Café & Drinks

1. Un café, s'il vous plaît

   A coffee, please

   Usage

   Used at a café or restaurant to order a coffee

   Grammar Note

   In France "un café" is typically an espresso. Café au lait = with milk, café allongé = Americano

2. Une bouteille d'eau minérale, s'il vous plaît

   A bottle of mineral water, please

   Usage

   Used at a restaurant or shop to order a bottle of mineral water

   Grammar Note

   Water is often charged in France. Sparkling: "eau gazeuse". Free tap water: "une carafe d'eau"

3. Un verre de vin rouge, s'il vous plaît

   A glass of red wine, please

   Usage

   The classic way to order red wine in a French restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Red = rouge, white = blanc, rosé = rosé. For a bottle, use "une bouteille de vin"

4. Avez-vous du thé ?

   Do you have tea?

   Usage

   Used at a café or restaurant to ask whether they serve tea

   Grammar Note

   "Du" is a partitive article for masculine nouns. Herbal tea = tisane, green tea = thé vert

5. Je voudrais une bière pression

   I would like a draught beer

   Usage

   Used at a bar or restaurant to order a draught beer

   Grammar Note

   "Bière pression" is draught from a tap. Bottled beer is "bière en bouteille"

6. Un jus d'orange frais, s'il vous plaît

   A fresh orange juice, please

   Usage

   Used at breakfast or a meal to order freshly squeezed orange juice

   Grammar Note

   "Frais" (m) / "fraîche" (f). "Un jus d'orange pressé" is the common café menu term

7. L'addition, s'il vous plaît

   The bill, please

   Usage

   The standard phrase to ask for the bill at any café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   In France you must call the waiter. A small wave or eye contact to get their attention is normal

8. Sans alcool, s'il vous plaît

   Without alcohol, please

   Usage

   Used to request a non-alcoholic drink or version of a cocktail

   Grammar Note

   "Sans" means without. Also: "sans sucre" (no sugar), "sans gluten" (gluten-free)

9. C'est inclus dans le prix ?

   Is it included in the price?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether a drink is included in a set menu or breakfast package

   Grammar Note

   In France prices normally include service ("service compris"). A "couvert" is a separate cover charge. Worth confirming to avoid surprises

10. Je prendrai la même chose

    I'll have the same thing

    Usage

    A handy phrase to order the same drink as someone else at your table

    Grammar Note

    "Je prendrai" (future tense) or "Je vais prendre…" (I'll take…) are both natural ordering phrases

11. sans glaçons

    No ice

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for a drink without ice, e.g. to avoid ice made from tap water

    Grammar Note

    "Glace" can also mean ice cream, so "glaçons" (ice cubes) is the safe word

12. l'eau minérale

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Point to this to order bottled water; sparkling is "gazeuse", still is "plate"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun elided to "l'"

13. l'eau chaude

    Hot water

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for hot water, e.g. for a drink or for baby formula

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; boiling water is "l'eau bouillante"

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