French Word of the Day

to make the mouth water

Au bar, ils prennent un verre de vin et les arômes de la cuisine font venir l’eau à la bouche de chacun.
At the bar, they have a glass of wine and the aromas of the food make everyone’s mouth water.

THIS WEEK
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. This week, we’re going to look at one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. We’ll actually build a conversation throughout the week to help you learn key words and phrases.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can review last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

to sit

Je crois que nous aurons une table libre dans dix minutes.
–Merci. C’est possible de nous asseoir au bar pendant que nous attendons?
Bien sûr. Je vous amène. Suivez-moi.

I believe we’ll have a free table in ten minutes.
–Thank you. Is it possible to sit at the bar while we wait?
Of course. I’ll take you. Follow me.

THIS WEEK
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. This week, we’re going to look at one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. We’ll actually build a conversation throughout the week to help you learn key words and phrases.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can review last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

to seat someone

Mesdames, Messieurs, votre table est prête. On vous fait asseoir, si vous voulez.
Ladies, gentlemen, your table is ready. We’ll seat you now, if you like.

TODAY
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. Today’s example illustrates one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. The dialogue here was originally part of a weeklong exercise in which we built an entire conversation that you can see here.

MORE FRENCH RESTAURANT VOCABULARY
After you’ve learned to say to seat someone in French, follow the links below to discover more French words and phrases useful for a visit to a restaurant or café:

• Appetizer
• Check, The
• Full, Satisfied
• Free Table
• Main Course
• Menu
• To Make the Mouth Water
• Place Setting
  (number of people)
• Reservation
• Set Menu (Prix Fixe)
• Tip
• To Order
• To Seat (someone else)
• To Sit (oneself)
• To Suggest
• Waiter, Waitress

to suggest

Ils sont assis maintenant. (They’re seated now.)
Alors, Monsieur. Qu’est-ce que vous nous suggérez ce soir?
So, what do you suggest this evening.

ATTENTION!
While you may have learned that garçon is the French word for waiter, keep in mind that in this day and age it is not polite to address your server as garçon. Monsieur is more appropriate. You might also note that Monsieur is not translated in the above example. That’s because, in French, this form of address is used more freely than in English. Although it may sound formal, it’s less formal that its nearest equivalent, Sir, would be an English.

THIS WEEK
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. This week, we’re going to look at one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. We’ll actually build a conversation throughout the week to help you learn key words and phrases.

WITH MEMBERSHIP, LIFE’S A LITTLE MORE FRENCH!

• MEMBERS can review last week’s words by taking our weekly quiz.
• SUBSCRIBE TODAY to become a member. Only 3.95 a month!
• Thinking about becoming a member? Take our Visitors Preview.

a place setting, used to refer to the number of people in a party

Bonsoir, Messieurs, Dames.
— Bonsoir. On n’a pas réservé. Il fallait?
Non, pas du tout. Quatre couverts?
— Oui, exactement.

Good evening, gentlemen, ladies.
— Good evening. We didn’t make reservations. Were they necessary.
No, not at all. For four people (place settings)?
— Yes, exactly.

TODAY
We’re covering the vocabulary necessary to confidently walk into a restaurant or café. Here is a complete conversation featuring today’s word and others:

Bonsoir, Messieurs, Dames.
— Bonsoir. On n’a pas réservé. Il fallait?
Non, pas du tout. Quatre couverts?
— Oui, exactement. Avez-vous peut-être une table libre à la terrasse ?
Eh, non, malheureusement, la terrasse est complète. Il fait beau ce soir.
–Pas de problème. La salle, ça va.
Je crois que nous aurons une table libre dans dix minutes.
–Merci. C’est possible de nous asseoir au bar pendant que nous attendons?
Bien sûr. Je vous amène. Suivez-moi.
Au bar, ils prennent un verre de vin et les arômes de la cuisine font venir l’eau à la bouche de chacun.
Mesdames, Messieurs, votre table est prête. On vous fait asseoir, si vous voulez.
Ils sont assis maintenant.
–Alors, Monsieur. Qu’est-ce que vous nous suggérez ce soir?
Tous nos plats sont excellents. Mais si vous me permettez, je vous suggère notre entrée de moules pour commencer.

