LANGUAGE
Overview
According to thesciencetutor, The official language is French and there are many regional dialects. In Brittany z. T. Spoken Breton, Corsica in Corsica, Basque is widespread in the southwest.
English, German or Spanish are taught as a foreign language in schools. However, most French people respect any language and prefer not to speak rather than speak incorrectly.
French are very proud of their language. Tourists should therefore at least acquire a basic vocabulary. Just trying to speak French is usually valued.
Idioms
- Goodbye = Au revoir
- Eight = Huit
- Eighty = Quatre-vingt
- Exit = sort
- Beer = beer
- Please = S’il vous plaît
- Thank you = Merci
- Tuesday = Mardi
- Doctor = Médecin
- Thursday = Jeudi
- Three = Trois
- Thirty = Trente
- Entrance = Entrée
- One hundred = cents
- One = Un (Une)
- One thousand = mille
- Friday = Vendredi
- Five = Cinq
- Fifty = cinquante
- Danger = danger
- Closed = Fermé
- Hello = Bonjour
- Today = Aujourd’hui
- Hotel = hotel
- I feel sick = Je ne me sens pas bien
- I don’t understand = Je ne comprends pas
- Yes = Oui
- My name is?? = Je m’appelle??
- I’m fine. = Ça va bien
- Wednesday = Mercredi
- Monday = Lundi
- Tomorrow = Demain
- No = non
- Nine = new
- Ninety = Quatre-vingt dix
- Open = crotchless
- Restaurant = restaurant
- Saturday = Samedi
- Six = Six
- Sixty = Soixante
- Seven = Sept
- Seventy = Soixante-dix
- Sunday = Dimanche
- Menu = menu
- Do you speak German / English? = Est-ce que vous parlez allemand / anglais?
- Toilets = toilets
- Four = Quatre
- Forty = quarters
- Wine = Vin
- How are you? = Comment ça va?
- How much is it? = Combien est-ce que ça coûte?
- Where is??? = Où est???
- Ten = Dix
- Twenty = Vingt
- Two = deux
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Annotation
July and August are the months of vacation and travel in France. During this time, the resorts are crowded with local vacationers. Outside the holiday areas and in many cities, however, it is quiet.
SHOP
Overview
Lace, crystal, cheese, coffee, wine, spirits and liqueurs are particularly recommended. Arques, home of the Cristal d’Arques, is located between St. Omer and Calais. Lille, the largest city in French Flanders, is known for its textiles and fine lace.
In Paris you can get pretty much everything France has to offer. Here you can buy everything from unique art objects to fine perfumes and designer shoes to postcards. In some particularly exclusive shops you have to press the doorbell to get in. Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the most respected large department stores in Paris. Bargain hunters can find knick-knacks and antiques (brocante) at the numerous flea markets (marché aux puces) on the outskirts of the city.
In many cities, Saturday is market day. General for fruit and vegetables, on the coast also for fish and seafood. Hypermarches, huge supermarkets that sell everything from food, clothing, and hi-fi equipment to furniture, are becoming increasingly popular. They are mostly on the outskirts and have their own parking lot.
Opening hours
Department stores: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-6.30 p.m., grocery stores: 7 a.m.-6.30 p.m. / 7.30 p.m. Some shops, especially bakeries, also open on Sunday mornings, but they are usually closed on Mondays. Most shops close between noon and 2.30pm. Some shops are closed all day on Mondays or in the afternoon. Hypermarkets are usually open until 9 or 10 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
The French like to sit on the street in the evening and drink a glass of red wine. Especially in Paris, the bistros, where café au lait was served in the afternoon, are well attended in the early evening hours and it is sometimes difficult to get a seat. But many French people also like to spend their evenings outside of Paris in restaurants and bars.
Night owls can find night clubs and night bars in all major cities, and discos can be found in the holiday resorts in particular. The presentation and the style of music played are very different, often a drink (consommation) is included in the entrance fee. In metropolises like Paris and Lyon, there is often no entrance fee in night clubs and discos, but the drinks are expensive. There is a legal curfew so pubs close at 1.30am and nightclubs close at 5am.
Theaters and theaters can be found in all major cities, the Théâtre national de Strasbourg (Internet: www.tns.fr) and the Opéra National de Paris (Internet: www.operadeparis.fr) are particularly well-known.
In the countryside, festivals often take place on weekends in summer. Free monthly and yearly calendars of events are available from the tourist offices. Brochures and guides with information on activities, city tours, excursions and exhibitions in Paris are also available. Some of the best are Pariscope, 7 à Paris, L’Officiel des Spectacles, and the English-speaking Paris Passion.