The Only 10 French Words & Phrases You Actually Need When Buying Property in France

10 Useful Words And Phrases For International Buyers Looking To Purchase A Property In France (And Why They’ll Save Your Sanity)

So you’ve decided to buy a house in France. Bravo!
You’re already picturing long lunches, a glass of wine that costs less than bottled water, and a life where nobody emails you after 5pm.

But then… the paperwork arrives.
In French.
All 47 pages of it.
In size-8 font.

Fear not — you don’t need to speak fluent French to buy property in France. You just need to know these 10 words and phrases. Master them, and you’ll survive viewings, notaires, and that mysterious moment when everyone suddenly starts talking very fast.

1. “Bonjour” (bon-zhoor)

Meaning: Hello
Why it matters: This is not optional. In France, entering a room without saying bonjour is a social crime punishable by frosty silence.

Say it to:

* Estate agents
* Notaires
* Neighbours
* People you accidentally make eye contact with

It unlocks everything.

2. “C’est combien ?” (say comb-yen)

Meaning: How much is it?
Why it matters: You’ll ask this a lot.
About the house.
The land.
The tax.
The roof repair.
The thing you didn’t know existed but are now apparently paying for.

Say it early. Say it often.

3. “Frais de notaire” (fray de no-taire)

Meaning: Notaire’s fees
Why it matters: This is the moment your budget quietly whimpers.

These are normal.
They are not optional.

Learning this phrase in advance helps soften the emotional blow.

4. “Travaux” (tra-vo)

Meaning:Works / renovations
Why it matters:
If an estate agent says “just a little travaux”, prepare yourself mentally for:

A new roof
New electrics
New plumbing
Possibly a new personality

5. “C’est charmant” (say shar-mon)

Meaning: It’s charming
Why it matters:
This is French property code for:

“Yes, it’s falling down, but you’ll learn to love it.”

Say it while nodding thoughtfully. It makes you look experienced.

6. “On peut négocier ?” (on puh nay-go-see-ay)

Meaning: Can we negotiate?
Why it matters:
Yes, you *can* negotiate in France.
No, not on everything.
But it’s always worth asking — politely — and then pretending you’re very relaxed about the answer.

7. “Assainissement” (a-san-ee-smon)

Meaning: Drainage / sewage system
Why it matters:
This one will appear in surveys and suddenly become the most important thing in your life.

If it’s “non conforme”, your dream house may require:

A new septic tank
€10,000
Deep breathing exercises

8. “Compromis de vente” (com-pro-mee de vont)

Meaning: Preliminary sales contract
Why it matters:
This is the “we’re doing this” moment.
Once you sign it, the process becomes real, exciting, and mildly terrifying.

You’ll also learn a lot about yourself during the cooling-off period.

9. “Le notaire” (luh no-taire)

Meaning: The notary (aka the most powerful person in the room)
Why it matters:
In France, the notaire is:

A lawyer
A government official
A referee
A calm, unshakeable presence who knows everything

Make friends with your notaire. Bring biscuits if necessary.

10. “On va prendre un verre” (on va prond-ruh un vair)

Meaning: Let’s have a drink
Why it matters:
This is the most important phrase of all.
It marks:

Successful viewings
Completed purchases
Surviving French bureaucracy
Becoming part of village life

Also: this is how you make friends.

Final tip (very important):

You don’t need perfect French — you just need confidence, politeness, and a willingness to laugh when you get it wrong. The French appreciate effort, even if you accidentally ask for 10 roofs instead of a receipt.

And remember:
Every English person buying property in France starts out confused.
They just end up confused in a nicer place.

Santé 🍷