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French phrasebook

French (français) is a Romance language, and one of the most widely spoken languages in the world: 277 million people speak French, including about 100 million native speakers. While the French language originated in France, in modern times it is spoken on every continent; it is an official language of 29 countries, an important business, cultural, or minority language in dozens of other countries and regions, and is used officially by scores of international organisations including the United Nations, the European Union, and the International Olympic Committee. French was the main international lingua franca well into the 20th century, and at one point, French was the language spoken in most of the royal courts of Europe. To this day, it remains de rigueur for educated people in many societies around the world to have some level of basic French ability.

French is the sole official language of France, including all of its overseas departments and territories, and is the only language you will need to communicate with French nationals. Beyond France, French is widely spoken in many nearby countries in Europe, including the southern half of Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels), western Switzerland, Monaco, Luxembourg, and the Aosta Valley of northwestern Italy. A small number of second-language speakers are also found on the Channel Island of Jersey (where a dialect of Norman extremely similar to French persists) and in the tiny Pyrenean country of Andorra.

In the Americas, French is spoken primarily in the Canadian provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, the northern and eastern parts of Ontario, around the Winnipeg area of Manitoba, and the city of Whitehorse in Yukon. Indeed, Canada is an officially bilingual nation and there are Francophone enclaves in almost every province, though outside of the four provinces and territory mentioned, it's quite rare to encounter anyone in Canada who speaks more than a few words of French without hunting down off-the-beaten-track French-speaking communities. French is also spoken in a few parts of the United States, namely parts of Louisiana and northern Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In the Caribbean, French is an official language of Haiti, a former colonial possession of France. The Americas also host the French departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, plus the overseas collectivities of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Barthélemy, and the northern half of Saint Martin.

Elsewhere, French is an official language of many former French and Belgian colonies in Africa, like Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo, and is unofficial but carries prestige in others, namely Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. It is an important administrative, educational, and cultural language in the former French Southeast Asian possessions of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In the Indian Ocean, Réunion and Mayotte are French overseas departments, while French is also an official language in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Comoros. In Oceania, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna remain overseas territories of France, and French is also one of the official languages of Vanuatu.

The French Wikivoyage has a page that can help you locate French-speaking regions.

Pronunciation

French spelling is not very phonetic. The same letter used in two different words can make two different sounds, and many letters are not pronounced at all. The good news, though, is that French generally has more regular pronunciation rules than English. This means that with sufficient practice, one can generally pronounce written French fairly accurately. However, the large number of homophones and silent letters make it such that attempting to write down spoken French often results in spelling mistakes, even for native speakers. Some rules are as follows:

 * Stress is fairly even in French, but the stress almost always falls on the last syllable. In words where the stress falls on an earlier syllable, it's not uncommon to hear the last syllable or sound of some words cut off or "swallowed." For example, Possible can sound like poss-EEB and hymne can sound like eem. This is particularly noticeable in Quebec, but exists in other accents too.

 * The final consonant of a word is usually silent except for c, f, l, q, and r. Thus, allez (go) is pronounced al-AY, not al-AYZ; tard (late) is pronounced tar, not tard.

 * If the next word begins with a vowel, a consonant may be pronounced; this is called liaison. For example, allez-y (≈ go ahead / off you go), is pronounced al-ay-ZEE, while mes amis (my friends) is pronounced MEZ-ah-MEE.

 * A final e is also usually silent if the word has more than one syllable, except in parts of southern France and when singing or reciting poetry, when it becomes a schwa or é sound (see below).

Guess what? Those pronunciation "rules" you just read have a ton of exceptions! For example, the rule that a final r is pronounced is not true in the combination "-er", normally found in verb infinitives; this letter combination is pronounced ay. The plural ending "-ent" for verbs is silent (except for the t, in cases of liaison), even though it is pronounced when it appears in other words. Sometimes, whether to pronounce the final consonant of a word is denoted by its grammatical function; for example, the final "s" in tous (all) is silent when used as an adjective, but pronounced when used as a pronoun, while the final "f" in nouns such as cerf (deer) and œuf (egg) is pronounced in the singular form, but in the plural form (cerfs, œufs) the "f" and the "s" are both silent.

A final warning: for many French words, it is impossible to write something which an English speaker can easily read and reproduce without compromising on "perfect" French pronunciation. This means that the pronunciation guides in this very phrasebook are open to interpretation! Use the transliteration provided with each phrase as a guide to liaison, but refer to the following letter lists in order to correctly pronounce the vowels and consonants.

Vowels
Vowels in French can have accent marks, which generally have no noticeable impact on pronunciation, but they often distinguish between homophones in writing (ou, meaning "or", and où, meaning "where", are pronounced the same). The only really important ones which affect pronunciation are é, è, and ê, which are called e accent aigu, e accent grave, and e accent circonflexe, respectively. The grave and circumflex accents have the same name when they appear on other letters, while the umlaut (ë, ï, ü) is called e / i / u tréma.

 * a, à, â : like father (U.S. English) or cat (UK English); . In Quebec French, sometimes more like "aw" as in the standard UK pronunciation of not
 * e : in most cases a central neutral vowel ("schwa") like in about, sometimes like "é" or "è". At the end of a word, it's usually not pronounced at all
 * é, ai, -er, -es, -ez, -et : similar to day but shorter
 * è, ê : more open, like set . Sometimes diphthongised in Quebec French
 * i, î : like see, but shorter and tenser
 * o, ô, au, eau : generally like boat
 * u, ù : like a very tight, frontal "oo" sound (purse your lips as if to say "oo" as in "soon" but try to make your tongue say "ee") -, uu in transcriptions, similar to the German ü. Sometimes pronounced more like "eu" in Quebec French
 * ou : like food, but rounder
 * y : when followed by a consonant, like see . When followed by another vowel, it's used as a consonant, pronounced yes
 * eu : between dew and burp ; written as eu in transcriptions

Semi-vowels

 * oi : like wham, or when followed by a nasal more like wet . In Quebec French, sometimes like thought
 * oui : like week
 * ui : like week, but with a French u instead of the w
 * œ : a bit like eu, but more open . The distinction between œ (called o e entrelacés) and eu is very subtle and often irrelevant.

Consonants

 * b :
 * c : ,
 * ç : like the second pronunciation of c. This letter, called a "cedilla" (cédille), can only be written before "a" ,"o", or "u"
 * ch : ; sometimes like k (in words of Greek origin mostly)
 * d : . In Quebec, like "dz" or "ds" when before "i" or "y"
 * dj :
 * f :
 * g : ,
 * gu : like the first pronunciation of g (before "e", "i", "y"); if the u is to be pronounced, it will be written with a diaresis (e.g. aigüe)
 * gn : . This is particularly difficult when followed by oi, as in baignoire (beh-NYWAR) "bathtub".
 * h : silent, but may sometimes prevent a liaison with the former word (this is called an h aspiré)
 * j : like the second pronunciation of g
 * k :
 * l, ll : ; some exceptions for "ll" in the combination "ille" (sometimes pronounced ee-yuh, ), or in "guillotine".
 * m :
 * n: pronounced with the tongue touching the teeth, except when followed by a vowel, when it is pronounced like nose . See Nasals below}}
 * p :
 * ph : like f
 * pn : like apnea
 * ps: like slips
 * q(u) : most of the time k, like quick only in loanwords
 * r : guttural r, pronounced at the back of the throat
 * s : usually like the second pronunciation of c; like z when between two vowels (unless doubled), or in a liaison
 * t, th : ; in Quebec, when before "i" or "y"; like the second pronunciation of c in tion
 * tch :
 * v :
 * w : only in foreign words, mostly and sometimes like v (in particular, "wagon" is "vagon" and "WC" is "VC"!)
 * x : either ks, gz or s
 * z :

Nasals

 * an, en, em : nasal a . Not always pronounced as a nasal, especially if the n or m is doubled: Emmanuel is pronounced as a normal "emm" sound
 * on : nasal o - distinguishing between this and "an" is tricky, it's a deeper, more closed sound
 * in, ain : nasal è
 * un : nasal eu . In northern France and particularly around Paris, pronounced the same as 'in'
 * oin : nasal "wè"

Diphthongs

 * aï, ail : like the English pronoun I
 * ay, éi : é and i smooshed together
 * ill : either literally, or like "y" in "three years", with some exceptions (ville is veel, fille is fiy)

Quebec French sometimes has vestigial diphthongs where French from France no longer does. For example, while a Parisian would pronounce the word maître as MET-ruh, a Québécois would pronounce it more like MIGHT-ruh.

Exceptions

 * When there is an accent mark on "e", it prevents diphthongs. Letters should be pronounced separately, following the rule for the accented letter. Example: réunion (meeting).
 * A diaeresis (tréma) may also be used to prevent diphthongs on "e", "u" and "i". Example: maïs (Indian corn or maize).
 * In the combination "geo" (as in pigeon or bourgeois), the "e" should not be pronounced, as it is only there to force the pronunciation of the soft "g" . When the e is marked with an acute accent (as in géologie) it is pronounced the normal way.

Gender and its complications
French nouns are divided into two different genders: masculine and feminine. Unlike in English, all inanimate objects have a gender assigned to them: for example, pain (bread) is masculine, while confiture (jam) is feminine. The grammatical gender of nouns denoting persons generally follows the person's natural sex; for instance, mère (mother) is feminine, while père (father) is masculine. However, some nouns are always of the same gender regardless of the natural gender of the person they are referring to: personne is always feminine even if the person in question is a man.

It is not always easy to tell at a glance which gender a noun is but, in general, if it ends in a consonant, or by the letter combinations -age, -au, -é, -ège, ème, or -isme / -iste, or is a foreign (particularly English) loanword, it's likely to be masculine. On the other hand, if a noun ends in -ace, -ance / -ence, -ée, -elle / -erre / -esse / -ette, -ie, -ice, -ine, -ise, -que, or -tion / sion, it's probably feminine. There are plenty of exceptions, however!

The singular definite article ("the" in English) of each noun depends on its gender: le (m), la (f) or l’ (before all singular nouns starting with a vowel and some starting with "h", regardless of gender). The plural definite article for both genders is les. Thus:
 * le garçon – the boy → les garçons – the boys
 * la fille – the girl → les filles – the girls
 * l'homme – the man → les hommes – the men

The singular indefinite article ("a" and "an" in English) also corresponds to the noun's gender: un for masculine and une for feminine. Unlike English, French has a plural indefinite article – des, which works for both genders – and three partitive articles – du (m), de la (f), and de l’ (before vowels and some instances of the letter "h"), which precede uncountable nouns. Thus:
 * un homme – a man → des hommes – men
 * une femme – a woman → des femmes – women
 * du vin – wine
 * de la confiture – jam
 * de l'eau – water

Similarly, the third person pronouns also depend on the grammatical gender of the subject: il (m – he or it) or elle (f – she or it), with ils and elles respectively being the masculine and feminine plurals (they). When there are groups of mixed-gender people or objects, ils is always used.

Formal and informal speech
In French, there are two equivalents of the English word "you". When addressing one person you know well such as a family member or a friend, plus any time you speak to one child or one animal, the word to use will be tu. In all other situations, including when addressing a group of people regardless of who they are, the word to use will be vous. This means that in practice, as a traveller and novice French speaker, most of the time you will be using vous. It is important to know the distinction, as while addressing a pet dog with the vous form might just raise a chuckle, using tu with somebody you've just met is inappropriate and may offend the person whom you are addressing. After initially using the vous form, a person may say to you "On peut se tutoyer"; this is a polite invitation for you to use the tu form with them.

The default title used when addressing a man is monsieur, while a woman would be addressed as madame. Mademoiselle was traditionally used to address young, unmarried women, but this is now controversial and arguably sexist, so unless the other person tells you otherwise, it is best to default to madame. The respective plurals are messieurs and mesdames, so the French equivalent of "ladies and gentlemen" is "mesdames et messieurs", though often in speech this is rendered as "messieurs-dames".

Verbs
In a manner similar to many other Romance languages, French verbs all end in either -er, -ir, or -re in their infinitive forms, for example écouter (to listen), finir (to finish), and vendre (to sell). Verbs in French conjugate differently according to tense, mood, aspect and voice. This means that there are many more possible conjugations for French verbs than English verbs, and learning how to conjugate each verb in different scenarios can be a challenge for English speakers. Fortunately for you, the vast majority of verbs follow a regular conjugation pattern.

