Politeness: why "Bonjour" always comes first

In Paris, politeness starts with the greeting. In a bakery, cafe, shop or taxi, customers say "Bonjour" before any request and "Au revoir" when they leave; skipping this ritual makes you seem rude, even if the rest of your sentence is perfect. Use "vous" with strangers (never "tu") and add "Madame" or "Monsieur" when you address someone. The other customs worth knowing are in rules and etiquette in Paris.

At the cafe and restaurant

Cafe terrace on Place Saint-André-des-Arts in Paris

At a cafe you sit wherever you like and the waiter comes to you; there is no need to wave a hand insistently, a glance and an "Excusez-moi" are enough. You have to ask for the bill, as it will not be brought spontaneously. To understand the prices on display and spot an inflated bill, see tourist traps in restaurants; for what to leave on the way out, see tipping in France.

Shopping

Interior glass roof of the Le Bon Marché department store in Paris

In a shop the assistant greets you and often asks whether you need help: answering "Je regarde, merci" (I'm just looking, thanks) is the usual way to say you prefer to browse alone. Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it is better to check for small purchases; payment methods are detailed in paying and withdrawing money in Paris.

Metro and directions

Paris metro station on line 5

In the metro you say "Pardon" to get past and "Bonjour" only if you are speaking to someone. Signs show the line by its number and the direction by its terminus: to pick the right way, look for the name of the last station. Tickets, lines and the network's pitfalls are explained in the metro and RER guide.

At the hotel

At reception, a "Bonjour" followed by the name on the booking settles most exchanges. If your room is not ready when you arrive, most hotels store luggage for free, but ask rather than assume.

Emergencies

In danger, 112 works across Europe and accepts English. For a specific medical emergency, useful numbers and addresses are in emergencies and health in Paris. If in doubt, shout "Au secours !" and show your phone or your injury.

Making conversation

Parisians do not always chat with strangers, but a simple exchange after a "Bonjour" almost always goes well. Saying where you are from and that it is your first visit opens the conversation readily. To go further with meeting people, read making friends in Paris.

Numbers and prices

Prices are said out loud at the till. The numbers from 70 to 99 surprise visitors: seventy is "soixante-dix" (sixty-ten), eighty is "quatre-vingts" (four twenties), and ninety-nine is literally "quatre-vingt-dix-neuf" (four-twenty-ten-nine). A bill of twelve euros fifty is said "douze euros cinquante"; Switzerland and Belgium use other words, but in Paris it is the French of France you will hear.

False friends and faux pas

A few language traps catch visitors again and again. For more received ideas to check, see Parisian clichés: true or false.

  • "Garçon!" — calling a waiter this way is old-fashioned and frowned upon. Say "Monsieur" or "Excusez-moi".
  • "Librairie" — it is a bookshop (you buy books), not a library, which is "bibliothèque".
  • "Actuellement" — means "at the moment", not "actually".
  • "Je suis plein / pleine" — to say you have had enough to eat, prefer "J'ai très bien mangé, merci"; the literal phrase is considered vulgar.
  • "Je suis excité(e)" — has a sexual meaning in French; to say you are enthusiastic, say "Je suis ravi(e)" or "J'ai hâte".
  • "Tu" and "vous" — with a stranger or an older person always use "vous", unless they suggest switching to "tu".

To go deeper into the customs that go with these phrases, read rules and etiquette in Paris, learn to make friends in Paris and check Parisian clichés, true or false. These phrases were chosen for everyday usefulness and checked in October 2026.