Food and Ordering in French

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The phrases that get you fed: ordering politely, asking for the bill, and the words every menu uses.

Full course. Authored French content, part of the free EkGuru French course. Audio is your browser’s computer voice, not a native recording.

Ordering politely

The polite way to order is Je voudrais… (I would like): Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. Je prends… (I'll take…) is also common and natural. Always add s'il vous plaît — French politeness depends on it.

Water and drinks

L'eau is water. In France, tap water is free in restaurants — ask for une carafe d'eau (a jug of tap water). Sparkling water is l'eau gazeuse. For the rest: un café (an espresso), un thé (a tea), un verre de vin (a glass of wine).

The bill

Ask for the bill with L'addition, s'il vous plaît. In France service is included (service compris) — a tip (un pourboire) is optional, usually just rounding up. In Québec you will hear la facture instead of l'addition.

Useful menu words

Entrée (starter), plat principal (main course), dessert (dessert), sans (without) and avec (with): sans oignons (without onions), avec glace (with ice). Végétarien means vegetarian.

French	English
Je voudrais…	I would like…
L'addition, s'il vous plaît	The bill, please
une carafe d'eau	a jug of (tap) water
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?	What do you recommend?
sans / avec	without / with

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