Here are three examples of regular verbs conjugated in the present tense, which can be used as a model for all other present-tense regular verbs. For the regular conjugations, remove the -er, -ir, or -re ending from the infinitive and add the letters in bold from the table below:

Some verbs are irregular, meaning that they use different roots when conjugated. The good news is that irregular verbs are very much in the minority. The bad news is that nearly all of the most useful everyday verbs are irregular; you will have to learn their conjugations individually if you wish to use them effectively: aller (to go), venir (to come), voir (to see), faire (to do), acheter (to buy), manger (to eat), boire (to drink), sortir (to go out), dormir (to sleep), pouvoir (to be able to), and vouloir (to want). The worst of these are probably être (to be) and avoir (to have), by far the most common verbs for everyday communication. Here are the present tense conjugations of each; you'll notice the entire word changes for each form of the verb:

International varieties of French
For its size, France is quite a linguistically-diverse country. Aside from languages which are very clearly separate from French (e.g. Basque and Breton), there is a whole slew of local parlers (e.g. Angevin, Lorrain, Norman, Picard, Savoyard...) which are just similar enough to standard French that, depending on whom you ask, they can be considered either separate languages in their own right, or simply dialects (patois) of the mother tongue. These local languages/dialects also influence the accents of standard French within their region, from the strange vowels and increased nasalisation of the far north to the 'singing' accents of the deep south.

The varieties of French which are spoken in Belgium and Switzerland differ slightly from the French spoken in France, though they are similar enough to be mutually intelligible. In particular, the numbering system in French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland has some slight peculiarities that are different from the French spoken in France, and the pronunciation of some words is slightly different. Nevertheless, all French-speaking Belgians and Swiss would have learned standard French in school, so they would be able to understand you even if you used the standard French numbering system.

Aside from Europe and Canada (see below), many French-speaking regions have incorporated the words of local languages, and on occasion have formed distinctive dialects or languages known as creoles. French-based creoles today enjoy wide use and often official status in the Seychelles, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Haiti (see Haitian creole), Réunion, and the French overseas territories in the Antilles. A dialect of French known as Louisiana French or Cajun, which is similar to the Acadian French spoken in parts of New Brunswick, and a distinct French-based creole known as Louisiana Creole are both still spoken by some residents in the southern U.S. state, while parts of New England near the Canadian border are home to speakers of a dialect known as New England French, which bears many similarities to Québécois.

Canada
There are many phonological and lexical differences between the French spoken in Quebec and that spoken in France. Quebec has retained many 18th- & 19th-century French words, while in France the language has moved on, as well as incorporating many English words in the modern era. On the other side, Québécois borrowed English terms from their Anglophone neighbours as early as the 19th century, but the onset of the "Quiet Revolution" and the Quebec sovereignty movement in the 1960s led to laws that strictly limited the usage and influence of English in the public sphere, with the result that, etymologically speaking, Quebec French is in many ways more "purely" French than that spoken in France. For instance, the fast-food chain called "Kentucky Fried Chicken" (KFC) in both the United States and France is known in Quebec as Poulet Frit Kentucky (PFK). In addition, menus are all translated, resulting in le Joyeux Festin at McDonald's in Quebec, rather than le Happy Meal as in the rest of the French-speaking world.

Some examples of everyday words which differ between Québécois and standard French:

Each of Canada's other provinces has a Francophone population, who are not Québécois. Some of these groups have been settled for hundreds of years. Another distinct dialect of French, known as Acadian French, is spoken commonly in parts of New Brunswick, with smaller populations in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Many of these people were expelled by the British during the French and Indian War, and settled in Louisiana, where they would later become known as the Cajuns.

Nevertheless, all Francophone Canadians, including Québécois, learn standard French in school, and most of the differences between the two varieties are limited to informal speech. This means that while you may not understand conversation among locals, they will be able to converse with you in standard French if required.

Basics

 * Hello. (formal): Bonjour. (bawn-ZHOOR) (in the day) / Bonsoir. (bawn-SWAHR) (at night)
 * Hello. (informal) : Salut. (sah-LUU)
 * How are you? (formal) : Comment allez-vous ? (koh-moh t-AH-lay VOO)
 * How are you? (informal) : Comment vas-tu ? (koh-mahng va TUU); Comment ça va ? (koh-moh sah VAH)
 * Fine, thank you. : Bien, merci. (byang, merr-SEE)
 * What is your name? : Comment vous appelez-vous ? (koh-moh vooz AHP-lay VOO?); lit. "How do you call yourself?"
 * What is your name? (informal) : Comment t'appelles-tu ? (koh-moh tah-pell TOO?)
 * My name is ______ . : Je m'appelle ______ . (zhuh mah-PELL _____)
 * Nice to meet you. : Enchanté(e). (ahn-shan-TAY)
 * Please. (formal) : S'il vous plaît. (seel voo PLEH); Je vous prie. (zhuh voo PREE)
 * Please. (informal) : S'il te plaît. (seel tuh PLEH)
 * Thank you. : Merci. (merr-SEE)
 * You're welcome. : De rien. (duh RYEHNG), Bienvenue. (bee-ain-veuh-nu) [Quebec only]; Je vous en prie. (zhuh voo-zahn PREE) (more polite)
 * Yes. : Oui. (WEE)
 * No. : Non. (NOH)
 * Excuse me. : Pardon. (pahr-DOHN); Excusez-moi. (ehk-SKEW-zay MWAH)
 * (I am) Sorry. : (Je suis) Désolé(e). (zhuh swee DAY-zoh-LAY); Je m'excuse. (zhuh mehk-SKEWZ)
 * Goodbye : Au revoir. (oh ruh-VWAHR)
 * Goodbye (informal) : Salut. (sah-LUU)
 * I can't speak French [well]. : Je ne parle pas [bien] français. (zhuh nuh PAHRL pah [byang] frahn-SEH )
 * Do you speak English? :Parlez-vous anglais ? (par-lay VOO ahng-LEH?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un ici qui parle anglais ? (ess keel-ee-AH kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL ahng-LEH)/ Y a-t-il quelqu'un ici qui parle anglais ? (ee yah-TEEL kel-KUHN ee-see kee PAHRL ahng-LEH)
 * Help! : Au secours ! (oh suh-KOOR)
 * Look out! : Attention ! (ah-tahn-SYONG)
 * Good day / good morning : Bonjour (bong̠-ZHOO(R))
 * Have a nice day: Bonne journée (bon zhoor-NAY)
 * Good evening. : Bonsoir. (bong-SWAHR)
 * Good night. (at the end of an evening) : Bonne soirée (bon swahr-RAY)
 * Good night. (when going to bed) : Bonne nuit. (bon NWEE)
 * Sweet dreams : Faites de beaux rêves (FEHT duh bo REV)
 * I don't understand. : Je ne comprends pas. (zhuh nuh KOHM-prahn pah)
 * I don't know. : Je ne sais pas. (zhuh nuh say pah)
 * I can't. : Je ne peux (pas). (zhuh nuh puh pah)
 * Where is the toilet? : Où sont les toilettes ? (OOH sohn leh twah-LET?)
 * What is it? : Qu'est-ce que c'est ? (KES-kuh-SAY)
 * How do you say _____ in French / in English? : Comment dit-on _____ en français / en anglais ? (koh-moh dee-TONG _____ ahn frahn-SEH / ahn ahng-LEH ?)
 * What is this/that called? :Comment appelle-t-on ça ? (koh-moh ah-pell-TONG SAH?)
 * How is that spelt? : Comment ça s'écrit ? (koh-moh sah SAY-cree?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. :Laissez-moi tranquille ! (lay-say mwah trahn-KEEL!)
 * Buzz off. : Dégage ! (day-GAHZH!) / Va-t'en ! (va TAHN)
 * Don't touch me! : Ne me touchez pas ! (nuh muh TOOSH-ay PAH!)
 * I'm calling the police. : Je vais appeler la police. (zhuh VAYZ a-pell-AY la poh-LEES)
 * Police! : Police ! (poh-LEES)
 * Stop! Thief! : Arrêtez ! Au voleur ! (ah-reh-TAY! oh vo-LEUR!)
 * Stop! Rapist! : Arrêtez ! Au viol ! (ah-reh-TAY! oh vee-YOL!)
 * Help! : Au secours ! (oh suh-KOOR!)
 * Fire! : Au feu ! (oh FEUH!)
 * Help me, please!. : Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît ! (aih-day MWAH, SEEL voo PLEH!)
 * It's an emergency. : C'est urgent ! (seh toor-ZHAHN)
 * I'm lost. : Je me suis perdu(e). (ZHUH muh swee pehr-DUU)
 * I've lost my bag. : J'ai perdu mon sac. (zhay pehr-DUU mon SAK)
 * I've lost my wallet. :J'ai perdu mon portefeuille. (zhay pehr-DUU mon POHR-tuh-fuhye)
 * My things have been stolen. : On m'a volé mes affaires. (o(n) ma vo-LAY may-zaf-FAIR)
 * Someone / This man / This woman is harassing me : Quelqu'un / Cet homme / Cette femme me harcèle (kel-ku(n) / set om / set fam muh ar-SELL)
 * I'm sick. : Je suis malade. (zhuh swee mah-LAHD)
 * I've been injured. : Je me suis blessé. (zhuh muh swee bleh-SAY)
 * I've been bitten by a dog. : Je me suis fait mordre par un chien. (zhuh muh swee fay MOR-druh par u(n) shee-AH(N))
 * I need a doctor. : J'ai besoin d'un médecin. (zhay buh-ZWAHN duun may-TSAN)
 * Can I use your phone? : Puis-je utiliser votre téléphone ? (PWEEZH oo-tee-lee-ZAY vot-ruh tay-lay-FUN)
 * Call an ambulance. :Appelez une ambulance. (ah-puh-lay uun OM-boo-lo(n)ss)
 * Call the fire brigade. :Appelez les pompiers. (ah-puh-lay lay pom-PEE-ay)
 * Call the police. :Appelez la police. (ah-puh-lay la poh-LEES)
 * Call the coastguard. :Appelez les gardes-côtes. (ah-puh-lay lay garde cot)

Numbers
Unlike English, French uses the long scale, so un billion and un trillion are not the same as the English "one billion" and "one trillion".

 * 0 : zéro (zairro)
 * 1 : un/une (uhn)/(uun)
 * 2 : deux (deu)
 * 3 : trois (trwah)
 * 4 : quatre (kahtr)
 * 5 :cinq (sank)
 * 6 : six (sees)
 * 7 : sept (set)
 * 8 : huit (weet)
 * 9 : neuf (neuf)
 * 10 : dix (deece)
 * 11 : onze (onz)
 * 12 : douze (dooz)
 * 13 : treize (trayz)
 * 14 : quatorze (kat-ORZ)
 * 15 : quinze (kihnz)
 * 16 : seize (says)
 * 17 : dix-sept (dee-SET)
 * 18 : dix-huit (dee-ZWEET)
 * 19 : dix-neuf (deez-NUF)
 * 20 : vingt (vihnt)
 * 21 : vingt-et-un (vihng-tay-UHN)
 * 22 : vingt-deux (vihn-teu-DEU)
 * 23 : vingt-trois (vin-teu-TRWAH)
 * 30 : trente (trahnt)
 * 40 : quarante (kar-AHNT)
 * 50 : cinquante (sank-AHNT)
 * 60 : soixante (swah-SAHNT)
 * 70 : soixante-dix (swah-sahnt-DEES) or septante (sep-TAHNGT) in Belgium and Switzerland
 * 80 : quatre-vingts (kaht-ruh-VIHN); huitante (weet-AHNT) in Belgium and Switzerland (except Geneva); octante (oct-AHNT) in Switzerland
 * 90 : quatre-vingt-dix (katr-vihn-DEES); nonante (noh-NAHNT) in Belgium and Switzerland
 * 100 : cent (sahn)
 * 200 : deux cents (deu sahng)
 * 300 : trois cents (trrwa sahng)
 * 1000 : mille (meel)
 * 2000 : deux mille (deu meel)
 * 1,000,000 : un million (ung mee-LYOHN) (treated as a noun when alone: one million euros would be un million d'euros).
 * 1,000,000,000 : un milliard
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : un billion
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : numéro _____ (nuu-may-ROH)
 * half : demi (duh-MEE), moitié (mwah-tee-AY)
 * less : moins (mwihn)
 * more : plus (pluus) / no more : plus (pluu) so this time, the "S" is mute

Time

 * now : maintenant (mant-NAHN)
 * earlier : plus tôt (pluu to)
 * later : plus tard (pluu TAHR)
 * before : avant (ah-VAHN)
 * after : après (ah-PREH)
 * morning : le matin (luh mah-TAN)
 * in the morning : dans la matinée (dahn lah mah-tee-NAY)
 * afternoon : l'après-midi (lah-preh-mee-DEE)
 * in the afternoon : dans l'après-midi (dahn lah-preh-mee-DEE)
 * evening : le soir (luh SWAHR)
 * in the evening: dans la soirée (dahn lah swah-RAY)
 * night : la nuit (lah NWEE)
 * in the night : pendant la nuit (pehndahn lah NWEE)

Clock time
French speakers most commonly use the 24-hour clock, even in Quebec (whereas most other Canadians use the 12-hour clock). In Europe, an 'h' is used as a separator between hours and minutes, as opposed to the colon that is used in Quebec and English-speaking countries. Therefore, midnight is written as 0h00, 1AM as 1h00, and 1PM as 13h00; more details and examples below. However, the 12-hour clock is making some inroads in speech, and saying 1-11 in the afternoon or evening will be understood.

