Do I Need to Speak French to Get Around Paris?

Do I Need to Speak French to Get Around Paris?

Getting around Paris in English is doable—but speaking French might just upgrade your whole trip.

Short answer? No. Long answer? Say "Bonjour" unless you want your croissant served with a side of judgment.

Let’s cut to it: you don’t need to speak French to get around Paris. You can get by with English, some enthusiastic gesturing, and Google Translate. Most people in tourist areas understand basic English, and plenty are happy to meet you halfway.

Whether you're wondering if you need to speak French to get around Paris or just hoping English will do the trick, here's what actually matters.

Can You Really Get Around Paris Without Speaking French?

But here’s the twist: this question—“Do I need to speak French in Paris?”—isn’t really about language. It’s about behavior.

Parisians don’t hate English speakers. They just hate rudeness. And “Hello” in French goes a lot farther than perfect grammar in English.

How to Speak Zero French and Still Not Be That Tourist

You could speak absolutely no French at all and still have a great time in Paris—if you remember this: manners beat fluency. Always.

Want to get on a Parisian’s good side? It takes three words:

“Bonjour.” “S’il vous plaît.” “Merci.”

Say them every time you enter a shop, ask for something, or order food. Not because it’s cute or performative, but because in Paris, that’s just how humans operate. It’s social glue. Skip the hello, and you might as well skip the customer service too.

The One Phrase You Really Do Need

If you only learn one sentence before your trip, make it this:

“Je suis désolé(e), je ne parle pas français. Vous parlez anglais ?”

It’s not about your accent. It’s about showing that you know where you are—and that you respect it. You're not expecting Paris to become London with better bread. You’re a guest. And polite guests get treated well.

That one sentence alone will earn you more goodwill than a thousand words of awkward French pulled from memory mid-latte.

Learn French Before Traveling to Paris? Maybe Just a Bit.

Do you have to take a full course? No.Should you learn how to say a few survival phrases? Absolutely.

Duolingo will teach you how to say “The turtle drinks milk.” Fun fact: no one in Paris cares.

What will help? One solid private French lesson before your flight. In 90 minutes, you can cover:

• How to ask for directions without causing panic

• How to read a menu without guessing wildly

• How to sound like you belong, even if you don’t

Take ten lessons, and now you’re navigating cafés, shops, and conversations with ease—and maybe even impressing a server or two.

Parisians Aren’t Rude. They’re Just Not Fake-Nice.

That whole “Parisians are mean” thing? It’s mostly myth. They’re just less performative than Americans, and they don’t pretend to like people who walk in acting like the world owes them help in English.

You don’t need to speak French.You just need to act like someone who knows they’re not in Kansas anymore.

When you make the tiniest effort, the city responds. And suddenly, it’s not just Paris—it’s your Paris ! Love Paris and Love French !

Final Takeaways

• You can get around Paris in English, no problem.

• But learning a few words of French earns you better service and genuine moments.

• Parisians don’t hate English—they hate entitlement.

• A little French = a lot of respect.

• And no, you don’t need to be fluent. Just polite.