As the world eagerly anticipates watching athletes compete in the Olympics in Paris this summer, the spotlight is not only on them but also on the language of the host nation. French lawmakers have requested that organizers, athletes, trainers, and journalists speak French as much as possible during the competition. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for visitors and fans alike to immerse themselves in the French language and culture. So, whether you are traveling to Paris or watching the summer games on TV, here are over 30 phrases to help you navigate Paris and get in the spirit of this amazing international event!
In France, greeting people with a simple hello (Bonjour) will show locals that you respect their language and social etiquette. Even if it’s the only word you know, it’s more polite to make the effort than to be perceived as rude for skipping this simple way to demonstrate your interest in their culture! So here are a few basic greetings that you can use to keep the conversation going past ‘bonjour’!
The summer games are taking place all around Paris and the surrounding cities, so finding your way around can often be challenging. Use this as an opportunity to practice your French and ask locals where those places are in their native language!
Unlike previous years, the opening ceremony (la Cérémonie d’Ouverture) won’t be held in a stadium. This year, the city and the Seine are the place to be! The ceremony will take place on the Seine and the buildings and spaces around it.
The competitions are held in different sports venues including the Bercy Arena for gymnastics, basketball, and trampoline, or the Olympic Aquatics Centre for Artistic Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo.
Once you know where you’re going, you need to make sure you know how to get there. Luckily Paris has a lot of public transportation. As you will see, the names of the different types of transportation are extremely easy in French. You can choose from the metro (le métro), the tram (le tram), the bus (le bus), or you can decide to walk (French people just say ‘go on foot’ - aller à pied). If you choose to use public transportation don’t forget to buy a ticket first!
You can purchase tickets at automated machines found in metro and tram stations. It's also a good idea to consider getting a travel pass if you plan to use public transportation frequently. Remember to validate your ticket or pass before boarding to avoid fines. Exploring Paris by public transport is efficient and allows you to experience the city like a local.
This year at the Olympics, there are a total of 32 different sports, that’s a lot to choose from and to talk about. It ranges from Canoe (le canoë-kayak) to Fencing (l’escrime) or Archery (le tir à l’arc). Also, the Olympics are not only about watching sports. You can also participate in the Marathon For All (Marathon pour tous).
This year, there will be 4 new sports in the competition with one present for the first time ever in the Olympics. Can you guess what it is? (Read through the phrases below to find out).
Athletes from 206 nations are competing including the Refugee Olympic Team and the Individual Neutral Athletes Team. You probably have your favorite, even if it’s not always the country you’re from.
Supporting athletes from various nations can broaden our perspective and deepen our appreciation for the global nature of the Olympics. Whether you're cheering for a legendary sprinter from Jamaica, an up-and-coming gymnast from Japan, or a trailblazing weightlifter from the Refugee Team, the Olympics offer a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity and unity. Engaging in discussions about your favorite athletes and their journeys not only enriches your viewing experience but also fosters a sense of global camaraderie and mutual respect. Here are some phrases you can use to discuss your favorite teams and learn about others’ interests:
Discussing the results of the different teams and sports at the Olympics is always a big part of the games. Sharing medal tallies, celebrating victories, and analysing unexpected outcomes are all integral to the Olympic experience. Engaging in these conversations not only enhances your enjoyment of the games but also connects you with fellow enthusiasts who share your passion. Whether you’re congratulating a team on their success or discussing the surprising results of an event, these interactions bring the excitement and camaraderie of the Olympics to life.
Start learning essential vocabulary today to enjoy the 2024 Summer Olympics in the language of this year’s host country! Go beyond our Olympics phrases and become a master in French with Drops’ fast and fun language-learning games.
"Love my fun language learning and practice with daily Drops sessions, and monthly Challenges to participate in, and quiz mode to test contextual learning - brilliant! So much thought, consideration and inclusivity has gone into the design and function of this app, I can't praise it highly enough."
"Great little learning app! I've learned at least 5-10 new words in Spanish in my first 5 minutes. Easy to pick up and thorough."
"Great language learning app! It helps you get daily words done in a short amount of time. I would highly recommend using drops to learn whatever language you want to learn."
"What an amazing app! I’ve tried several apps for language learning and I cannot recommend Drops enough. I don’t know how a short Drops session can teach me as much as 1 hour+ of focused use of other apps, it’s like magic."
"Amazing language learning tool. Excellent app for increasing vocabulary in your foreign language of choice. Useful for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners. The repetition of the words makes them much easier to remember, and without the hassle of making your own flash cards. I have used Drops for two years now and have seen great results."
"Very engaging way of learning Yoruba in a stimulating way. Will be using to learn myself and to teach my child!"
"Less than a week in but using this alone with the popular one babbel working on German. When using just one app I got bored, babbel is not as fun. So using both at once actually let's my adhd do its thing but I still focused since I can switch easily between both apps and work in different areas. Also I like the quick little sessions makes me feel like I actually did something."
"So engaging. I speak Spanish well, but often forget words in conversation that I know I should know. This game is fun and quickly brings back vocabulary I may have put in the back of my brain after not using it for awhile. Case in point: I spent 11 years in construction, then went back to teaching in English and/or Spanish depending on the teacher/student"
"Amazing app"
"I have been desperate to find an app that really helps me learn Japanese and this is the best by far"
"I like that you can switch between different subjects and topics constantly and it’s really easy to learn a lot of vocabulary very quickly! This works perfect for me because I can learn a lot of words but then practice sentence structure with my grandmother whose from Croatia"
"Fantastic app great opportunity to learn languages on your spare time. Drops makes it easy to learn and retain words to formulate sentences."
"Best of the best. Awesome app in every sense"
"This app us the best and how I am doing Learning Ukraine is Helping me alot tnx"
"Definitely recommend! I'm using this to learn mandarin 10/10"
"Fun and interactive. Great for repetition!"
"Very engaging way of learning Yoruba in a stimulating way. Will be using to learn myself and to teach my child!"
"Amazing language learning tool. Excellent app for increasing vocabulary in your foreign language of choice. Useful for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners. The repetition of the words makes them much easier to remember, and without the hassle of making your own flash cards. I have used Drops for two years now and have seen great results."
"Great little learning app! I've learned at least 5-10 new words in Spanish in my first 5 minutes. Easy to pick up and thorough."
"I have been desperate to find an app that really helps me learn Japanese and this is the best by far"
"I like that you can switch between different subjects and topics constantly and it’s really easy to learn a lot of vocabulary very quickly! This works perfect for me because I can learn a lot of words but then practice sentence structure with my grandmother whose from Croatia"
"Fantastic app great opportunity to learn languages on your spare time. Drops makes it easy to learn and retain words to formulate sentences."
"What an amazing app! I’ve tried several apps for language learning and I cannot recommend Drops enough. I don’t know how a short Drops session can teach me as much as 1 hour+ of focused use of other apps, it’s like magic."
"Love my fun language learning and practice with daily Drops sessions, and monthly Challenges to participate in, and quiz mode to test contextual learning - brilliant! So much thought, consideration and inclusivity has gone into the design and function of this app, I can't praise it highly enough."
"Definitely recommend! I'm using this to learn mandarin 10/10"
"This app us the best and how I am doing Learning Ukraine is Helping me alot tnx"