 * What's the time? : Quelle heure est-il ? (kel euhr et-EEL?);
 * hour : heure (eur)
 * minute : minute (mee-NUUT)
 * From 1 minute past to 30 minutes past the hour: [hour] + [number of minutes]
 * Example: 10 : 20 or "twenty past ten" = 10h20 ; "dix heures vingt" (deez eur va(n))

 * For 31 minutes past to 59 minutes past the hour : [next hour] + moins (mwa(n))
 * Example: 10 : 40 or "twenty to eleven" = 10h40 ; "onze heures moins vingt" (onz eur mwa(n) va(n))

 * quarter past : [hour] et quart (ay kahr)
 * Example: 07 : 15 or "quarter past seven" = 7h15 ; "sept heures et quart" (set eur eh kahr)

 * quarter to :[hour] moins le quart (mwa(n) luh kahr)
 * Example: 16 : 45 or "quarter to five" = 16h45 ; "dix sept heures moins le quart" (dee-set eur mwan luh kahr)

 * half-past : et demie (eh duh-MEE); et demi (after midnight or noon, eh duh-MEE)
 * Example : 10 : 30 or "half past ten" = 10h30 ; "dix heures et demie" (deez eur eh duh-MEE)
 * Example : 12 : 30 or "half past twelve" = 12h30 ; "douze heures et demi" (dooz eur eh duh-MEE)

 * 1AM, 01 : 00 : 1h00 ; une heure du matin (uun eur duu ma-TAN)
 * 2AM, 02 : 00 : 2h00 ; deux heures du matin (dooz eur duu ma-TAN)
 * noon, 12 : 00 : 12h00 ; midi (mee-DEE)
 * 1PM, 13 : 00 : 13h00 ; treize heures (traiyz er)
 * une heure de l'après-midi (uun eur duh la-preh-mee-DEE)

 * 2PM, 14 : 00 : 14h00 ; quatorze heures (KAH-torz er)
 * deux heures de l'après-midi (duz er duh la-preh-mee-DEE)

 * 6PM, 18 : 00 : 18h00 ; dix-huit heures (deez-weet ER)
 * six heures du soir (seez er duu SWAR)

 * 7 : 30PM, 19 : 30 : 19h30 ; dix-neuf heures trente (DEE-znuf er TRAHNT)
 * sept heures et demie (SET er eh duh-MEE)

 * midnight, 00 : 00 : 0h00 ; minuit (mee-NWEE)

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ minute(s) (mee-NOOT)
 * _____ hour(s) :_____ heure(s) (eur)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ jour(s) (zhoor)
 * _____ week(s) : _____ semaine(s) (suh-MEN)
 * _____ month(s) : _____ mois (mwa)
 * _____ year(s) : _____ an(s) (ahng), année(s) (ah-NAY)
 * hourly : horaire (oh-RAIR)
 * daily : quotidien / quotidienne (ko-tee-DYAN / ko-tee-DYEN)
 * weekly : hebdomadaire (eb-doh-ma-DAIYR)
 * monthly : mensuel / mensuelle (mang-suu-WEL)
 * seasonal : saisonnier / saisonnière (SEH-zon-ee-ay / SEH-zon-ee-air)
 * yearly : annuel / annuelle (ah-nuu-WEL)
 * How long is your vacation? : Combien de temps restez-vous en vacances ? (com-bee-AN duh ton res-TAY voo on VAH-kons);
 * I am in France for ten days : Je reste en France pendant dix jours. (zhuh rest on frons pon-don dee zhoor)
 * How long is the journey? : Combien de temps le voyage dure-t-il ? (com-bee-AN duh ton luh vwoi-YAHZH dyoor-TEEL)
 * It takes an hour and a half : Cela dure une heure et demie. (suh-LAH dyoor uun er ay duh-MEE)

Days

 * today : aujourd'hui (oh-zhoor-DWEE)
 * yesterday : hier (yare)
 * tomorrow : demain (duh-MAN)
 * this week : cette semaine (set suh-MEN)
 * last week : la semaine dernière (lah suh-MEN dehr-NYAIR)
 * next week : la semaine prochaine (lah suh-MEN pro-SHEN)
 * the weekend : le week-end (France) / la fin de semaine (Canada) (luh week-end / lah fah(n) duh suh-MEN)

French calendars normally start on Monday. Unlike in English, the names of days are not capitalised in French:
 * Monday : lundi (luhn-DEE)
 * Tuesday : mardi (mahr-DEE)
 * Wednesday : mercredi (mehr-kruh-DEE)
 * Thursday : jeudi (juh-DEE)
 * Friday : vendredi (vahn-druh-DEE)
 * Saturday : samedi (sahm-DEE)
 * Sunday : dimanche (dee-MAHNSH)

Months
Unlike English, the names of months are not capitalised in French:

 * January : janvier (ZHO(N)-vee-yeh)
 * February : février (FEH-vree-yeh)
 * March :mars (mars)
 * April :avril (av-REEL)
 * May :mai (meh)
 * June :juin (zh-WAH(N))
 * July : juillet (zh-WEE-eh)
 * August : août (oot)
 * September : septembre (sep-TOMBR)
 * October : octobre (oc-TOBR)
 * November : novembre (no-VOMBR)
 * December : décembre (deh-SOMBR)

Seasons

 * spring : le printemps (luh PRAH(N)-toh(m))
 * summer : l'été (LAY-tay)
 * autumn : l'automne (loh-TOMNUH)
 * winter : l'hiver (LEE-vair)

Holidays

 * Enjoy your holiday/vacation! : Bonnes vacances ! (bon vah-KOH(N)S)
 * Happy holidays! (festival) : Bonnes fêtes ! (bon fet)
 * Happy birthday! : Joyeux anniversaire ! (ZHWY-yeuz-AN-ee-vair-SAIR)
 * Happy New Year! : Bonne année ! (BON-a-NAY)
 * New Year's Day : le jour de l'an (luh zhoor duh lah(n))
 * Shrove Tuesday : le mardi gras (luh MAR-dee grah)
 * Easter : les Pâques (lay pak)
 * Passover : la Pâque juive / le Pessa'h (lah pak zh-WEEV / luh pess-AKH)
 * Ramadan : le Ramadan (luh RAH-mah-doh(n)) (the other Muslim festivals are also called by their Arabic names)
 * Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (24 June, Quebec) : la Fête de la Saint-Jean-Baptiste (lah fet duh lah sa(n)-JOH(N)-bap-TEEST)
 * Canada Day (1 July) : la Fête du Canada (lah fet duu CA-na-DA)
 * Bastille Day (14 July, France) : le Quatorze Juillet / la Fête Nationale (luh kat-ORZ zh-WEE-eh / lah fet nah-syon-NAL)
 * summer holidays : les vacances d'été (lay vah-KOH(N)S DAY-tay)
 * school holidays : les vacances scolaires (lay vah-KOH(N)S skoh-LAIR)
 * beginning of the school year : la rentrée (lah roh(n)-TRAY)
 * Thanksgiving (2nd Su of Oct, Canada) : l'Action de grâce (LAC-sio(n)-duh-GRASS)
 * All Saints' Day : la Toussaint (lah TOO-sahn)
 * Hanukkah : Hanoucca (ah-NOO-kah)
 * Christmas : Noël (noh-EL)
 * Merry Christmas! : Joyeux Noël ! (ZHWY-euh noh-EL!)

Colours
Like in other Romance languages, nouns in French are either "masculine" or "feminine"; adjectives vary accordingly.

For instance, a lady may be blonde or brunette while a gentleman with hair of the corresponding hue is blond or brunet.

 * black : noir/noire (nwahr)
 * white : blanc/blanche (blahng/blahnsh)
 * grey : gris/grise (gree/greez)
 * red : rouge (roozh)
 * blue : bleu/bleue (bluh)
 * yellow : jaune (zhone)
 * green : vert/verte (verre/vehrt)
 * orange : orange (oh-RAHNZH)
 * purple : violet/violette (vee-oh-LEH/vee-oh-LET)
 * brown : brun/brune (bruh/bruhn); marron (MAH-rohn)
 * pink : rose (roz)

Adjectives
Like in other Romance languages, nouns in French are either "masculine" or "feminine"; adjectives vary accordingly.
 * Good :Bon (m.) (bo(n)) / Bonne (f.) (bon)
 * Bad : Mauvais (MO-vay) / Mauvaise (f.) (MO-vez)
 * Big : Grand (m.) (gro(n)) / Grande (f.) (grond)
 * Small : Petit (m.) (puh-TEE) / Petite (f.) (puh-TEET)
 * Hot : Chaud (m.) (sho) / Chaude (f.) (shode)
 * Cold : Froid (m.) (frwah) / Froide (f.) (frwahd)
 * Fast : Rapide / Vite (both genders) (rah-PEED / veet)
 * Slow : Lent (m.) (lo(n)) / Lente (f.) (lont)
 * Expensive : Cher (m.) (shair) / Chère (f.) (shairr)
 * Cheap : Bon marché (both genders) (bo(n) mar-SHAY)
 * Rich : Riche (both genders) (reesh)
 * Poor : Pauvre (both genders) (pov-ruh)

Bus and Train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : Combien coûte le billet pour _____ ? (kom-BYAN koot luh bee-YEH poor)
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Un billet pour _____, s'il vous plaît. (ung bee-YEH poor ____ seel voo pleh)
 * Where does this train/bus go? : Où va ce train/bus ? (OO va suh trahn/boos?)
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : Où est le train/bus pour _____ ? (OO eh luh trahn/buus poor ____)
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : Ce train/bus s'arrête-t-il à _____ ? (suh trahn/buus sah-reh-tuh-TEEL ah _____)
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : Quand part le train/bus pour _____? (kahn par luh trahn/buus poor _____)
 * When will this train/bus arrive in _____? : Quand ce train/bus arrivera à _____ ? (kahn suh trahn/buus ah-ree-vuh-RAH ah _____)
 * the/this shuttle : la/cette navette (lah/set nah-VET)
 * a one-way ticket: un aller simple (uhn ah-LAY SAM-pluh)
 * a return/round trip ticket: un aller-retour (uhn ah-LAY ruh-TOOR)
 * I would like to rent a car. : J'aimerais louer une voiture. (ZHEM-eu-ray LOO-way oon VWA-tuur)

Directions
e.g. rue de l'Église, rue Victor Hugo, rue de Rivoli...
 * Where is / are _____? : Où se trouve / trouvent _____ ? / (oo suh tr-OO-v _____)
 * ...the train station? : ...la gare ? (lah gahr)
 * ...the bus station? : ...la gare routière ? (lah gahr roo-TYEHR)
 * ...the nearest metro station? : ...la station de métro la plus proche ? (lah stah-syon duh MAY-tro lah ploo prosh)
 * ...the airport? : ...l'aéroport ? (lehr-oh-POR?)
 * ...the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy? : ...l'ambassade américaine/australienne/britannique/canadienne ? (lahm-bah-SAHD a-may-ree-KEN / os-trah-lee-EN / bree-tah-NEEK / ka-na-DYEN)
 * ...the (nearest) hotel? :...l'hôtel (le plus proche) ? (loh-tel luh ploo prohsh)
 * ...the town / city hall? : ...l'hôtel de ville / la mairie ? (loh-tel duh veel / lah mair-REE)
 * ...the police station? : ...le commissariat de police ? (luh com-mee-SAHR-ee-ah duh po-LEES)
 * ...the tourist information centre? : ...le syndicat d'initiative ? / l'office de tourisme ? / le bureau touristique ? (Quebec) (luh SAN-dee-kah dee-NEE-sya-teev / loff-EES duh toor-REEZ-muh / luh BOOR-oh toor-REES-teek)
 * ...the nearest bank / ATM? : ...la banque la plus proche ? (lah bonk lah ploo prosh) / le distributeur de billets le plus proche ?(luh dees-tree-buu-TEUR duh bee-YAY luh ploo prosh) / le guichet automatique le plus proche? (luh GEE-shay oh-toh-mah-TEEK luh ploo prosh)
 * ...the nearest petrol/gas station ? : ...la station-service la plus proche ? (lah sth-syon-SAIR-vees lah pluu prosh)
 * ...the market? :...les halles ? (city or large town) / le marché ? (small town or village) (layz AL-uh / luh MAR-shay)
 * ...the beach? : ...la plage ? (lah plaazh)
 * ...the best bars? :...les meilleurs bars ? (leh meh-YUHR bahr)
 * ...the best restaurants? : ...les meilleurs restaurants ? (leh meh-YUHR res-toh-RO(N))
 * _____ Street : rue _____
 * Please could you show me it on the map? : S'il vous plaît, pourriez-vous me l'indiquer sur la carte ? (SEE-voo-PLEH POO-ree-yeh-voo muh la(n)-DEE-keh syoor la cart
 * Is it far? : C'est loin ? (seh lwa(n))
 * No, it's quite close. :Non, c'est tout proche. (No(n) seh too prohsh)
 * Straight on : Tout droit (too drwah)
 * Turn right : Tournez à droite (TOOR-neh a drwaht)
 * Turn left : Tournez à gauche (TOOR-neh a gohsh)
 * Towards the... : Vers le / la / les... (vehr luh)
 * Past the... : Après que vous passiez le / la / les... (ap-REH kuh voo PASS-see-yeh luh / la / leh)
 * Before the... : Avant que vous arriviez au / à la / aux (av-O(N) kuh vooz-a-REEV-ee-yeh o / a la / o)
 * Next to the... : À côté du / de la / des (a COH-teh duu / duh la / deh)
 * Opposite the... : En face du / de la / des (o(n) fass duu / duh la / deh)
 * Follow : Suivre : (sweevr)
 * The north : le nord (luh nor)
 * The east : l'est (lest)
 * The south : le sud (luh suud)
 * The west : l'ouest (loo-WEST)
 * The (next) exit : la (prochaine) sortie (lah pro-SHEN SOR-tee)
 * Here : Ici (ee-SEE)
 * There : Là(-bas/-haut) (lah (BAH / OH)
 * Watch out for... : Repérez... (ruh-PAIR-ray luh / lah / lay)
 * ...the road : ...la route (lah root)
 * ...the street : ...la rue (lah ruu)
 * ...the intersection : ...le carrefour (luh car-FOOR)
 * ...the traffic lights : ...les feux (lay fuh)
 * ...the roundabout : ...le rond-point (luh ro(n)-pwa(n))
 * ...the motorway : ...l'autoroute (loh-to-ROOT)
 * ...the railway : ...le chemin de fer (luh shuh-MA(N) duh fehr)
 * ...the level crossing : ...le passage à niveau (luh pah-SAAZH-ah-NEE-vo)
 * ...the bridge : ... le pont (luh po(n))
 * ...the tunnel : ... le tunnel (luh tuu-nell)
 * ...the toll booth : le péage (luh pay-ahzh)
 * Queue : Bouchon (boo-sho(n))
 * Roadworks : Travaux (trah-vo)
 * Road closed : Route barrée (root BAH-ray)
 * Diversion : Déviation (day-vee-ah-SYO(N))

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Taxi ! (tahk-SEE!)
 * Take me to _____, please. : Déposez-moi à _____, je vous prie. (DAY-poh-zay-MWAH ah _____, zhuh voo PREE)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : Combien ça coûte d'aller à _____ ? (kahm-BYENG suh-LA koo-TEEL dah-LAY ah _____?)
 * Take me there, please. : Amenez-moi là, je vous prie. (AH-muh-nay-mwah LAH, zhuh voo PREE)
 * I want to get out here. : Je veux descendre ici. (zhuh vuh duh-SO(N)D-rr EE-SEE)
 * Thank you! Keep the change. : Merci ! Gardez la monnaie. (MERR-see GARR-day lah moh-NAY)

Lodging

 * Bed and breakfast : Chambres d'hôte (SHAHM-bruh dote)
 * Campsite : Camping (CAHM-ping)
 * Hotel : Hôtel (OH-tel)
 * Self-catering cottage / holiday rental : Gîte / Location de vacances (zheet / lo-cah-syo(n) duh vah-CAHNS)
 * (Youth) hostel : Auberge (de jeunesse) (oh-BAIRZH duh zheuh-NESS)
 * Do you have any rooms available? : Avez-vous des chambres libres ? (ah-veh VOO day SHAHM-bruh leeb)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Combien coûte une chambre pour une personne/deux personnes ? (com-BYA(N) coot uun SHAHM-bruh poor uun PAIR-son / duh PAIR-son)
 * Does the room come with... : Dans la chambre, y a-t-il... (dah(n) la SHAHM-bruh, ee-ya-tee)
 * ...bedsheets? : ...des draps de lit ? (...day dra duh lee?)
 * ...a bathroom? : ...une salle de bain ? (...uun sal duh bah(n)?)
 * ...a telephone? : ...un téléphone ? (...u(n) teh-leh-fone?)
 * ...a TV? : ...une télévision ? (...uun teh-leh-VEEZ-yo(n)?)
 * ...a refrigerator? : ...un réfrigérateur / un frigo ? (...u(n) ray-FREEZH-ay-rah-teur / u(n) FREE-go?)
 * ...a kettle? : ...une bouilloire ? (...uun boo-WEE-wah?)
 * May I see the room first? : Pourrais-je voir la chambre ? (poo-RAY zhuh vwaah la SHAHM-bruh?)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Avez-vous une chambre plus tranquille ? (ah-veh VOO uun SHAHM-bruh ploo trahn-KEE?)
 * ...bigger? : ...plus grande ? (ploo grahnd?)
 * ...cleaner? : ...plus propre? (ploo prop?)
 * ...cheaper? : ...moins chère? (mwahn shair?)
 * OK, I'll take it. : Bon, je la prends. (bo(n), zhuh lah proh(n))
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : Je compte rester pour _____ nuits. (zhuh compt REH-stay poor _____ nwee)
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Pourriez-vous me suggérer un autre hôtel ? (poo-REE-ay voo muh soo-ZHAY-ray u(n) OH-truh OH-tel ?)
 * Do you have a safe? : Avez-vous un coffre-fort ? (ah-veh VOO u(n) COFF-ruh-FOR?)
 * ...lockers? : ...un vestiaire ? (u(n) ves-tee-AIR?)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : Le petit-déjeuner/le dîner est-il compris ? (luh puh-TEE DAY-zhuh-nay / luh DEE-nay eh-TEE com-PREE?)
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : À quelle heure est servi le petit-déjeuner/le dîner ? (ah kell euhrr eh SAIR-vee luh puh-TEE DAY-zhuh-nay / luh DEE-nay?)
 * Please clean my room. : Veuillez faire le ménage. (vuh-YEH fair luh MEH-naazh)
 * Can you wake me at _____? : Pourriez-vous me réveiller à _____? (poo-REE-ay voo muh REH-veh-yeh ah _____? )
 * You have a bedbug / cockroach / fly / mouse infestation here. : Vous êtes envahi de punaises / blattes / mouches / souris ici. (voo ZET O(N)-vah-YEE duh poo-NEZ / blat / moosh / soo-REE ee-see)
 * I want to check out. : Je voudrais régler la note. (zhuh VOO-dray REH-glay lah note)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : Acceptez-vous les dollars américains/australiens/canadiens ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO leh doh-LAHR ah-may-ree-KANG/aws-trah-LYAHNG/kah-nah-DYAHNG?)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : Acceptez-vous les livres Sterling ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO leh leevr stehr-LING?)
 * Do you accept euros? : Acceptez-vous les euros ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO lehz-OO-roh)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit ? (ahk-sep-tay VOO leh kahrt duh kray-DEE?)
 * Can you change it (the money) for me? : Pouvez-vous me le faire changer ? (poo-vay-VOO muh luh fehr SHAHNZHAY?)
 * Where can I get it (the money) changed? : Où puis-je le faire changer ? (oo PWEEZH luh fehr SHAHNZHAY?)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Pouvez-vous me faire le change sur un chèque de voyage ? (poo-vay-VOO muh fehr luh SHAHNZH suur ung shek duh vwoy-AHZH?)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Où puis-je changer un chèque de voyage ? (oo PWEEZH shahng-ZHAY ung shek duh vwoy-AHZH?)
 * What is the exchange rate? : Quel est le taux de change ? (KELL eh luh TAW duh SHAHNZH?)
 * Where can I find a cash point / ATM? : Où puis-je trouver un distributeur de billets ? (oo PWEEZH troo-VAY ung dees-tree-buu-TEUR duh bee-YAY?)

Eating

 * A table for one / two. : Une table pour une personne / deux personnes. (uun TAH-bluh poor oon PAIR-son / duh PAIR-son)
 * I'd like to reserve a table for tonight/tomorrow. : Je voudrais réserver une table pour ce soir/demain. (zhuh voo-DREH REH-sair-VEH uun TAH-bluh poor suh SWAAH / duh-MAHN(G))
 * set menu : menu (muh-NUU)
 * à la carte : à la carte (ah lah KAHRT)
 * the dish of the day : le plat du jour (luh PLA duu ZHOOR)
 * serves food all day : service continu (SAIR-vees con-tee-NOO)
 * breakfast : France: petit-déjeuner (ptee-day-zheu-NAY); Switzerland/Belgium/Canada: déjeuner (day-zheu-NAY)
 * lunch : France: déjeuner (day-zheu-NAY); Elsewhere: dîner (dee-NAY)
 * dinner/supper : France: dîner (dee-NAY); Elsewhere: souper (soo-PAY)
 * I would like _____. : Je voudrais _____. (zhuh voo-DREH _____)
 * something local : un plat typique (de la région) (uhn pla tee-PEEK (duh lah RAY-zhyong))
 * I would like a dish containing _____. : Je voudrais un plat avec _____. (zhuh voo-DREHZ ung plaht ah-VEK _____)
 * meat : de la viande (duh lah vee-AWND)
 * chicken : du poulet / de la volaille (duu poo-LEH / duh lah voh-LIE)
 * Note: volaille literally means "poultry", but nearly always means "chicken" on menus

 * turkey : de la dinde (duh lah DAND)
 * duck : du canard (duu can-AR)
 * lamb : de l'agneau (duh LAN-yo)
 * pork : du porc / du cochon (duu POHR/duu coh-SHONG).
 * ham : du jambon (duu zhahng-BONG)
 * beef : du bœuf (duu BUFF)

 * steak : du steak / du bifteck (duu stek / duu BEEF-tek)
 * sausage : des saucisses (hot) / du saucisson (cold) (deh saw-SEESS / duu saw-see-SON)
 * game: du gibier (duu ZHI-bee-ay)
 * Note: gibier may also mean specifically venison

