🇫🇷 French Level A1

At the restaurant in French

You're in a French restaurant. Listen to the waiter (Julien), then choose how to reply — tap an answer to hear its pronunciation and see its translation, then confirm. What you pick changes what he says. Open “Vocabulary” for the words (or “Explore the scene”) and tap “🗣️ On the street” for the real language.

Play the scene — free

▶Get it onGoogle Play

What you'll learn here

✔greet and ask for a table
✔order a drink (un demi, wine, a carafe of water)
✔order food (plat du jour, a vegetarian dish)
✔respond during the meal
✔ask for the bill and tip (together/separate, “Gardez la monnaie”)

Key words

la carte la CART

the menu (list of dishes)

Careful: “la carte” = the full list of dishes. “Le menu” in France usually means a FIXED-PRICE set menu (a formula: starter+main or main+dessert). “La formule” = the same, a fixed deal, often at lunch (“le midi”).

un demi ön dö-MI

a glass of draft beer (25cl)

“Un demi” = a small glass of draft beer, ~25cl (even though “demi” means half). “Une pression” = draft beer in general. “Une pinte” = 50cl. Tap water is free: you ask for “une carafe d'eau”.

le plat du jour lö pla dü JUR

the dish of the day

“Le plat du jour” = the dish of the day, often written on a board (“l'ardoise”), cheaper at lunch. “L'entrée” = the starter (NOT the main course!), “le plat” = the main, “le dessert” = dessert.

l'addition la-di-SION

the bill

The bill doesn't come on its own — you ask for it (“L'addition, s'il vous plaît”). Service is included by law (“service compris”), so a tip isn't obligatory. They often ask “Ensemble ou séparé ?” = together or separate?

le pourboire lö pur-BUAR

the tip

Since service is included, the tip is optional and small — you leave a few coins or round up if you enjoyed it. You say “Gardez la monnaie” (keep the change) or leave 1–2 € on the table/little plate.

How locals really say it

Not the textbook version — the real language you hear in French.

“Bonsoir ! C'est pour combien ?” — Good evening! For how many?

“Vous avez une réservation ?” — Do you have a reservation?

“Et pour boire, qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?” — And to drink, what can I get you?

“Le plat du jour, il est top aujourd'hui.” — Today's dish of the day is really top.

Dialogue (excerpt)

A taste of the conversation — play the rest in the app.

Julien

Bonsoir et bienvenue ! Vous êtes combien ?

Good evening and welcome! How many are you?

Julien

Vous avez réservé ?

Have you reserved?

You

Oui, une table pour deux.

Yes, a table for two.

Julien

Voici la carte. Qu'est-ce que vous voulez boire ?

Here's the menu. What would you like to drink?

You

Un demi, s'il vous plaît.

A draft beer, please.

Julien

Aujourd'hui, je vous conseille le plat du jour : le magret de canard. Un délice.

Today I recommend the dish of the day: duck breast. A delight.

…continues in the app →

At the restaurant in French

What you'll learn here

Key words

How locals really say it

Dialogue (excerpt)

Similar scenarios