usually more than willing to assist!

Do you want to keep improving your French skills and learn how to talk about what is there in your town? Then check the article we prepared to help you with this!

Logos_RLN_2012

Coffee Break Languages is a product of Radio Lingua Ltd.

Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Instagram Linkedin

Get Started

Languages

Our Sites

Help

© Radio Lingua Ltd 2008-2025 All rights reserved