 * boar : du sanglier (duu sahng-GLYAY)
 * venison : du cerf / du chevreuil / de la venaison (duu SEHR / duu shev-REUY / duh lah vu-NAY-so(n))
 * rabbit: du lapin (duu lap-ANG)
 * fish : du poisson (duu pwa-SONG)
 * salmon : du saumon (duu saw-MONG)
 * tuna : du thon (duu TONG)
 * whiting : du merlan (duu mehr-LANG)
 * cod : de la morue (duh lah moh-RUU)
 * seabass : du loup (de mer) / du bar (duu LOO (duh MAIR) / duu BARR)
 * seafood : des fruits de mer (deh frwee duh MEHR); literally: "fruits of the sea"
 * dulse : de la dulse (duh lah DUULS)
 * lobster : du homard (duu oh-MAR), de la langouste (duh lah lan-goost) (rock lobster)
 * clams : des palourdes (deh pah-LOORD)
 * oysters : des huîtres (dez WEETR)
 * mussels : des moules (deh MOOL)
 * scallops : des coquilles Saint-Jacques (deh kok-EE-sah(n)-ZHAK)
 * snails : des escargots (dez es-car-GOH)
 * frogs' legs : des cuisses de grenouille (deh gruh-NOOEY)
 * cheese : du fromage (duu froh-MAHZH)
 * cow's cheese : du fromage de lait de vache (duu froh-MAHZH duh leh duh vash)
 * goat's / sheep's cheese : du fromage de chèvre / de brebis (duu froh-MAHZH duh SHEV-ruh / duh bruh-BEE)
 * eggs : des œufs (dehz UH)
 * one egg : un œuf (un UF)
 * (fresh) vegetables : des légumes (frais) (deh lay-guum (FREH))
 * onions : des oignons (DEZ-on-yon)
 * carrots : des carottes (deh kah-ROT)
 * peas : des (petits) pois (deh (PUH-tee) PWAH)
 * broccoli : du brocoli (duu broh-COLEE)
 * sweetcorn : du maïs (duu my-YEES)
 * mushrooms : des champignons (deh SHAM-pee-nyon)
 * cabbage : du chou (duu shoo)
 * spinach : des épinards (DEZ-ep-ee-NARR)
 * green / French beans : des haricots verts (DEZ-ah-REE-ko VAIRR)
 * white / haricot beans : des haricots blancs (DEZ-ah-REE-ko BLAWNG)
 * Brussels sprouts : des choux de Bruxelles (deh shoo duh bruu-SEL)
 * lentils : des lentilles (deh lon-TEE)
 * potatoes : des pommes de terre (deh POM-duh-TAIR)
 * French fries : des frites (day freet)
 * (fresh) fruit : des fruits (frais) (deh frwee (freh))
 * an apple : une pomme (uun pom)
 * a pear : une poire (uun pwarr)
 * a plum : une prune (uun pruun)
 * a peach : une pêche (uun pesh)
 * grapes : des raisins (deh RAY-zan)
 * cherries : des cerises (deh suh-REEZ)
 * an orange : une orange (uun oh-RAWNZH)
 * a banana : une banane (uun bah-NAN)
 * a mango : une mangue (uun mawngg)
 * a lemon : un citron (un SEE-trong)
 * a lime : un citron vert / un limon / une lime (un SEE-trong vair / un LEE-mon / uun leem)
 * berries : des fruits rouges (deh frwee roozh)
 * strawberries : des fraises (deh frez)
 * raspberries : des framboises (deh from-BWAHZ)
 * blackberries : des mûres (deh muur)
 * blueberries : des myrtilles (deh MIRR-tee)
 * blackcurrant : des cassis (deh kah-SEES)
 * a salad : une salade (uun sah-LAHD)
 * cucumber : du concombre (duu cong-COMBRR)
 * tomatoes : des tomates (deh toh-MAT)
 * lettuce : de la laitue (duh lah LEH-tuu)
 * red / yellow / green pepper : du poivron rouge / jaune / vert (duu PWAH-vrong roozh / zhoan / vairr)
 * spring onions : des oignons nouveaux (DEZ-on-YONG NOO-vo)
 * radish : du radis (duu RAH-dee)
 * chives : de la ciboulette (duh lah SEE-boo-LET)
 * mixed herbs : des herbes de Provence (dez-AIRB-duh-pro-VAWNSS)
 * bread : du pain (duu pang)
 * toast : des toasts (''deh toast
 * (milky) coffee : du café (au lait) (duu kah-FAY (oh LEH))
 * Note: Coffee will always be served black unless you ask for milk

 * tea : du thé (duu tay)
 * juice : du jus (duu zhuu)
 * milk : du lait (duu leh)
 * fresh / sparkling water : de l'eau plate / gazeuse (duh loh PLAT / gah-ZUHZ)
 * Note: If you ask for "water", you will get mineral water. To specify "tap water", say "eau du robinet" (OH duu roh-bee-NEH) or ask for a jug of water "une carafe d'eau" (uun cahr-AHF doh).

 * (draught) beer : de la bière (pression) (duh lah byehr)
 * red / white / rosé wine : du vin rouge / blanc / rosé (duu vang roozh / blahng / ro-ZAY)
 * May I have some _____? : Puis-je avoir _____ ? (pweezh ah-VWAHR duu)
 * salt : du sel (duu sel)
 * black pepper : du poivre (duu pwavr)
 * garlic : de l'ail (duh lie)
 * butter : du beurre (duu bur)
 * olive oil : de l'huile d'olive (duh LWEEL-doh-LEEV)
 * ketchup/mayonnaise/mustard/alioli : du ketchup / de la mayonnaise / de la moutarde / de l'aïoli (duu KECH-up / duh lah MIE-oh-NEZ / duh lah MOO-tard / duh LIE-oh-lee)
 * Excuse me, waiter / waitress? : S'il vous plaît, monsieur / madame ? (seell voo PLEH muh-SYUH/ma-DAHM)
 * Note: "garçon" (boy) is offensive and should be avoided.

 * I'm finished. : J'ai terminé. (zhay TAIRH-mee-NAY)
 * It was delicious. : C'était délicieux. (seh-tay de-li-SYUH)
 * Can you please clear the plates? : Pouvez-vous débarrasser la table, s'il vous plaît ? (poovay voo DEH-bahr-a-seh lah tah-bluh seel voo play)
 * The check (bill), please. : L'addition, s'il vous plaît. (lah-dee-SYOHN seel voo play)

Dietary requirements

 * I am _____. : Je suis _____. (zhuh swee)
 * ...vegan : végétalien (vey-zhey-tal-YENG) (m); végétalienne (vey-zhey-tal-YEN) (f)
 * ...vegetarian : végétarien (vey-zhey-tar-YENG) (m); végétarienne (vey-zhey-tar-YEN) (f)
 * I do not eat eggs, milk, or cheese. : Je ne mange pas d'œufs, de lait ni de fromage. (zhuh nuh monzh pah dooh, duh leh, nee duh froh-MAHZH)
 * I do not eat meat, chicken, or pork. : Je ne mange pas de viande, de poulet, ni de porc. (zhuh nuh monzh pah duh vee ahnd, duh poo-LEH, nee duh pohr)
 * I do not eat _____. : Je ne mange pas_____. (zhuh nuh monzh pah)
 * ...honey. : de miel. (duh mee ehl)
 * ...animal products. : de produits animaux. (duh pro-dweez-ah-nee-mo)
 * ...dairy. : de laitage. (duh leh tazh)
 * ...wheat. : de blé. (duh blay)
 * ...seafood. : de fruits de mer. (duh frwee duh MEHR)
 * ...nuts. : de noix (duh nwaah)
 * ...gluten : de gluten (duh gluu-TEN)
 * I do eat _____. : Je mange _____. (zhuh monzh)
 * ...grains. : des céréales. (deh say-ray-ahl)
 * ...vegetables. : des légumes. (deh lay-guum)
 * ...beans. : des fèves. (deh fehv)
 * ...fruit : des fruits. (deh frwee)
 * I only eat kosher / halal food. : Je ne mange que de la nourriture kasher (casher, cachère) / halal. (zhuh nuh monzh kuh duh la noo-ri-toor CASH-eh / alal)
 * I am allergic to... : Je suis allergique à... (zhuh sweez ah-lair-ZHEEK ah...)

Bars

 * A table for one / two. : Une table pour une personne / deux personnes. (uun TAH-bluh poor oon PAIR-son / duh PAIR-son)
 * Do you serve alcohol? : Servez-vous des boissons alcoolisées ? (sair-vay VOO day bwa-songz al-co-ol-ee-SAY)
 * Is there table service? : Est-ce que vous servez à la table ? (ess-kuh voo ser-VAYZ ah lah TAHBL?)
 * A beer/two beers, please. : Une bière/deux bières, s'il vous plaît. (uun BYEHR/deuh BYEHR, seel voo PLEH)
 * A draught beer, please. : Une pression, s'il vous plaît (uun pres-SYON, seel voo PLEH)
 * A glass of red/white/rosé/sparkling wine, please. :Un verre de vin rouge/blanc/rosé/pétillant, s'il vous plaît. (an ver duh van rooj / blan / ro-ZAY / PET-ee-YAUN, seel voo PLEH)
 * A quarter litre of beer, please : Un demi, s'il-vous-plaît. (an deh-mee, seel voo PLEH)
 * A pint, please. : Une pinte, s'il vous plaît. (uun pannt, seel-voo-PLEH)
 * A bottle, please. : Une bouteille, s'il vous plaît. (uun boo-tay, seel voo PLEH)
 * _____ (spirit) and _____ (mixer), please. :_____ et _____, s'il vous plaît. (____ eh ____, seel voo PLEH)
 * whisky : whisky (m.) (wee-skee)
 * vodka : vodka (f.) (VOD-kah)
 * rum : rhum (m.) (room)
 * cider : cidre (m.) (seedr)
 * water : eau (f.) (oh)
 * club soda : soda (m.) (so-dah)
 * tonic water : Schweppes (m. or f.) (shwep)
 * orange juice : jus d'orange (m.) (joo d'or-AHNJ)
 * Coke (soda) : Coca (m.) (koh-KAH)
 * One more, please. : Un/une autre, s'il vous plaît. (uhn / uun OH-truh, seel-voo-PLEH)
 * Another round, please. : Un autre pour la table, s'il vous plaît. (ahn OH-truh poor la tah-bluh, seel voo PLEH)
 * When is closing time? : À quelle heure fermez-vous ? (ah kell EUR fer-MAY voo)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Avez-vous ceci dans ma taille ? (AH-veh-VOO say-SEE dan sma THAI)
 * How much (is this)? : Combien (ça) coûte ? (COMM-bee-yan (SAH) coot)
 * That's too expensive. : C'est trop cher. (say-TRO-shair)
 * Would you take _____? : Pourriez-vous accepter _____ ? (poor-yay-VOOZ ahk-sep-TAY)
 * expensive : cher (shehr)
 * cheap :bon marché (bong mar-SHAY) (Note: this doesn't change with the gender or number of the noun. Elles sont bon marché is correct.)
 * I can't afford it. : Je n'ai pas les moyens. (zhe nay pah leh mwah-YAHNG)
 * I don't want it. : Je n'en veux pas. (zhe nahng veu pah)
 * You're cheating me. : Vous me trompez. (voo muh TROM-pay)
 * I'm not interested. : Je ne suis pas intéressé. (zhen swee pahz-ann-tay-ress-SAY)
 * OK, I'll take it. : D'accord, je le/la prends. (dah-kor zhe luh/lah prahn)
 * Can I have a bag? : Pourrais-je avoir un sac ? (poo-REHZH ah-VWAR ung sahk)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Livrez-vous (outre-mer/à l'étranger) ? (leev-ray-VOO ootr-MEHR/ah lay-trahn-ZHAY)
 * I need... : J'ai besoin... (zhay buh-ZWAHN)
 * ...toothpaste. : ...de dentifrice. (duh dahn-tee-FREESS)
 * ...a toothbrush. : ...d'une brosse à dents. (duun bross ah DAHN)
 * ...tampons. : ...de tampons. (duh tahm-POHN)
 * ...soap. : ...de savon. (duh sah-VOHN)
 * ...shampoo. : ...de shampooing. (duh shahm-PWAHN)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...d'un analgésique (aspirine, ibuprofène);. (dun ah-nal-zhay-ZEEK (ahs-pee-REEN/ee-buu-proh-FEN))
 * ...cold medicine. :...d'un médicament pour le rhume. (dun may-dee-kah-MAHNG poor luh RUUM)
 * ...stomach medicine. :...d'un remède pour l'estomac. (dun ray-MED poor less-toh-MAHK)
 * ...an antihistamine :...d'un antihistaminique (dun on-tee-STAM-eek)
 * ...a razor. :...d'un rasoir. (dun rah-ZWAR)
 * ...batteries. : ...de piles. (duh PEEL)
 * ...a SIM card. : ...d'une carte SIM (duun cahrrt seem)
 * ...an umbrella. (rain) : ...d'un parapluie. (duun pah-ra-ploo-ee)
 * ...an umbrella. (sun) : ...d'une ombrelle. (duun ohm-brehl)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...de crème solaire. (duh crehm so-LEHR)
 * ...a postcard. : ...d'une carte postale. (duun kahrt post-AL)
 * ...postage stamps. : ...de timbres. (duh TAHM-burs)
 * ...writing paper. : ...de papier à lettres. (duh pap-YEH ah LEH-TR)
 * ...a pen. :...d'un stylo. (dun STEE-loh)
 * ...English-language books. : ...de livres en anglais. (duh LEE-vruh-zahn ahngh-LEH)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ...de revues en anglais. (duh REH-voo-zahn ahngh-LEH)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ...d'un journal en anglais. (dun zhoar-NAL ahn ahng-LEH)
 * ...a French-English dictionary. :...d'un dictionnaire français-anglais. (dun deect-see-ohn-AIR frahn-SEH ahng-LEH)

