First Phrases

Christmas market · Français

Christmas market in French: 16 phrases

Order mulled wine or an alcohol-free punch, sort out the mug deposit, ask the price, pay by card, find the lantern walk or the concert, and start a chat at a standing table. Natural phrases for a winter market evening.

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: Neutral. At a French "marché de Noël" stalls are friendly and informal, but "s'il vous plaît" and "bonjour" still matter. Mulled wine is "vin chaud". In Alsace (for example Strasbourg) many stalls serve drinks in a reusable mug with a deposit ("consigne"); elsewhere ask. Many stalls take cards, but not all.

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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16 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    Un vin chaud, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: uhn van SHOH, seel voo PLAY
    One mulled wine, please.
    Register: The usual way to order.
  2. 02Neutral
    Un chocolat chaud, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: uhn shoh-koh-LAH SHOH, seel voo PLAY
    One hot chocolate, please.
    Register: Neutral.
  3. 03Neutral
    Vous avez une version sans alcool ?
    Say it like: voo za-VAY ewn vair-see-ON sahn al-KOHL
    Do you have a version without alcohol?
    Register: Often a hot apple juice or a "punch sans alcool".
  4. 04Neutral
    Il y a une consigne sur le gobelet ?
    Say it like: eel ee YA ewn kon-SEE-nyuh sewr luh goh-bleh
    Is there a deposit on the cup?
    Register: "Consigne" = deposit; the mug is often "gobelet" or "tasse".
  5. 05Neutral
    Je rapporte la tasse. Je peux récupérer la consigne ?
    Say it like: zhuh ra-PORT la tahss. zhuh puh ray-kew-pay-RAY la kon-SEE-nyuh
    I'm bringing the mug back. Can I get the deposit back?
    Register: Hand the mug in at the stall.
  6. 06Neutral
    Je peux garder la tasse ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh gar-DAY la tahss
    Can I keep the mug?
    Register: You usually lose the deposit.
  7. 07Neutral
    C'est combien ?
    Say it like: say kom-BYAN
    How much is it?
    Register: Neutral.
  8. 08Neutral
    Je peux payer par carte ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh pay-YAY par kart
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Not every stall takes cards, so ask.
  9. 09Neutral
    Encore un, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: ahn-KOR uhn, seel voo PLAY
    One more, please.
    Register: Neutral.
  10. 10Neutral
    Où commence la marche aux lampions ?
    Say it like: oo ko-MAHNSS la marsh oh lahm-PYON
    Where does the lantern walk start?
    Register: For a concert say "le concert": "Où est le concert ?"
  11. 11Neutral
    Cette place est libre ?
    Say it like: set plass eh LEE-bruh
    Is this spot free?
    Register: Works for a seat or a place at a standing table.
  12. 12Polite
    Ça ne vous dérange pas si je me mets ici ? Il y a du monde ce soir !
    Say it like: sa nuh voo day-RAHNZH pa see zhuh muh meh ee-SEE? eel ee ya dew MONDE suh swar
    Do you mind if I stand here? It's busy tonight!
    Register: Polite opener at a standing table.
  13. 13Neutral
    Joyeux Noël !
    Say it like: zhwa-YUH no-EL
    Merry Christmas!
    Register: "Bonnes fêtes !" (happy holidays) works for everyone.
  14. 14Neutral
    Est-ce qu'il y a quelque chose de végétarien ?
    Say it like: es keel ee ya KEL-kuh shohz duh vay-zhay-ta-RYAN
    Is there anything vegetarian?
    Register: Neutral.
  15. 15Neutral
    Où sont les toilettes ?
    Say it like: oo son lay twa-LET
    Where are the toilets?
    Register: Neutral.
  16. 16Polite
    Vous pourriez nous prendre en photo, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: voo poo-ree-AY noo PRAHN-druh ahn foh-TOH, seel voo PLAY
    Could you take a photo of us, please?
    Register: Polite.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the Christmas market in French?

Start with: "Un vin chaud, s'il vous plaît." (One mulled wine, please.)

Should I use informal or formal French at the Christmas market?

At a French "marché de Noël" stalls are friendly and informal, but "s'il vous plaît" and "bonjour" still matter. Mulled wine is "vin chaud". In Alsace (for example Strasbourg) many stalls serve drinks in a reusable mug with a deposit ("consigne"); elsewhere ask. Many stalls take cards, but not all.

How do I order mulled wine in French?

Try: "Un vin chaud, s'il vous plaît." (One mulled wine, please.)

Same errand, another language

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French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market

Also: New Year phrases in French

All 6 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

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