First Phrases

Table for one · Français

Table for one phrases in French: 15 phrases

Ask for a table for one, check whether you need a reservation, book for tomorrow, sit at the bar or counter, order the menu of the day, ask what they recommend, mention vegetarian or allergies, ask for tap water, then get the bill, pay by card, ask about service and take the rest home. Short, natural phrases for eating out on your own.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "vous" with waiters and restaurant staff, and start with "Bonjour". Address the waiter as "Monsieur" or "Madame"; "S'il vous plaît" (or "Excusez-moi") gets their attention. "La carte" is the menu, "l'addition" the bill, "le comptoir" the counter. Phrases only: this card says nothing about prices, tipping or what a restaurant must do.

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Une table pour une personne, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: ewn TAH-bluh poor ewn pehr-SON, seel voo PLEH
    A table for one, please.
    Register: Also "Une table pour un" (a man) or "pour une" (a woman).
  2. 02Neutral
    Est-ce qu'il faut réserver ?
    Say it like: ess keel foh ray-zehr-VAY
    Do I need a reservation?
    Register: Also "Il faut réserver ?" in speech.
  3. 03Neutral
    Je peux réserver pour demain à vingt heures ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh ray-zehr-VAY poor duh-MAN ah van-TUR
    Can I book for tomorrow at 8 p.m.?
    Register: "Vingt heures" is 8 p.m. (24-hour clock). Add "pour une personne".
  4. 04Neutral
    La cuisine est encore ouverte ?
    Say it like: lah kwee-ZEEN eh ahn-KOR oo-VAIRT
    Is the kitchen still open?
    Register: Also "On peut encore manger ?" (Can one still eat?).
  5. 05Neutral
    Je peux m'asseoir au comptoir ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh mah-SWAHR oh kon-TWAHR
    Can I sit at the counter?
    Register: Also "au bar". "À une table" = at a table.
  6. 06Neutral
    Vous avez un menu du jour ?
    Say it like: voo-zah-VAY uhn muh-NEW dew ZHOOR
    Do you have a menu of the day?
    Register: "Plat du jour" is the dish of the day; "formule" is a set menu.
  7. 07Neutral
    Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
    Say it like: kess kuh voo muh kon-say-YAY
    What do you recommend?
    Register: Also "Que me conseillez-vous ?" (more formal).
  8. 08Neutral
    Je suis végétarien.
    Say it like: zhuh swee vay-zhay-tah-RYAN
    I'm vegetarian.
    Register: A woman says "végétarienne". Ask "Il y a de la viande dedans ?" (Is there meat in it?).
  9. 09Neutral
    Je suis allergique à …
    Say it like: zhuh swee-zah-lehr-ZHEEK ah
    I'm allergic to …
    Register: Add: "aux arachides" (peanuts), "au gluten", "aux fruits de mer" (seafood). "Aux" before plurals.
  10. 10Neutral
    Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: ewn kah-RAF doh, seel voo PLEH
    A jug of tap water, please.
    Register: "Une carafe d'eau" is the usual way to ask for tap water. "Une bouteille d'eau" is a bottle.
  11. 11Neutral
    L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: lah-dee-SYON, seel voo PLEH
    The bill, please.
    Register: Softer: "Je pourrais avoir l'addition ?" (Could I have the bill?).
  12. 12Neutral
    Je peux payer par carte ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh peh-YAY par KART
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: "En espèces" means in cash.
  13. 13Neutral
    Le service est compris ?
    Say it like: luh sehr-VEESS eh kon-PREE
    Is service included?
    Register: "Compris" means included.
  14. 14Neutral
    Je peux emporter le reste ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh ahn-por-TAY luh REST
    Can I take the rest with me?
    Register: "Emporter" = take away. Ask "dans une boîte" (in a box) if you want one.
  15. 15Neutral
    C'était délicieux, merci.
    Say it like: say-TEH day-lee-SYUH, mehr-SEE
    It was delicious, thank you.
    Register: Add "Tout était très bon" (everything was very good).

New in town?

More tools for people who just moved: converters, checklists and country guides.

Open Newcomer Kit

Quick answers

How do you ask for a table for one in French?

Say: "Une table pour une personne, s'il vous plaît." (A table for one, please.)

Should I use informal or formal French with a waiter?

Use "vous" with waiters and restaurant staff, and start with "Bonjour". Address the waiter as "Monsieur" or "Madame"; "S'il vous plaît" (or "Excusez-moi") gets their attention. "La carte" is the menu, "l'addition" the bill, "le comptoir" the counter. Phrases only: this card says nothing about prices, tipping or what a restaurant must do.

How do I say I am vegetarian or allergic in French?

Say: "Je suis végétarien." (I'm vegetarian.) and "Je suis allergique à …" (I'm allergic to …)

How do I ask for the bill and pay by card in French?

Try: "L'addition, s'il vous plaît." (The bill, please.) and "Je peux payer par carte ?" (Can I pay by card?)

Table for one phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/table-for-one/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint