Shops and Pharmacy French
From a market stall to a pharmacy counter, these are the phrases that get you served and help you explain what you need.
In a shop
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| I'm just looking, thanks | Je regarde, merci | zhuh ruh-GARD, mair-SEE |
| Do you have this in another size? | Vous l'avez dans une autre taille ? | voo la-VAY don zewn OH-truh TIE |
| I'll take it | Je le prends | zhuh luh PRON |
| A bag, please | Un sac, s'il vous plaît | un SAK, seel voo PLAY |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ? | zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART |
In small shops it is polite to say “Bonjour” when you walk in and “Merci, au revoir” as you leave, even if you buy nothing.
At the pharmacy
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie ? | oo AY lah far-ma-SEE |
| I have a headache | J'ai mal à la tête | zhay MAL ah lah TET |
| I have a cold | J'ai un rhume | zhay un REWM |
| I have a sore throat | J'ai mal à la gorge | zhay MAL ah lah GORZH |
| Sunscreen | De la crème solaire | duh lah KREM soh-LAIR |
| Insect repellent | Un anti-moustique | un on-tee moo-STEEK |
French pharmacies are marked with a green cross. Bring any regular medicines in their original packaging, with your prescription, and show the pharmacist the box if you need the same product.
If you need help
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| I need a doctor | J'ai besoin d'un médecin | zhay buh-ZWAN dun mayd-SAN |
| Call an ambulance | Appelez une ambulance | a-play ewn om-bew-LONSS |
| Help! | Au secours ! | oh suh-KOOR |
The European emergency number 112 works in France, as it does across the European Union.