Basic Nouns

1. l'eau

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel. Plural "les eaux"

2. la nourriture

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; a meal is "le repas" (masculine)

3. l'argent

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun elided to "l'"; the same word also means "silver"

4. les toilettes

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Feminine plural only; singular "la toilette" means washing/grooming

5. le mouchoir

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; a paper one is "le mouchoir en papier"

6. le médicament

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; the pharmacy is "la pharmacie" (feminine)

7. les bagages

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Normally masculine plural; a single piece is "un bagage"

8. la clé

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; also spelled "la clef" with the same pronunciation

9. le billet

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; a metro or bus stub is "le ticket"

10. le passeport

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the final "t" is silent

11. le téléphone

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a mobile is "le portable"

12. le chargeur

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the cable itself is "le câble"

13. la gare

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a railway station; a metro stop is "la station"

14. l'hôpital

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the silent "h" causes elision. Plural "les hôpitaux"

15. la police

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; an individual officer is "un policier / une policière"

16. le magasin

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a small specialist shop is "la boutique" (feminine)

17. la chambre

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a bedroom or hotel room; a room in general is "la pièce"

18. la route

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; a town street is "la rue" (also feminine)

19. la famille

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the "-ille" ending sounds like "ee-yuh"

20. le nom

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun meaning surname; a first name is "le prénom"

21. la tête

    Head

    Usage

    Point to this to show where it hurts

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "my head hurts" is "J'ai mal à la tête"

22. les yeux

    Eyes

    Usage

    Point to this to show an eye problem

    Grammar Note

    The singular is "l'œil" (masculine); the plural "les yeux" is irregular

23. les dents

    Teeth

    Usage

    Point to this to show a toothache

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the singular is "la dent" and a dentist is "le dentiste"

24. la gorge

    Throat

    Usage

    Point to this to show a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "my throat hurts" is "J'ai mal à la gorge"

25. le ventre

    Belly

    Usage

    Point to this to show where your stomach hurts; the stomach organ is "l'estomac"

26. le dos

    Back

    Usage

    Point to this to show back pain

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the final "s" is silent

27. le bas du dos

    Lower back

    Usage

    Point to this for lower-back pain; "les reins" is also used but can mean the kidneys, so this phrase is safer

28. le pied

    Foot

    Usage

    Refers to the foot below the ankle; the whole leg is "la jambe"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the final "d" is silent

29. la main

    Hand

    Usage

    Point to this to show pain or injury in the hand

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun despite the "-ain" ending

30. la poitrine

    Chest

    Usage

    Point to this for chest pain; the clinical term is "le thorax"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; in some contexts it can mean the breasts, so use it while talking about pain

31. le camion de pompiers

    Fire engine

    Usage

    For asking that a fire engine be sent, or describing what is happening at a fire

    Grammar Note

    Masculine "camion" (truck) + "de pompiers" (of firefighters); the technical term is "le fourgon d'incendie"

32. le consulat

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to head after losing a passport or after an incident; an embassy is "l'ambassade"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; it names both the mission that handles nationals abroad and the building where the consul has their offices

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