Order at the café
A free quiz on French restaurant phrases, scored on the page. Can you order a coffee in French, ask for the bill, and answer « sur place ou à emporter ? » without freezing?
Fourteen orders, one waiter, no pointing
Fourteen situations from the counter to the bill: what un café actually is, how to get free water, when le menu is not the menu. You pick the line a Parisian would say.
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Order coffee in French without the panic
This quiz covers the exact exchanges you will have in a French café: je voudrais un café, l’addition s’il vous plaît, sur place ou à emporter. Beginners get these wrong for two reasons. First, they translate word for word: “can I get” becomes a construction no waiter has ever heard. Second, they order the wrong thing: un café is a tiny espresso, and asking for un lait will get you a strange look, not a latte.
It is A1 level, so take it before your trip, note what you missed, and retake it the day you land. The answer key explains each phrase, including what the waiter is likely to say back, which is the part nobody rehearses. When you are ready for the grammar behind je voudrais, the Learning Center has full guides. The French Briefing gives you short daily reading to keep the vocabulary warm.
How do I ask for the bill in French?
Say « L’addition, s’il vous plaît ». That is the standard phrase in any café or restaurant. Catching the waiter’s eye and miming a signature also works, but say the words. Note that in France you usually have to ask: bringing the bill unprompted is considered rushing you out.
What is the difference between un café and un café crème?
Un café is a single espresso, small and strong. Un café crème (or just un crème) is espresso with steamed milk, the closest thing to a latte. Un café allongé is espresso with extra water, similar to an americano. Order un café au lait mainly at breakfast.
Is « je voudrais » polite enough when ordering?
Yes. Je voudrais (I would like) is the standard polite form, softer than je veux, which sounds demanding. Add s’il vous plaît at the end and you are fine. In fast-paced places, locals often shorten it: « Un café, s’il vous plaît » is perfectly polite on its own.
