As France’s hosting of the Olympics approaches, Parisians have instructed tourists to use certain words and phrases as they tour the country.
According CNN, saying “bonjour” (hello) in French is an essential step that boosts the person’s impression. This tip was given by a former American expat who lived there.
“If you’re going to France and you don’t start all your interactions with ‘bonjour,’ you might wake up a little rude,” says Elisabeth Guenette, who regularly shares language tips and cultural insights from teaching in both France and the U.S. with her 150,000+ followers on social media.
“Starting with ‘bonjour’ will already drastically change your experience,” says Guenette. “That’s the No. 1 rule.”
Despite being an acceptable way to get someone’s attention in many places, saying “excuse me” is perceived by Parisians as abrupt and rude.
Moreover, this rule applies in any case, regardless of the place. This was explained by a French coach whose clients include brands such as Chanel and Cartier.
“And this rule applies whether you’re checking into a hotel, buying a baguette or making a reservation at a restaurant,” says Countess Marie de Tilly.
However, de Tilly explains the consequences of not following these steps.
“If you don’t say ‘bonjour,'” de Tilly explains, the restaurant staff “won’t work very hard to get you a table. It is the key.”
As well as ‘bonjour’, there are some other important words to use.
This is “au revoir”, but if you want to change it, you could also say “bonne journée” (Good day) or “bonne soirée” (good night) if it’s evening.
Speaking a few words of French can go a long way, says Guenette.
“Knowing a little French to start your conversations shows that you respect their culture,” she says.
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