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : Je n'ai rien fait de mal. (zhuh nay ree-AHN fay duh MAL)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : C'est une erreur. (set uhn air-UR)
 * Where are you taking me? : Où m'emmenez-vous ? (ooh mehm-en-EH voo)
 * Am I under arrest? : Suis-je en état d'arrestation ? (SWEEZH ahn EH-tah dahr-es-ta-SYONG)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (m) : Je suis un citoyen américain/australien/britannique/canadien. (zhuh sweez uhn see-twa-YEN a-may-ree-CAN/os-trah-LYEN/bree-tah-NEEK/ka-na-DYEN)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (f) : Je suis une citoyenne américaine/australienne/britannique/canadienne. (zhuh sweez uhn see-twa-YEN a-may-ree-CAN/os-trah-LYEN/bree-tah-NEEK/ka-na-DYEN)
 * I want to speak to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy or consulate. : Je veux parler à l'ambassade ou au consulat américain/australien/britannique/canadien. (ZHUH vuh pahr-LAY ah lahm-ba-SAHD oo oh kon-soo-LAHT a-may-ree-CAN/os-trah-lee-AHN/ahn-GLEH/ka-na-DYAN)
 * I want to speak to a lawyer. : Je voudrais parler à un avocat. (ZHUH vood-RAY par-lehr ah uhn AH-vo-cah)
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Pourrais-je simplement payer une amende ? (poo-RAYZH sampl-MANG pay-AY yn ah-MAHND)
 * [offering bribe] Will you accept this in place of my fine? : Acceptez-vous ceci au lieu de mon amende ? (accept-eh voo suh-see oh LOO duh mon ah-MAND)
 * Note: Only consider attempting this in third world countries. Do not try to do this in European Francophone countries or in Canada as it will get you in worse trouble!

title: French phrasebook


text:
French Polynesia

French Polynesia (French: Polynésie française) is a collection of over 100 islands halfway between California and Australia in the South Pacific Ocean. It is an overseas country (pays d'outre-mer) governed by France. French Polynesia is and has been the dream destination of travellers for many decades; you don't get much more beautiful, or expensive, than this.

Understand
French Polynesia is an ambient paradise of the South Pacific. It includes picturesque blue waters, moss-green peaks, turquoise lagoons and a traditional culture in an overseas territory.

Tahiti and its islands cover 4 million km² of ocean, which is the same area as the European Union. The land above sea level accounts for some 7,000 km² consisting of 118 islands, grouped into 5 archipelagos (4 volcanic, 1 coral).

The French government administers education, justice, defence and internal security, while a local parliament takes care of other day-to-day affairs.

Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean, the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru.

Climate
Tropical, but moderate. Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January. Very humid.

The average ambient temperature is 27°C (80°F) and the waters of the lagoons average 26°C (79°F) in the winter and 29°C (84°F) in the summer. But most resorts and hotel rooms are air-conditioned or cooled by ceiling fans.

Summer is from November to April, with a warmer and more humid climate and winter is from May through October, when the climate is slightly cooler and drier. When you step out of the aircraft, you'll immediately notice that the air is warm and humid.

Terrain
Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs.

Highest point : Mont Orohena 2,241 m (6790 ft)

Diverse landscapes:
 * Valleys cut by rivers and waterfalls
 * Crests leading to summits attaining heights of more than 2,000 m (6,500 ft)
 * Seashore paths bordering remote creeks overshadowed by cliffs.

History
Since Polynesia was one of the last places on earth to be settled by humans, the Polynesians had only inhabited these islands for less than a thousand years before their "discovery" by western explorers. Several marae (religious sites) still exist, scattered throughout the islands as evidence of this inhabitation.

The British discovered Tahiti in the mid 1760s and Captain Cook visited there in 1769 to observe the Transit of Venus before sailing on to the south and west in search of the fabled Terra Australus Incognita with the assistance of a Polynesian navigator.

The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the French conducted atmospheric nuclear tests in the islands, primarily at Mururoa atoll. Testing later moved underground after international protests from other Pacific countries, including a flotilla of yachts and a warship from New Zealand to monitor tests in 1974. Testing continued into the early 1990s, despite attempts to disrupt them by environmental activists. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.

The islanders have been working towards autonomy and economic independence from France. However, the process is a gradual one and is expected to take a decade or two to occur.

Cities

 * - capital, which is on the island of Tahiti.

Other destinations

 * - far to the east, closer to Mexico, is administered directly by the Ministry of Overseas France
 * - remote atoll

Entry requirements
Nationals of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Caledonia and Norway only need a valid passport for entry — in no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length. Unlike metropolitan France, Swiss nationals are only visa-exempt in French Polynesia for a stay of up to 90 days and do require a visa for a stay exceeding 90 days.

Nationals of all other countries will need a valid passport for entry to French Polynesia and most will need a visa. Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days: Albania (note 1), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (note 1), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Montenegro (note 1), Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia (note 1), Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia (notes 1 and 2), Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan (note 3), Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, as well as persons holding British National (Overseas), Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR passports. In addition, holders of a valid residence permit issued by the Préfet of a French overseas département, the High Commissioner of a French territorial collectivity or a Schengen state and holders of a special card issued by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to the staff of diplomatic and consular missions can stay in French Polynesia visa-free for up to 90 days.

Citizens of Albania1, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina1, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro1, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia1,2, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Taiwan3, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vatican City, and British Nationals (Overseas), are permitted to work in French Polynesia without the need to obtain a visa or any further authorisation for the period of their 90 day visa-free stay. Holders of a valid residence permit issued by the Préfet of a French overseas département, the High Commissioner of a French territorial collectivity or a Schengen state and holders of a special card issued by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to the staff of diplomatic and consular missions are also permitted to work during their 90 day visa-free stay.

If you are required to obtain a visa for French Polynesia, you can apply for one at a French embassy or consulate in your country of residence. A visa costs €9.

For more information on entry requirements, visit this webpage of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories citizens connected to Gibraltar are considered "United Kingdom nationals for European Union purposes" and therefore eligible for unlimited access to French Polynesia. British Overseas Territories citizens without the right of abode in the United Kingdom, British subjects without the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and British Overseas citizens and British protected persons in general require visas. However, all British Overseas Territories citizens except those solely connected to the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas are eligible for British citizenship and thereafter unlimited access to French Polynesia.

Notes:
 * 1 Nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia must have a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel.
 * 2 Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passports) require a visa .
 * 3 Taiwan nationals must have their ID number stipulated in their passport to enjoy visa-free travel.

By plane
French Polynesia has a very remote position in the South Pacific Ocean, so unless you are already there, flying is the main option.

The flag carrier of French Polynesia is Air Tahiti Nui and the main airport is the Faa'a International Airport built on the lagoon, about 5 km west of Papeete near several major hotels such as the InterContinental hotel. Air Tahiti Nui flies internationally to Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles, New York, Auckland, Sydney and Paris. They cooperate with Air France, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Vietnam Airlines, and Qantas. They no longer participate in either of the American Airlines Advantage or the Delta Air Lines frequent flyer program. Air New Zealand also has regular flights to Tahiti. LATAM flies twice a week from Easter Island, with connections on to Santiago.

Passengers arriving on international flights must collect their baggage, go through customs and then recheck-in at the domestic flight counters some 50 m to the right of the International arrivals area.

By boat
There are cruise ships on irregular schedules, and cargo ships on regular schedules travelling from Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia and Panamá. The islands are something of a hub for sailboats between South or Central America and Australasia, and it is not impossible to find passage for yourself on a yacht, but it is challenging.

Get around
The territory of French Polynesia has about the same surface as the European Union but the combined land area (all islands and atolls) is just about the size of Mallorca. Most people live on the two islands of Tahiti and Moorea. These islands have street networks and public transport (including good touristic infrastructure). To jump from island to island there are different options:

By plane
Air Tahiti offers domestic flights to other destinations in French Polynesia. Charters flights such as Air Archipel are available on request. Helicopters are another option. Air Tahiti operates 11 turboprop aircraft (four ATR42-500 with 48 seats, five ATR72-500 with 66 seats, one Beechcraft with 8 seats and one Twin Otter with 19 seats). Most of the inter-islands flights in the Marquesas are operated with Twin Otters.

Air Tahiti offers several types of Air Tahiti Airpasses: Extensions to the Marguesas cost €459 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €636 with 50 kg baggage allowance, and to the Austral Islands €262 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €361 with 50 kg baggage allowance (rates of 2010). Passes start and usually end at Tahiti or Moorea. The itinerary does not need to cover all the islands of the Pass. All flights must be reserved and confirmed. The full journey must not exceed 28 days. The islands of one archipelago must be visited before moving to the next archipelago (e.g. islands of the Society archipelago must be visited before those of the Tuamotu archipelago). The islands within an archipelago can be visited in any order. Stopover or transit in Tahiti within the Pass is not allowed, except for the Lagons Pass between Moorea and the islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, for a Pass with Extension, between the Pass and the Extension, where a maximum of 24 hr transit in Tahiti is permitted. Only one stop per island (of more than 24 hr) is allowed. A transit (less than 24 hours) with a flight number change is considered as stopover. Exception: change of flight number with a transit of less than 2 hours in Rangiroa on Bora Bora to Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava or vice-versa flights. Change of reservations is not permitted after the Pass has been issued. Air Tahiti suggests the following multi-island itineraries:
 * Discovery Pass, covering Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea: €253 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €316 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
 * Bora Bora Pass, covering Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Maupiti: €367 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €460 with 50 kg baggage allowance from Jan 1 to 10, Jun to Oct and Dec 11 to 31, €347 with 20kg baggage allowance, €435 with 50 kg baggage allowance from Jan 11 to 31, Feb to May, Nov 1 until Dec 10,
 * Lagons Pass, covering Moorea, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakareva and Ahe: €378 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €487 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
 * Bora Tuamotu Pass, covering Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakareva and Ahe: €498 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €640 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
 * Marquesas Pass, covering Nuku Hiva, Atuona, Ua Pou, Ua Huka: €666 with 20kg baggage allowance (not available with 50 kg baggage allowance),
 * Austral Pass, covering Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rimatara: €491 with 20 kg baggage allowance, €630 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
 * Society Archipelago:
 * 2 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Bora Bora (or Huahine or Raiatea) - Tahiti
 * 3 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Raiatea (or Huahine or Maupiti) - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine - Bora Bora - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Moorea - Bora Bora - Raiatea - Tahiti
 * 4 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine - Raiatea - Bora Bora - Tahiti
 * 5 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine) - Raiatea - Bora Bora - Tahiti
 * Society Islands and North Tuamotu:
 * 2 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
 * 3 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Rangiroa - Manihi (or Fakarava or Tikehau) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Moorea (or Huahine, Raiatea or Maupiti) - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
 * 4 isllands: Tahiti- Moorea - Huahine Or Raiatea) - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
 * North Tuamotu Archipelago:
 * 2 islands: Tahiti - Rangiroa - Tikehau (or Fakarava or Manihi) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Ahe (or Tikehau) - Manihi - Tahiti
 * 3 islands: Tahiti - Tinehau (or Manihi) - Rangiroa - Fakareva (or Tikehau) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Fakarava - Rangiroa - Manihi - Tahiti
 * 4 islands: Tahiti on F - Ahe on Su - Manihi (on Tu or W) - Rangiroa (on F or Sa) - Fakarava - Tahiti
 * Marquesas Archipelago:
 * 2 islands: Tahiti - Nuku Hiva - Hiva Oa (Atuona) (or Ua Huka or Ua Pou) - Tahiti
 * 3 islands: Tahiti - Hiva Oa ((Atuona) - Ua Huka (or Ua Pou) - Nuku Hiva - Tahiti
 * 4 islands: Tahiti - Hiva Oa ((Atuona) - Ua Huka - Ua Pou) - Nuku Hiva - Tahiti
 * Society Islands - Tuamotu - Marquesas:
 * 4 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora -Rangiroa - Nuku Hiva - Atuona - Tahiti
 * Austral Archipelago:
 * 2 islands: Tahiti -Rurutu - Tubuai (or Rimatara) - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Tubuai - Raivavae - Tahiti
 * 4 islands: Tahiti (on M) - Raivavae (on W) - Tubuai (on F) - Rurutu (on M) - Rimatara (on W) - Tahiti

