Moving to France: Essential French Phrases for Daily Life
Administrative Registration: Mairie and CAF
Two of the most important institutions in your French administrative life are the Mairie (town hall) and the CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales — the family benefits office). At the Mairie, you may need to register your residence, obtain various certificates, and handle local administrative tasks. Key vocabulary: acte de naissance (birth certificate), justificatif de domicile (proof of address), extrait de casier judiciaire (criminal record extract), déclaration (declaration/application form), rendez-vous (appointment). At the CAF, if eligible, you may apply for housing assistance (APL — Aide Personnalisée au Logement). Useful phrase: Je voudrais déposer une demande d'APL (I would like to apply for housing assistance). Most CAF processes are now online via caf.fr, but you will need French to navigate the interface.
Finding an Apartment
The French rental market is highly competitive, especially in Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux. Your dossier de location (rental application file) must be in French and is typically submitted through platforms like SeLoger or PAP. Required documents: pièce d'identité (identity document), trois derniers bulletins de salaire (last three payslips), dernier avis d'imposition (last tax notice), and attestation d'employeur (employer's letter). Key vocabulary: loyer (rent), charges comprises (charges included), caution (deposit — typically one month for unfurnished, two for furnished), bail (lease), état des lieux (inventory/condition report — conducted at move-in and move-out). In France, the loi ALUR limits deposits and regulates notices, so knowing this vocabulary protects your rights as a tenant.
Healthcare: The Carte Vitale System
France has one of the world's best universal healthcare systems, and understanding it is worth the effort. To access it, you need to register with the Assurance Maladie and obtain your Carte Vitale (green health card) — this is essentially your ticket to reimbursed medical care. Key vocabulary: médecin traitant (primary care doctor — you must register one to get full reimbursement), ordonnance (prescription), pharmacie (pharmacy), remboursement (reimbursement), mutuelle (supplementary private health insurance that covers the 20–30% not reimbursed by the state). Useful phrases: Je cherche à m'inscrire auprès d'un médecin traitant (I want to register with a primary care doctor), Est-ce que vous êtes conventionné secteur 1? (Are you a sector 1 doctor? — sector 1 doctors charge the official rate and are most fully reimbursed).
Banking in France
Opening a French bank account typically requires proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of income or student status. Traditional banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, La Banque Postale) often have long processing times. Digital banks (Revolut, N26, Boursorama, Hello Bank) offer faster onboarding and often operate partially in English. Key vocabulary: compte courant (current account), virement (bank transfer), prélèvement automatique (direct debit), relevé de compte (bank statement), RIB (Relevé d'Identité Bancaire — your French bank details, required for almost every administrative process), chèque (cheque — still widely used in France). The RIB is the document you will be asked for most frequently — learn to recognize it and know where to find it in your bank app.
Public Transport in France
French public transport varies significantly between Paris and the rest of the country. In Paris: métro (subway), RER (suburban express rail), bus, Vélib' (bike share). Key vocabulary: ticket de métro (metro ticket), carnet (book of 10 tickets), Navigo (monthly pass card for Paris), correspondance (transfer/connection), direction (the end-of-line destination used to indicate which train to take), terminus (final stop). Outside Paris: TGV (high-speed train), TER (regional trains), car (regional bus). Booking train tickets: Je voudrais réserver un billet pour [destination], s'il vous plaît (I would like to book a ticket to [destination], please). Note that in France, train tickets must be composté (validated) before boarding at non-automatic stations — failure to do so can result in a fine even with a valid ticket.
Workplace French and Bureaucracy
French workplace culture has specific conventions worth learning before you start. Bonjour to everyone when you arrive in the morning — failing to do so is considered rude, even in open-plan offices. Formal address using vous is standard until colleagues explicitly invite tu. Email conventions: Madame, Monsieur (formal opening), Cordialement or Bien cordialement (best regards — the most standard closing), Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de... (I am writing to you regarding...). Key HR vocabulary: contrat de travail (employment contract), CDI (permanent contract), CDD (fixed-term contract), congés payés (paid holidays — French workers receive 25 days minimum by law), arrêt maladie (sick leave certificate), comité d'entreprise (works council). Understanding the distinction between CDI and CDD is fundamental — most landlords will not rent to CDD workers without a guarantor.
Food Markets and Daily Shopping
France's food culture is central to social life, and the weekly market (marché) is a cornerstone of French community. Key market vocabulary: le marché (the market), l'étal (stall), le maraîcher (market gardener), le boucher (butcher), le fromager (cheese seller), le poissonnier (fishmonger), le boulanger (baker). Useful market phrases: C'est combien? (How much is it?), Donnez-moi un kilo de... (Give me a kilo of...), C'est pour aujourd'hui ou pour demain? (Is it for today or tomorrow? — asked by fruit sellers to give you the right ripeness), Vous avez quelque chose de local? (Do you have anything local?). Supermarket chains: Carrefour, Leclerc, Monoprix, Franprix, Intermarché. French food labeling uses AB (agriculture biologique) for organic products.
Preparation Before You Move
Begin French lessons at least three to six months before your move. In month one, focus on survival French: greetings, numbers, basic questions. In months two and three, work on relocation-specific vocabulary: the CAF and Mairie for administration, médecin traitant and Carte Vitale for healthcare, dossier de location for housing. Start watching French TV — the national channels France 2 and France 3 offer clear, standard French and current affairs that double as cultural preparation. Find a teacher who has lived in France — they will give you the cultural context that textbooks cannot. Even A2-level French dramatically reduces the bureaucratic stress of French administration and opens the kind of neighborhood and social relationships that make a country feel like home.
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