une carte SIM prépayée ün cart SIM pre-pe-IÉ
a prepaid SIM card
In France the big operators are Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free. A prepaid SIM (“une SIM prépayée”) is ideal for tourists: you pay up front, with no contract. You find them in operator shops (Orange, SFR…) or at a “tabac” (tobacconist).
le forfait lö for-FÈ
the plan
“Le forfait” = the phone plan/subscription, often described as “un forfait avec 20 Go de données” (20 GB of data). There's the “forfait sans engagement” (no commitment, cancel anytime) — very common, especially with Free and low-cost deals. Note: the final “t” is silent, you say “for-FÈ”.
les données le do-NÉ
the data
“Les données” = your mobile internet allowance, measured in “gigaoctets”, written “Go” (NOT “GB”). You'll often hear “20 Go”, “100 Go” or even “data illimitée” (unlimited data). “La 4G” / “la 5G” have good coverage in cities. Always plural: “les données”.
la pièce d'identité la pi-ÈS di-dan-ti-TÉ
the ID
In France, to register a SIM card (even a prepaid one) you MUST show “une pièce d'identité” — a passport or an ID card. It's a legal anti-fraud requirement. Key word: “une pièce d'identité” (short: “une pièce”; informally “tes papiers”).
le crédit lö cre-DI
the credit / balance
“Le crédit” = the balance/credit on your prepaid card. The key verb is “recharger” (to top up): “recharger son crédit”. You do it in the shop, at a “tabac”, online or via the operator's app. More and more French people use an “eSIM” — a digital SIM you activate by scanning a QR code, with no physical card.
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