First Phrases

Registering at the town hall · Français

Registering at the town hall in French: 12 survival phrases

Register your address at the counter: say you would like to register, show your passport and rental contract, ask about forms, appointments and a certificate, and get it written down. Short phrases for the counter.

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" at the counter in France and start with "Bonjour". These phrases are generic for a mairie or préfecture counter: which office handles what depends on the town.

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.

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12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Bonjour. Je voudrais déclarer mon adresse, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: bon-ZHOOR. zhuh voo-DRAY day-klah-RAY mon ah-DRESS, seel voo PLAY
    Hello. I'd like to register my address, please.
    Register: Polite; "je voudrais" is the standard courteous request.
  2. 02Neutral
    J'ai rendez-vous à … heures.
    Say it like: zhay ran-day-VOO ah … UHR
    I have an appointment at … o'clock.
    Register: Say the hour: "à dix heures".
  3. 03Polite
    Voici mon passeport et mon contrat de location.
    Say it like: vwah-SEE mon pass-POR ay mon kon-TRAH duh loh-kah-SYON
    Here is my passport and my rental contract.
    Register: Polite; hand the papers over as you say it.
  4. 04Neutral
    Est-ce qu'il me faut autre chose ?
    Say it like: ess keel muh foh OH-truh shohz
    Do I need anything else?
    Register: Neutral; "autre chose" means "anything else".
  5. 05Neutral
    Y a-t-il un formulaire à remplir ?
    Say it like: ee ah-TEEL an for-mew-LAIR ah ran-PLEER
    Is there a form to fill in?
    Register: Neutral question.
  6. 06Polite
    Pourrais-je avoir une attestation, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: poo-RAYZH ah-VWAR ewn ah-tess-tah-SYON, seel voo PLAY
    Could I have a certificate, please?
    Register: Polite; "attestation" is a certificate or written confirmation.
  7. 07Neutral
    Combien de temps cela prend-il ?
    Say it like: kom-BYAN duh tan suh-LAH pran-TEEL
    How long does it take?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    Faut-il prendre rendez-vous ?
    Say it like: foh-TEEL prandr ran-day-VOO
    Do I need an appointment?
    Register: Neutral question.
  9. 09Polite
    Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: poo-ree-AY voo par-LAY plew lant-MAN, seel voo PLAY
    Could you speak more slowly, please?
    Register: Polite.
  10. 10Neutral
    Où dois-je signer ?
    Say it like: oo dwahzh see-NYAY
    Where do I sign?
    Register: Neutral question.
  11. 11Polite
    Pouvez-vous me l'écrire, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: poo-vay VOO muh lay-KREER, seel voo PLAY
    Can you write it down for me, please?
    Register: Polite.
  12. 12Polite
    Merci beaucoup, bonne journée.
    Say it like: mair-SEE boh-KOO, bun zhoor-NAY
    Thank you very much, have a nice day.
    Register: Polite goodbye used at every counter.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the town hall in French?

Start with: "Bonjour. Je voudrais déclarer mon adresse, s'il vous plaît." (Hello. I'd like to register my address, please.)

Should I use informal or formal French at the town hall?

Use "vous" at the counter in France and start with "Bonjour". These phrases are generic for a mairie or préfecture counter: which office handles what depends on the town.

How do I say I'd like to register my address in French?

Try: "Bonjour. Je voudrais déclarer mon adresse, s'il vous plaît." (Hello. I'd like to register my address, please.)

Same errand, another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands

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 8 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are 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. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/townhall/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint