Ordering at a café (the je voudrais formula)

The polite, universal way to order anything in French is je voudrais ("zhuh voo-dray") — "I would like". It's softer than je veux ("I want"), which can sound demanding. Pair it with s'il vous plaît at the end and you're set:

• Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. — I'd like a coffee, please.

• Je voudrais deux croissants, s'il vous plaît. — I'd like two croissants, please.

Café in France defaults to a small espresso. If you want what North Americans call "a coffee", ask for un café allongé (espresso with extra hot water) or un café crème (espresso with steamed milk — closest to a latte). Un café au lait is more of a breakfast-at-home thing. In Quebec, un café is closer to a North American filter coffee.

For tea: un thé (plain), un thé au lait (with milk), une infusion (herbal tea). Cold drinks: une eau gazeuse (sparkling water), une eau plate (still water), un jus d'orange (orange juice).

When the server comes to your table, they may simply say bonjour or je vous écoute ("I'm listening"). You can lead with je voudrais or with the more casual pour moi, ce sera... ("for me, it'll be...").