Toasts and Table Talk at a French Dinner Party
Arrive with the right gift, clink glasses the French way, compliment the cook and leave gracefully.
Invited to dinner in France, you bring a bottle of wine, flowers or dessert and arrive about ten minutes late rather than early. The evening starts with l'apéro, and when glasses clink everyone says « Santé ! » or « À la vôtre ! » while looking each other in the eye. A proper dinner runs entrée, plat, cheese, then dessert, and lasts several hours; leaving straight after the meal can seem abrupt.
- 1
Je peux apporter quelque chose ?
Can I bring anything?
- 2
J'ai apporté une bouteille de vin.
I brought a bottle of wine.
- 3
À la tienne !
Cheers! (to one friend)
- 4
À la vôtre, tout le monde !
Cheers, everyone!
- 5
Il faut se regarder dans les yeux quand on trinque !
You have to look each other in the eye when you clink glasses!
Tip: French superstition: break eye contact and you get seven years of bad luck.
- 6
Je voudrais porter un toast.
I'd like to make a toast.
- 7
À nos hôtes !
To our hosts!
- 8
Sers-toi !
Help yourself! (to a friend)
- 9
Ça sent super bon.
It smells amazing.
- 10
C'est délicieux. C'est toi qui l'as fait ?
This is delicious. Did you make it yourself?
- 11
Tu peux me passer le pain ?
Could you pass me the bread?
- 12
Tu en reprends un peu ?
Will you have a bit more?
- 13
Non merci, j'ai assez mangé.
No thanks, I'm full.
Tip: Avoid the literal translation: in French it can mean drunk or pregnant.
- 14
Juste un fond, merci.
Just a splash, thanks.
- 15
On passe au fromage ?
Shall we move on to the cheese?
- 16
Il faut que tu me donnes la recette.
You have to give me the recipe.
- 17
Levons nos verres à Claire et Thomas !
Let's raise our glasses to Claire and Thomas!
- 18
Merci beaucoup de nous avoir reçus.
Thanks so much for having us.
- 19
Il se fait tard, on va y aller.
It's getting late, we'd better make a move.
- 20
La prochaine fois, c'est chez nous !
Next time, it's at our place!