As the Olympic Games in France approach, Parisians have advised tourists to use some specific words and phrases while touring the country.
According CNNSaying “bonjour” (hello) in French is an essential step to improve your impression of a person. This tip came from an American expat who lived there.
“If you go to France and don’t start every interaction with ‘bonjour,’ you might be in for a bit of a rude surprise,” says Elisabeth Guenette, who regularly shares language tips and cultural insights from her time teaching in both France and the U.S. with her more than 150,000 followers on social media.
“Starting with a ‘bonjour’ will already dramatically change your experience,” says Guenette. “That’s rule number one.”
Although in many places it is an acceptable way to get someone's attention, Parisians consider saying “excuse me” to be abrupt and rude.
And this rule applies in all situations, regardless of the location, explains a French trainer whose clients include brands such as Chanel and Cartier.
“And this rule applies whether you check into a hotel, buy a baguette or make a reservation at a restaurant,” says Countess Marie de Tilly.
However, Tilly explains the consequences of not following these steps.
“If you don’t say ‘bonjour,’” explains de Tilly, the restaurant staff “won’t go out of their way to reserve you a table. That’s the key.”
In addition to “bonjour,” there are other important words that can be used.
That's “au revoir,” but if you want to vary, you can also say “bonne journée” (have a nice day) or “bonne soirée” (have a good evening) if it's nighttime.
Speaking a few words of French can be a big help, says Guenette.
“Knowing a little French to start a conversation shows that you respect their culture,” she says.
