Do people speak English in France? (Expat Truths)

Last updated on January 29th, 2024 at 09:24 am

Do they speak English in France or not?

The million-dollar question if you’re planning a vacation to France and don’t speak French is, do people speak English in France or not? Well, you’re in the right place to get the answer because I’m a Brit living in France. 

I moved here in 2016 and barely spoke a word of French, which was a bold move when you’re moving to the Charente in rural France.

And I don’t know about you, but learning a new language, that sounds nothing like your own can be daunting, to say the least.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom and I’m about to share some quick easy ways for you to survive in France no matter where you are or how many people speak English. So let’s dive in.

Do people speak English in France?

Yes, people do speak English in France, but it depends on age and region as to how many people you’ll find who do. Unsurprisingly, in the bigger cities like Paris and Bordeaux, pretty much all the tourist areas have English speakers.

It’s rare to go into a cafe, restaurant or hotel in Paris and find staff with no English at all. 

However, that all changes when you go off the beaten track and venture out into the smaller cities, towns and villages.

How many French people speak English?

Unlike other European countries such as Belgium and Switzerland, where French is one of a couple of languages spoken, or where it’s a second language, in France French is the only official language.

A recent report conducted by Euromonitor International for the British Council found that 57.75% of the French population had a basic understanding of English.

So, contrary to popular belief, the French can speak English, but whether they choose to is another matter entirely.

The Age Factor

As I mentioned earlier, I live in rural France, and many of the older generations here don’t speak a word of English. And in all honesty, there is no reason that they should.

After all, I’m in France, so I should be trying to speak French, not assuming everyone will speak English to me.

It’s different with the younger generations because they’ve grown up watching programs like Friends on Netflix.

I’ve met quite a few younger people with really good English. And when I’ve mentioned how good their English is, they’ve told me they learnt it all from watching English TV.

Although all TV programs and movies in France are dubbed into French, streaming services like Amazon and Netflix offer English versions, and that’s how many of them learn. It’s really impressive, and they have practically no accent either.

Location, location, location

The region you’re in makes a big difference, and as I said, the larger cities are where you’re more likely to find people who speak English.

In the Poitou-Charente, where I live, you won’t find people speaking English in the smaller rural villages such as Mansle, and towns like Ruffec and Verteuil.

However, when you go to the more touristy towns such as Cognac, Poitiers and La Rochelle, you’ll find plenty of people speaking English.

But that’s still a bit of a cop-out.

Everywhere I go, I try to practice my French, and it can be infuriating when people answer me in English. But to be fair to them, they often want to practice their English as much as I want to practice my French.

We end up in this weird conversation of two languages, me in my broken French and them in their decidedly better English.

Why the French won’t speak English to you

As English speakers, we tend to think that as English is one of the biggest, most universal languages, we don’t need to bother learning other languages. Sad but true.

Most of us learned French at school, I know I did, but it was beyond basic, and most of us never used it again once we graduated high school.

It’s the same for many French people. They will have learnt basic English at school, but if they’ve needed to use it, they won’t remember much of it at all.

I learned very quickly when I moved here that the worst thing you can say to a French person is, “Do you speak English?”. It’s rude and will immediately get them offside. After all, you’re in their country, so do them the courtesy of at least trying to speak their language.

Everything in France starts with Bonjour. Trust me when I say you’ll get much better service if you learn to say this word the moment you step into a shop, restaurant or cafe.

Once that little formality is out of the way, I’ll usually continue by apologising for my terrible French with this handy little phrase, “Désolé, mon français n’est pas bon.”

Now I’ve set the scene without insulting them, but also let them know it could get tricky.

Some French travel phrases to get you out of trouble

When I arrived in France I did at least have the basics, and trust me, they were very much the basics. But, they helped me, along with Google Translate, to make myself understood.

So here are some essential French words to get you started:

• Bonjour: I’ve already mentioned this once, but it’s worth mentioning again, that saying “Bonjour” is so important, especially if you want to get someone onside. 

• Merci or Merci Beaucoup: Saying thank you, or thank you very much is common courtesy in any language.

• Désolée, je ne parle pas français: I’m sorry I don’t speak French

• S’il vous plaît: Please

• Bonne journée: Have a good day

• Bonne Chance: Good luck

• Au Revoir: GoodbyeExcusez-moi: Excuse me

Where you’re most likely to find people speaking English in France

In some cases, by the very nature of the service, you’ll find people who speak English and these include:

• Most Tourist Offices
• Hotels & Accommodation Owners
• Tour Operators & Major Tourist Attractions
• Museums & Wineries
• Restaurants in big cities

How to learn French quickly

Moving to France and not speaking a word of French is possibly one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. I was surrounded by English-speaking Expats and a mainly English-speaking population where I lived.

And I quickly realised there was only one way to learn French quickly, and that was to integrate myself into the French community.

Was it challenging? Er, yes, very. 

Did it scare the living daylights out of me? Definitely!

Did it improve my French Grammar? No, but that came later.

Was it worth feeling like a complete idiot every time I opened my mouth? Absolutely!

I’ll admit I now have lessons twice a week to push myself to improve and grasp the grammar. But before that, I made myself join the local line dancing group with practically no French, other than what I’d learned at school.

I’ve never felt so intimidated as I did when I first joined. Nobody spoke English, but I didn’t let it deter me and it was a great way to learn.

A year later, and I’m chatting along with everyone else, albeit in broken French, but we all understand each other. Plus I’m learning to dance, and all the instructions are in French. I’d call that a win.

The Italki Platform

If you’re like me, and would love the opportunity to speak to someone face-to-face, rather than using an App, I recommend Italki.

It began as a social network for language exchange in 2006 and has evolved into a comprehensive educational environment where students can engage in one-on-one live lessons with teachers​​ virtually. 

You can choose from around 1,000 French teachers, which is great as you can find someone to fit your style of learning.

The belief at the core of italki is that human interaction and cultural exchange are key to achieving fluency in a foreign language​, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s certainly worked for me. 

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FAQS on speaking English in France

Final thoughts on whether people speak English in France

Although over 50% of the population in France have a basic knowledge of English, that doesn’t mean we should be lazy and not at least try to speak French.

I would find it rude if people came to my country and didn’t make an effort and the French are the same.

And at the end of the day, not only do you get a huge sense of achievement when you do give it a go and get it right, but French is such a romantic language, why wouldn’t you want to give it a try.

What’s the worst that can happen? Take it from someone who has tried and got it wrong many, many times, nothing bad happens. Quite the opposite in face. The French love it when you give it a try and actually, find out bad French accent most endearing, or so I’ve been told.