Good evening, gentlemen, ladies.
— Good evening. We didn’t make reservations. Were they necessary.
No, not at all. For four people (place settings)?
— Yes, exactly. Do you have a free table on the terrace?
Uh, no, unfortunately the terrace is full. The weather’s beautiful tonight.
–No problem. The dining room is fine.
I believe we’ll have a free table in ten minutes.
–Thank you. Is it possible to sit at the bar while we wait?
Of course. I’ll take you. Follow me.
At the bar, they have a glass of wine and the aromas of the food make everyone’s mouth water.
Ladies, gentlemen, your table is ready. We’ll seat you now, if you like.
They’re seated now.
–So, what do you suggest this evening.
All of our plates are excellent. But if you’ll permit me, I suggest our mussels appetizer to you to start.

an appetizer, starter

Tous nos plats sont excellents. Mais si vous me permettez, je vous suggère notre entrée de moules pour commencer.
All of our plates are excellent. But if you’ll permit me, I suggest our mussels appetizer to you to start.

ATTENTION!
Take note that an entrée in French is an appetizer or starter — not a main course as it is in English! It is the entry to the meal, if you will.

TODAY
We’re covering the vocabulary necessary to confidently walk into a restaurant or café. Here is a complete conversation featuring today’s word and others:

Bonsoir, Messieurs, Dames.
— Bonsoir. On n’a pas réservé. Il fallait?
Non, pas du tout. Quatre couverts?
— Oui, exactement. Avez-vous peut-être une table libre à la terrasse ?
Eh, non, malheureusement, la terrasse est complète. Il fait beau ce soir.
–Pas de problème. La salle, ça va.
Je crois que nous aurons une table libre dans dix minutes.
–Merci. C’est possible de nous asseoir au bar pendant que nous attendons?
Bien sûr. Je vous amène. Suivez-moi.
Au bar, ils prennent un verre de vin et les arômes de la cuisine font venir l’eau à la bouche de chacun.
Mesdames, Messieurs, votre table est prête. On vous fait asseoir, si vous voulez.
Ils sont assis maintenant.
–Alors, Monsieur. Qu’est-ce que vous nous suggérez ce soir?
Tous nos plats sont excellents. Mais si vous me permettez, je vous suggère notre entrée de moules pour commencer.

Good evening, gentlemen, ladies.
— Good evening. We didn’t make reservations. Were they necessary.
No, not at all. For four people (place settings)?
— Yes, exactly. Do you have a free table on the terrace?
Uh, no, unfortunately the terrace is full. The weather’s beautiful tonight.
–No problem. The dining room is fine.
I believe we’ll have a free table in ten minutes.
–Thank you. Is it possible to sit at the bar while we wait?
Of course. I’ll take you. Follow me.
At the bar, they have a glass of wine and the aromas of the food make everyone’s mouth water.
Ladies, gentlemen, your table is ready. We’ll seat you now, if you like.
They’re seated now.
–So, what do you suggest this evening.
All of our plates are excellent. But if you’ll permit me, I suggest our mussels appetizer to you to start.

a free table

–Avez-vous peut-être une table libre à la terrasse ?
Eh, non, malheureusement, la terrasse est complète. Il fait beau ce soir.
–Pas de problème. La salle, ça va.

–Do you have a free table on the terrace?
Uh, no, unfortunately the terrace is full. The weather’s beautiful tonight.
–No problem. The dining room is fine.

TODAY
When you visit France as a native English speaker, everyday interactions that you take for granted at home can suddenly feel like a lot of work. But they also can be very rewarding. Today’s example illustrates one such common interaction — walking into a café or restaurant and knowing what to say and learning to recognize some of the responses. The dialogue here was originally part of a weeklong exercise in which we built an entire conversation that you can see here.

QUIZ LINK
Test yourself on today’s phrase and others like it here.