Can I go to the washroom?

English: Can I go to the washroom?

French: J’peux-tu aller aux toilettes?

Here’s another usage of ‘’-tu’’ that you’ll likely encounter. Young children will ask this, but airplane passengers may also ask you if they can go to the washroom. Some may ask during boarding, as they didn’t get a chance to use the washroom in the terminal before boarding. Some may ask during descent, if they have time to go before landing. Some may ask when the seat belt sign is on when the plane is going through turbulence.

Je peux=I can

J’peux=I can (colloquial pronunciation)

Aller=To go

Aux toilettes=To the washroom, to the toilets

Je peux aller aux toilettes.=I can go to the washroom.

J’peux-tu aller aux toilettes?=Can I go to the washroom?

"Est-ce que je peux aller aux toilettes?" is still correct and valid.

This question can be asked in different ways. Regardless of how it’s asked, it usually not too hard to understand the question if you can at least pick out the word “toilettes” and also remember to use context clues. (The passenger is trying to get past you to where the lavatory is. The passenger points to the lavatory. Etc.)

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Can I keep my bag with me?

English: Can I keep my bag with me?

French: J’peux-tu garder ma sacoche avec moi?

Not only is it important to learn what to say to passengers, it’s also important to understand the French that passengers say to you.

Here’s the situation: you’re preparing the cabin for take off and see a lady holding onto her purse on her lap. You ask her kindly if she could stow the bag under the seat. “Pouvez-vous ranger le sac sous le siège, SVP?” She asks if she can keep her purse with her. How would passengers usually ask this question?

Most other French courses will teach you formal French:

Je peux=I can

Garder=To keep

Mon sac à main=My purse

Avec moi=With me

Est-ce que=Question marker that turns a statement into a yes/no question.

Je peux garder mon sac à main avec moi.=I can keep my purse with me.

Est-ce que je peux garder mon sac à main avec moi?=Can I keep my purse with me?

Although the above question is technically correct, your French Canadian passengers likely won’t say that. Firstly, as stated in our last post, they’re likely to use “sacoche” instead of “sac à main.”

Also, in Canadian French, instead of using “est-ce que” to turn a statement into a yes/no question, they often use “-tu”.

Je peux=I can

J’peux=I can (colloquial pronunciation)

J’peux-tu?=Can I?

J’peux-tu garder ma sacoche avec moi?=Can I keep my purse with me?

Other French courses generally won’t put so much emphasis on colloquial French, especially Canadian French colloquialisms. However, as a flight attendant, half your job will be to speak to passengers, for which you can use formal French, but the other half is listening to and understanding your passengers, many of whom will NOT speak to you using textbook French.

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Bag. Suitcase. Baggage. Backpack. Purse.

English: Bag. Suitcase. Baggage. Backpack. Purse.

French: Sac. Valise. Bagage. Sac à dos. Sac à main.

As a flight attendant, you’ll inevitably become familiar with the names of all these different kinds of bags. For the sake of simplicity, you can use the generic word “sac” when speaking to passengers, regardless what kind of bag you’re referring to. (Be it a backpack, a purse, a plastic bag, a suitcase, etc.)

However, it’s important you recognize the French words for these other kinds of bags when passengers use these words with you.

Valise (f)=Suitcase

Bagage (m)=Baggage

Sac (m)=Bag

À=To

Dos (m)=Back (the body part)

Sac à dos=Backpack, knapsack

Main (f)=Hand

Sac à main=Purse, handbag

The formal word for “purse” is “sac à main” and you would say this to passengers if need be. However, most other French courses and even airlines themselves will not tell you that Canadian francophone passengers will often use “sacoche” (f) for “purse” in colloquial situations. It’s important you’re able to recognize these kinds of words when passengers say them to you.

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Want to learn to speak the French you need to work as a flight attendant? Learn even more with Canadian French for Flight Attendants.

Special pre-launch trial price for Module 1.

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