Originally, the word ‘restaurant’ meant a food that restores, and was most often used to refer to hearty meat stews that would restore strength. If you thought you’d be on safe ground using the expression ‘yum!’ in a café to express your appreciation of the fine French croissant you’ve been presented with… you thought wrong. 9 Incredibly French Expressions They Don’t Teach You in School. 6. Whether you’re shopping for clothes, food, or souvenirs, you can use the following phrases in any French-speaking country to help you find just the right thing. If you want to fit in like a French local, there’s no better way than turning to the nation’s top obsessions: language and food. 100 French Food/Drink Words and Phrases A cheat sheet for ordering in French. This is a typical French saying, and the French do enjoy consuming moderate amounts of good wine with their meals, noon and evening alike. The first time I heard this, I had no idea why someone would want to go and occupy themselves with their onions. Common Phrases Containers: Devices Farm Flowers Food Furniture Geography Geology: House & Furniture Mail Money Music Numbers People Plants: Prepositions Punctuation School Sea Shapes Sports Storytime: Time Tools Toys Vehicles Verbs Weather So, here are some useful comments to say about food, pointing out problems, or expressing your satisfaction… Occupe-toi de tes oignons. Here’s a few French phrases that you should know. Develop a French shopping vocabulary to gain a new cultural experience when traveling. Take the word ‘restaurant’, for example, which comes from the French verb ‘restaurer’, meaning to restore or refresh. Many words in English relating to food come from the French language too. The truth is, most waitstaff at restaurants in the French capital know at least some basic English, so ordering or paying is rarely a problem if your French is nonexistent. The French food obsession goes beyond aged cheeses, hearty recipes and bodied wines – it infuses every part of French culture right down to the language. Here's a list of expressions that relate to what we eat and drink - or to the consequences of so doing: If only your 10th grade French teacher had taught you what you really need to know — impressing that special someone at the restaurant where you’re maxing out your credit card. The following phrases will be useful no matter what kind of shopping you plan on doing. […] The French don’t ask you to “get lost”…they ask you to “go and cook yourself an egg” ( Va te faire cuire un œuf ). Literally, “blue ribbon,” the expression reflects the sense of “first class.” In culinary usage, “a cordon blue” is “a first-class cook.” 10. crème brûlée A cream topped with caramelized sugar, served as dessert. A list of phrases about food and drink. Try FluentU for FREE! Note that the French comment on everything: the taste of the food and quality of the produce of course, but also the presentation, which is very important as well. The French don’t tell you to “mind your own business”…they tell you to “mind you own onions” (Occupe-toi de tes oignons). We certainly like our food and drink and the number of phrases and sayings inspired by such is a testament to that. French Vocabulary: Food and Drink (115 words translated in French) January 7, 2014 / Beginner Level Beginner Vocabulary French vocabulary and expression 1. Still, to really embrace the "when-in-Rome" spirit, why not learn a few useful words and phrases commonly used in restaurants? Dining Phrases À la carte : This literally means 'on the menu'; but its meaning has come to refer to ordering individual items from the menu instead of a fixed-price three or four course meal in a restaurant Jess Kapadia July 14, 2011.