English to French Voice & Camera Translator
French is spoken in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec and much of West Africa. Politeness rules and silent letters make it harder than it looks in writing. Here are the phrases you will use most, the habits that matter, and how to translate French conversations and menus on iPhone.
How to translate English to French on iPhone
- In a conversation. Open Dialog, pick English and French, and take turns speaking. Each of you reads the translation on your half of the screen and hears it aloud where your iPhone has a voice for the language.
- By camera. Point Camera at a French menu, sign or form, or add a PDF, and read it in English.
- Offline. With a subscription, download the languages before you travel and translate typed text without mobile data.
- In the right tone. Set AI Text Style to Casual, Business or Formal before you speak.
What to know about French
- Always start with Bonjour
- In France you greet before you ask anything: Bonjour in a shop, a pharmacy or a ticket office. Skipping it reads as rude and gets you a colder answer.
- Vous or tu
- Use vous with anyone you don't know and in every service situation. Tu is for friends, family and children.
- Many letters are silent
- Written French and spoken French look far apart: final consonants are often silent and words run together. Let the app read the translation aloud instead of guessing the pronunciation.
- Numbers from 70 to 99
- France counts 70 as soixante-dix (sixty-ten) and 80 as quatre-vingts (four twenties). Belgium and Switzerland use septante and nonante, which makes prices easier to follow.
Common English to French phrases
| English | French | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, do you speak English? | Bonjour, vous parlez anglais ? | Always open with Bonjour |
| How much does it cost? | Combien ça coûte ? | Shops and markets |
| The bill, please. | L'addition, s'il vous plaît. | Restaurants and cafés |
| Where are the toilets? | Où sont les toilettes ? | Anywhere |
| I don't understand. Can you speak more slowly? | Je ne comprends pas. Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? | When the reply is too fast |
| I'm allergic to nuts. | Je suis allergique aux fruits à coque. | Restaurants, bakeries |
| I need a doctor. | J'ai besoin d'un médecin. | Emergencies, pharmacies |
| Does this bus go to the city center? | Est-ce que ce bus va au centre-ville ? | Public transport |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ? | Shops, taxis, markets |
| I have a reservation under the name… | J'ai une réservation au nom de… | Hotels and restaurants |
Frequently asked questions
Does it work for Canadian French?
Yes. The app translates into standard French, which is understood in Quebec. Some everyday words differ, but standard French is always clear to local speakers.
Can I translate a French menu with my camera?
Yes. Take a photo of the menu and the app translates the dishes into English. Read how to translate a menu with your iPhone camera.
Can I translate English to French offline?
Yes, for typed text. Download both languages before you travel. Voice and camera translation need a connection.
Related language pairs
English to German
English to Spanish
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