#188 Asking About Table Manners｜French Daily Life Phrases

When you dine at a restaurant abroad, you may sometimes feel unsure about table manners, such as how to eat certain dishes or the order in which food should be eaten.

For this reason, if you are unsure about something, I recommend confirming it in advance. By asking politely, you can avoid giving a rude impression and instead show that you are interested in the local culture.

In this section, I will explain useful French expressions that you can use when asking about table manners in restaurants or dining situations.

Dialogue

A

Excusez-moi, je ne suis pas très familier avec les règles à table ici.
（Excuse me, I am not very familiar with the table manners here.）

B

Pas de problème, je peux vous expliquer si vous voulez.
（No problem. I can explain them to you if you would like.）

A

Merci. Est-ce qu’il y a une façon particulière de manger le pain ?
（Thank you. Is there a particular way to eat bread?）

B

Oui, en général, on ne coupe pas le pain avec un couteau. On le casse avec les mains.
（Yes. Generally, we do not cut bread with a knife. We break it by hand.）

A

Je vois. Et est-ce qu’il y a des choses à éviter absolument ?
（I see. Are there things I should absolutely avoid?）

B

Par exemple, on évite de poser les coudes sur la table pendant le repas.
（For example, you should avoid putting your elbows on the table during the meal.）

A

D’accord. Merci beaucoup de me l’avoir expliqué.
（Understood. Thank you very much for explaining that to me.）

1. Expressing Uncertainty About Local Table Manners

You do not need to know foreign table manners perfectly from the beginning.

What matters is that you do not ignore things you do not understand and confirm them when necessary.

The expression “être familier avec + noun” means “to be familiar with.” The adjective “familier” means “familiar with” or “well acquainted with.”

In this structure, “avec” does not mean “together with.” Instead, it functions as a preposition that links the adjective to the topic.

Using “pas très” (not very) makes the sentence sound softer and more polite.

The structure “pas très + adjective” is similar to English “not very …”, which suggests “not particularly knowledgeable,” rather than “completely unaware.”

2. Asking About Specific Manners

Next, you can ask about specific rules or customs that you want to understand.

“Est-ce qu’il y a … ?” is used to ask whether something exists. In French, it is very useful when you want to confirm rules, customs, or correct methods.

The phrase “façon particulière” (a particular way) is especially useful when asking about cultural habits.

By using “une façon particulière de + infinitive,” you can form a noun phrase meaning “a way of doing something.”

3. Asking About Actions You Should Avoid

In addition to learning correct behavior, it is also important to know what you should avoid.

Literally, this means “Are there things that must absolutely be avoided?” In practice, it is used to ask about behavior that may be considered bad manners.

The structure “il y a” means “there is / there are.”

The verb “éviter” is a transitive verb and is used as: “éviter + noun / éviter de + infinitive”

In this sentence, the object is grouped into “des choses” (some things). The phrase “à éviter” works as an adjective, meaning “that should be avoided.”

Adding the adverb “absolument” strengthens the meaning and emphasizes importance.

Summary