Check-in at the airports begins 1 hour and closes 20 min before departure time (except for flights to Rarotonga where check-in begins 2 hr and closes 45 min before departure time).

By boat

 * Ferries (sometimes combined cargo and passenger boats like the Aranui) travel between most islands. Catamarans and ferry boats cross between Tahiti and Moorea several times a day. Schooners and cargo boats serve all the inhabited islands from Papeete. Rotations vary according to the destinations: from three times a week to the Society Islands to once monthly to the Island of Mangareva.
 * Two cruise ships/luxury liners ply the islands: the Paul Gauguin, which does a regular 7-day trip around the Societies, with occasional trips out to the Tuamotus, Marquesas and Cook Islands; and the Tahitian Princess which does similar itineraries. A great way to see the islands, unless you're on a tight budget. The Bora Bora Cruises is a more intimate vessel based in the Leeward Islands. Or for more adventure, embark on the Aranui III.
 * Yacht charter Polynesia Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to luxury yacht in French Polynesia. Operating from different offices worldwide (UK, USA, Hong Kong, Dubai, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland).

Talk
The official languages are French and Tahitian with French being the language of business and government and Tahitian being the language of day-to-day discourse. English is also widely spoken particularly in tourist areas.

Polynesians appreciate any effort in trying to speak their language. The words below are the ones you might recognize during a conversation:

 * Aita = no
 * E = yes
 * Fare = house
 * Ia ora na = Good Morning or Hello
 * Ma'a = food
 * Maeva = welcome
 * Maita'i? = How are you?
 * Mauruuru = Thank you
 * Nana = Goodbye or See you later
 * Manuaia = Cheers or Toast!
 * Pape = water
 * Tama'a = Let's eat

Tahitians have a tendency to mix up French and Tahitian words in their conversation, so don't be surprised.

Be aware of the many dialects of which Polynesians are proud: Tahitian, Tuamotuan, Marquesan and Mangarevan (in the Gambier Islands). The inhabitants of each place often cannot communicate between each other in their respective languages.

In Tahiti

 * Pointe Venus was the site of Captain Cook's observatory, built to record the transit of Venus across the face of the sun to try to calculate the distance between the sun and earth. Today it's a popular, shaded black-sand beach overlooked by an impressive lighthouse.
 * The Gauguin Museum (Musée Gaugin), about 50 km from Papeete on Tahiti Nui, contains artefacts from Gauguin's time in Tahiti, including reproductions of many of his paintings. Open-air buildings and a gift shop are situated in a well-manicured lawn just next to the ocean, well away from the city and resorts. Botanical gardens are just next door.
 * The Museum of Tahiti and her Islands, about 15 km from Papeete, contains really great displays of Polynesian history, culture and ethnology. Anyone who is interested in anthropology or the history of the Polynesian culture should see this museum.
 * For pearl lovers, there is also the Robert Wan Pearl Museum in Tahiti.

Do
French Polynesia offers some spectacular diving and snorkeling. Divers can legitimately expect to see literally hundreds of fish and other marine species as they drift through the underwater canyons. There are diving centers on 11 of the 118 islands of French Polynesia. Moorea is known for sharks dives (reef sharks and lemon sharks here). Bora Bora has a breathtaking lagoon featuring manta rays and sharks on a coral wall.

Money
The CFP franc (called just franc locally, symbol F, ISO currency code XPF) is the currency used in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna. The initials CFP stand for Collectivités françaises du Pacifique ("French Communities of the Pacific"). It is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 119.33 francs. CFP coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 francs, and banknotes are in denominations of 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 francs. Coins and banknotes are identical across all three French Pacific territories. Before January 2023, New Caledonia and French Polynesia had their own distinct designs on the coin reverse sides, but these were withdrawn, and the 1 and 2 franc coins were discontinued.

Bank notes, international credit cards and traveller's cheques are accepted. The international banks with foreign exchange offices on Tahiti and the most frequently visited islands are the Bank of Tahiti, the Bank of Polynesia and Socredo. Banks will charge a commission fee for each exchange of, for example, 1,010 F. The exchange office at Papeete Fa'a'a airport charges only 700 F (Feb 2019), but the spread between its buy and sell rates is much wider than that of the banks. The euro is exchanged in banks and exchy bureaux at 119.33 F for €1 (buy or sell), so your only cost is the commission fee.

International hotels also provide currency exchange. Some atolls and islands in the Austral and Gambier group have no banking facilities.

Many businesses that deal with tourists, such as taxi drivers and souvenir vendors, will accept US dollars at a rate of 100 F to US$1 (Jan 2019).

Costs
Everything is very expensive in French Polynesia. Even budget accommodation is tough on the budget, as is food, even groceries. So if you visit, take lots of money, you will need it.

Jewellery
Black pearls are the high-end purchase in this part of the world. They are beautiful, and of varied quality, so buyer beware, and the sky's the limit. There are lots of inexpensive mother-of-pearl jewellery that make very nice gifts. Created only by the giant black-lipped oyster Pinctada margaritifera which thrives in the lagoons of the Tuamotu Archipelago, the rare Polynesian black pearl varies in colour from silver through dark grey with green and pink highlights. This Tahitian jewel makes an exquisite and unique souvenir. For visitors who wish to discover the secrets of Tahitian pearls, a visit to one of the pearl farms on the island of Rangiroa, in the Tuamotus, is an experience not to be missed.

Eat
Fine food in Tahiti and nearby islands is typically a natural style of cooking based on fresh products exotically blended. There is a presence of European cuisine within a tropical setting. Asian cooking has also added its own tastes and textures.

Fish of all kinds, whether tuna, bonito, mahimahi or the many varieties of lagoon fish are prepared in many different ways: roasted, boiled and raw.

The top-rated dishes are raw fish (poisson cru) a la tahitienne which is marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk and the very popular Chinese ma'a tinito (which is a mixture of pork, kidney beans, Chinese cabbage and macaroni.)

Family occasions and celebrations are the time for a huge tamara'a Tahiti (Tahitian-style feasts) where a meal consisting of suckling pig, fish, breadfruit, yams and fe'i bananas is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed in an earth-dug oven over layers of hot rocks. The larger hotels organize big buffet evenings that offer a vast panorama of local culinary delights accompanied by traditional dance performances.

Tourist-oriented restaurants will typically be quite expensive (hamburgers and pizzas from 1400 F, other mains starting at 2000 F), but you can also eat well at snacks (small restaurants) and roulottes (food trucks), where the locals eat. These will serve hamburgers for 700-800 F, steaks or chow mein for 1000 F, grilled mahi-mahi or tuna and poisson cru for 1200-1400 F (Jan 2019).

Tipping is not a custom in Tahiti or the nearby islands.

Drink
Bottles of water are readily available. Being a French territory, wine is common and easy to find. As this is a tropical island, a multitude of fruit juices from pineapple juice to coconut milk are to be found everywhere. Pineapple juice from Moorea is not to be missed! It is sometimes better to crack open your own coconut yourself and drain it for lunch. Orange juice is the states favorite drink and oranges are grown all along the coastlines.

If you're a fan of beer, the Hinano Beer will definitely be one you will like to taste and bring a few cans home.

Sleep
Around 50 international class hotels can be found on 12 islands covering three different archipelagoes - Society, Tuamotu and Marquesas. Although the islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora provide over 80% of hotel capacity, the lesser known islands are also opening top-of-the-range establishments.

Several international groups are established: InterContinental, Sofitel, Novotel, Meridien, Sheraton, Orient Express, Club Med and Radisson. Two local chains, Maitai and South Pacific Management, complete the hotel scene.

Although complying with international standards, Polynesian style has been respected in the overwater bungalows with the use of pandanus, bamboo and shell light fixtures. Some bungalows are fitted with glass-bottomed tables for watching the fishes without ever getting your feet wet.

For travellers who prefer the simplicity and authenticity of the local experience, family hotels are the ideal type of accommodation. The welcome is warm and friendly. Family hotels are divided into four categories: Bed and Breakfast, Holiday Family Homes, Family-run guest houses, Family hotels.
 * Bed and Breakfast: furnished bungalows limited to four dwelling units per home and able to accommodate twelve persons, equipped with bathrooms either private or shared.
 * Holiday family homes: furnished bungalows limited to nine dwelling units and able to accommodate twenty-seven persons, equipped with bathrooms and kitchenette.
 * Family-run guest houses: same as the above + breakfast and dinner service.
 * Family hotels: offers full board meal service and a la carte food menu.

Stay safe
Tahiti has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its territories. However, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occurs.

As an overseas territory of France, defense and law enforcement are provided by the French Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and Gendarmerie.

No vaccines are required.

Be sure to bring jelly-type sandals for walking amidst coral in the water and along the beaches or either old sneakers so you don't cut your feet on the coral or don't step on a stonefish.

Encounters with sharks in the lagoon will be most likely when scuba diving or even snorkelling but they are harmless. So are stingrays. However, be aware of moray eels which hide deep in the corals and are generally curious. Be sure to keep your fingers to yourself or risk a painful bite.

Stay healthy
Medical treatment is generally good. Two major hospitals as well as several private clinics provide 24-hour medical service.

No vaccines are required.

Take precautions against mosquito bites, as there have been outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus in the 2010s.

Tap water may or may not be drinkable depending on where you are in the territory. Bottled water is the safest option.

Respect
Tahitians are proud of their islands and happy to share their way of life with their guests in many ways. They are really relaxed, welcoming, and warm people who live according to the aita pea pea philosophy (meaning "no worries").

Please also respect the land and its diversity. Activities which include approaching whales and other marine mammals are regulated and authorizations from the environmental authorities are mandatory.

Connect
Internet access in Polynesia is provided by VINI (OPT), a subsidiary of the Post and Telecommunications Office, either by modem or by ADSL. For a short stay, a subscription-free connection is best. You can make the connection with the following information: Telephone # of the server: 36-88-88 - Log-in: anonymous - Password: anonymous. This type of modem connection is available in all archipelagos.

There are cyber-spaces on Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea and Rangiroa (about 250 F for a 15-minute connection.) Most of the hotels and some small hotels and pensions provide Internet access to their guests. On some islands, access is possible from post offices.

Iaoranet also provides Wi-Fi in the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea) as well as some of the Tuamotus (Fakarava, Manihi, Rangiroa), Gambiers (Mangareva), and Marquesas (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa). One hour costs about US$5, but blocks of time can be purchased online for as little as US$2 per hour. The service is slow but fairly reliable.

Mobile service is provided by Vodaphone and Vini. Vini sells a 6000 F Travel Card that provides 30 min of calls and 2 GB of data, or a 2050 F card that had no minutes and 500 MB of data, each valid for 28 days (Jan 2019).

Go next

 * You can hop on a direct flight to marvelous Easter Island from Tahiti (the only place in the world apart from Santiago where you can do this).
 * French Polynesia is one of the few places within practical sailing distance of the Pitcairn Islands.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: French Polynesia


text:
French River

French River is a municipality of 2,700 people (2016) in Northeastern Ontario.

Understand
The municipality comprises the communities of Alban, Bigwood, Chartrand Corner, Delamere, Dokis First Nation, French River Station, Happy Landing, Jamot, Monetville, Noëlville, North Monetville, Ouellette, Rutter, Sucker Creek Landing, and Wolseley Bay.

History
For thousands of years the First Nations (Aboriginal) people used the French River as a meeting place to exchange goods. Interesting journals were left on the shores dating back to the 1600s. Early Europeans explorers and missionaries paddled its waters and recorded their thoughts, their adventures through the dangerous rapids and rugged terrain and their contact with the Aboriginal people.

Because of its intriguing history, the French River has been designated a Canadian Heritage River. Today this 110-km waterway park from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay houses 230 campsites with plenty of fun for the family. French River Provincial Park offers a camping experience it the heart of nature! Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, angling and hunting are now popular activities on the river.

Get in
French River is 80 km from Sudbury and 80 km and can be reach by traveling south on Highway 69 and turning left on Highway 64. French River is a 122-km drive from Parry Sound, travelling north on Highway 69 and turning left onto Highway 64. The town can also be reached from North Bay with a 105-km drive by taking Highway 17 and a left on Highway 64. A branch of the Trans-Canada Highway passes through the area, traveling between Sudbury and Kanata (near Ottawa) on Highway 69 and 400, then Highway 12, then Highway 7, then Highway 417.

See
If heights are not your issue, you’ll want to cross the French River Bridge, Canada's largest cable-supported snowmobile bridge. It has a span of over 90 m and rises to 14 m above the French River’s water level to provide visitors a bird’s eye view. Come trek the paths of the Voyageurs in French River!

Do
The French River enjoys a well-deserved reputation for its quality of fishing experiences. The areas vast array of lodging from remote camping to full services lodges and everything in between will provide a great base to discover and explore the timeless beauty of the French and Pickerel River systems.

Connect
French River Resorts Association Website: https://www.frenchriverresorts.com/

title: French River


text:
French Riviera

Located on the French coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur) has the glitz and glamour rivalled by few places on earth.

Although the Riviera is famous for the glamour of St. Tropez, Monaco or the Cannes Film Festival, there are many other less well known attractions, such as the perched villages of Èze and Gourdon, the perfumeries of Grasse and the glass blowers of Biot, the potters in Vallauris. The Riviera has been the inspiration for many well-known artists such as Picasso and Matisse, and many of their works are on display in local museums and art galleries.

One big problem that the Riviera faces is its popularity. During the summer months (July/August particularly) the Riviera is a crowded mess - particularly on the strip of land between the A8 Autoroute and the coast - and events such as the Film Festival drive up the prices of just about everything. On the other hand even in August the lesser known attractions such as the Gorges du Loup and Gourdon are far less chaotic.

Inland

 * and area (Châteaneuf, Opio, Mouans-Sartoux)
 * and Sophia Antipolis
 * (Gourdon, Le Bar-sur-Loup, Tourrettes-sur-Loup etc.)
 * Ski resorts
 * and Sophia Antipolis
 * (Gourdon, Le Bar-sur-Loup, Tourrettes-sur-Loup etc.)
 * Ski resorts
 * Ski resorts
 * Ski resorts
 * Ski resorts
 * Ski resorts
 * Ski resorts

Get in
The Riviera is well served with roads and railways, and Nice Airport is one of the busiest in France.

By car
If you are travelling by car then you should probably arrive using the A8 motorway from Aix-en-Provence or from Italy. The French department name for this region is Alpes Maritimes and the back country is extremely hilly. Driving from Geneva, Avignon or Turin as the crow flies is extremely scenic - however it is also mountainous, slow and not for those who suffer from car-sickness.

By train
Major towns such as Cannes and Nice are also served by express trains from Paris as well as (for Nice) trains from Genoa and other places in Italy. While Nice and Cannes themselves are not on a high speed line, Marseille is. This means that the trip from Paris to Marseille takes only three hours, whereas the rest of the trip to your ultimate destination can take two hours or more. Due to competition from low service airlines as well as political considerations, SNCF (the French state owned railways) often offers very cheap fares from northern France. Booking in advance comes highly recommended, as many offers sell out quickly. If you are coming from London, you can take a direct Eurostar (remember to be at the station half an hour or more prior to departure for passport control) to Marseille from where it is another two hours on a French train to Nice.

Get around
The Riviera has an adequate bus and train service. Most towns and villages also have taxis. However if you intend to do a lot of sightseeing between towns relatively far from one another as opposed to just lying on the beach or sightseeing in and around one of the larger cities, then you should probably have your own vehicle, despite the dangers of driving here.

By car
Driving a car on the Riviera is only for the brave, the region has one of the worst accident records in France (which is saying something) and every local has his or her favourite story about a mad driver. At vacation times the driving situation is exacerbated by the hordes of tourists from different countries who have completely different driving styles.

The primary artery is the A8 Autoroute which stretches from the Italian border (there is an Italian Autostrada the other side) to Aix/Marseille. The A8 stays close to the coast from Cannes to Italy; west of Cannes, it heads more inland with a spur down to Toulon. Between Cannes and Italy there are a number of "Penetrantes" - that is roads that penetrate inland from the A8 towards (and through) the mountains. Apart from the penetrantes and the A8 most roads are narrow, very curvy and hilly when inland and extremely crowded when by the coast. It can be very pleasant to drive these roads as part of a tour but if speed is required it is generally quicker to take the indirect route using the A8.

One additional feature of the roads of this region is that the builders seem to like roundabouts (traffic circles). This leads to two problems - firstly there seem to be a considerable number of people who seem unable to grasp the concept and do unexpected things such as reversing and secondly many of them are wrongly cambered which means that if you take them too fast you end up skidding off the side.

If you drive into Monaco you can in fact drive most of the Grand Prix circuit but do NOT try racing it - the Monaco police do not have a sense of humour. On the way to Monaco you can drive the roads where James Bond has exciting encounters with Russian secret agents and where Princess Grace died.

Although the police are cracking down on drunk drivers, many drivers especially late on Friday night are clearly less than 100%. Driving defensively is a really good idea.

Finally, the French government is introducing speed cameras around France, and there are a few cameras along the highway.

By train
There is one main line from Italy via Monaco/Nice/Cannes and then off towards Marseille. If you must visit Cannes during the Film Festival or Monaco during the Grand Prix then it is strongly advised to take the train from some station a little distance away. The train gets you into the middle of the action and you don't have to find a parking space or battle with 50,000 other people trying to get down the limited access routes. Unfortunately this does not work if you wish to visit St. Tropez because there is no train to it.

In addition to the mainline there are two scenic branch lines - from Nice to Cuneo and Nice to Digne. In addition, there is a branch line from Cannes to Grasse, which is especially convenient for people who wish to avoid driving into Cannes.

By bus
There is no unified bus network. Rather there is a hodgepodge of routes and information can be hard to come by on the internet. Probably the best place to start is at Envibus.

Talk
The Riviera makes much of its living through tourism, thus people are generally willing to communicate in English - particularly in the most touristy areas. Indeed in the foreign bars and restaurants the waiters and sometimes the managers are native English speakers. However service tends to be better if you try to use French. If it is really fractured then quite often people will take pity on you.

Eat
Cafés, bars and restaurants are available to meet almost all price-points and most tastes, however the vast majority of eateries serve food local to the area - that is to say Provençal cuisine with influences from Italy. Pizza restaurants are ubiquitous here, and the pizza is thin-crusted as is common in Italy. Many pizzas are served with a few olives on top unless you explicitly request their absence and it is normal to add a spicy olive oil based dressing - "sauce pimente" - before eating.

Asian cuisine - Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese etc. is available but is not common outside the main seaside towns and it can be very hard to get the ingredients yourself although there are specialty stores in Cannes and Nice. Many Asian restaurants offer a multitude of Asian cuisines (e.g. Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese) and the food is rarely spicy unless you specifically request it to be so.

Bouillabaisse and Salade Niçoise are perhaps the best known local specialities although there are others such as Socca. The mountainous back country makes a number of (mostly goat or sheep) cheeses which are usually available in local supermarkets as well as at market stalls. The Riviera has a number of olive oil mills and a lot of olive trees.

Most supermarkets are open Monday-Saturday from approx 9am-8pm and, particularly in the summer, some are also open on Sunday mornings. Most towns have markets which typically operate in the morning and early afternoon of a particular day or days to sell fresh produce. Most towns and villages also have a number of bakeries which generally open from around 6 or 7am every morning as well as butchers, fish-mongers and so on.

Drink
The region makes many wines with Cassis and Bandol being probably the best known. The major wine areas are east of St. Raphael and wine tasting makes a pleasant change from other activities. You can taste the excellent vin de Bellet on Nice hills.

Stay safe
Criminals prefer to pick on tourists because the tourists are usually relaxed and not expecting anything. Avoiding being a victim is generally as simple as paying attention to what you are doing, locking your car while you are in it and not flaunting your valuables. This can take the fun out of the holiday but on balance it is probably even less fun to be a crime-victim!

Go next

 * The Italian Riviera starts across the border in Liguria.
 * The rest of Provence beckons to the west.
 * The Alps start to the north.

title: French Riviera


text:
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises, or TAAF;) are a group of islands of the Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and mainland Australia along with a narrow strip of Antarctica, known as Adélie Land.

Regions

 * Kerguelen (Archipel des Kerguelen), a group of volcanic islands in the southern Indian Ocean, southeast of Africa, approximately equidistant between Africa, Antarctica and mainland Australia;
 * Saint-Paul and Amsterdam islands (Îles Saint Paul et Amsterdam), a group to the north of Kerguelen;
 * Crozet Islands (Îles Crozet), a group in the southern Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar;
 * Adélie Land (Terre Adélie), the French claim on Antarctica;
 * the Scattered Islands of the Indian Ocean (Îles Éparses), a dispersed group of islands around the coast of Madagascar.

Understand
The Southern Lands consist of two near-polar archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They have no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna. The "Antarctic Lands" portion consists of Adélie Land, a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840, and set aside by the Antarctic Treaty.

In 2019, the archipelagoes of Crozet, Kerguelen, St. Paul and Amsterdam islands, were collectively listed as a natural UNESCO World Heritage site.

The French Southern and Antarctic Lands consist of a few islands in the Indian Ocean that were separated from what was then the colony of Madagascar in the 1950s.

This overseas territory includes Kerguelen with the largest "city", Port-aux-Français, the islands of Saint Paul and Amsterdam to the east and the Crozet Islands to the west (different time zone). Apart from the scientists and a modest military presence, all these islands are uninhabited and have a harsh and inhospitable climate.

Officially, Adélie also belongs to this overseas territory as a French territorial claim over Antarctica, but due to the Antarctic Treaty, all those territorial claims are frozen. Since 2007, the Îles Éparses, some islands scattered throughout the Indian Ocean, have been incorporated into the French Southern and Antarctic Territories.

Get in
There are four airstrips in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands: on Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island, in the Îles Eparses district, each of them with a simple and rudimentary runway. Commercial flights are not available to any of these airfields. Flights are only organized for French scientists and researchers.

There are no harbours here, and cruise ships almost never visit. Staff come and go on Marion Dufresne, an oceanographic and supply ship, which makes a circuit four times a year from Reunion. Until 2019 you could book a berth as a tourist, but this is no longer possible.

Buy
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Réunion.

Sleep
There is no public accommodation in these islands.

Stay safe
All of these islands have harsh environments, especially in the austral winter.

title: French Southern and Antarctic Lands