English language in Nice

We will be going to Nice in December for a week. My french is limited but I will at least know a few phrases and some key words.

Do most service industry people speak English? Will my limited vocabulary be acceptable?

I have heard that as long as you are polite, friendly and make an effort in non-English countries things should be fine....Just wondering if this is the case in Nice as well.

thanks for any information

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You won%26#39;t have a problem with the language in Nice.

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As the previous poster suggests, there is usually no problem at all with not speaking French in Nice. If you speak a little French you will get by fine in most situations and most French people speak English (in my experience). My husband speaks perfect French but usually when the waiter/whatever hears us taling in English they speak to me in English as well...

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We%26#39;ve run into quite a few people who don%26#39;t speak english, but most know how to communicate with hand signals and drawings quite well...you should learn to do the same and speak slowly when you speak with non native english speakers. If you do so, you%26#39;ll do fine.

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If you make the effort and speak some French, it certainly seems to be appreciated! Having just returned from a wonderful week in Nice (apart from the thunderstorms for two days!!), I found people in restaurants, shops etc so friendly when using my school / phrase book French. Even though many can speak good English, I think it%26#39;s polite to use their language where possible. A lot of tourists don%26#39;t though, even the obvious phrases of please and thank you.

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It%26#39;s no problem if you don%26#39;t speak French. Everyone seems to be able to speak English. It would be useful to learn a few words so that you can understand the menus as quite a lot of the time it isn%26#39;t written in English on the boards outside. This isn%26#39;t a problem as the waiter/waitresses will translate for you but its difficult to take in everything all at once. Just learn the basics like chicken, beef, fish etc. and you will be able to enjoy a more varied diet! Everyone is very polite and always says %26#39;Bonjour%26#39; when you enter a shop etc. Just smile and be polite.

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I haven%26#39;t the facts to prove it but my impression is that the vast majority of people in Nice speak no English. However, people who deal with tourists do usually, but not always, speak at least a little.

As others have said, being polite and friendly is half the battle. It is, of course, also important to speak slowly and clearly.

It is best not to speak French after the basic greeting, unless you are certain of what the words mean. Some time ago, I heard an Englishman, in loud and confident tones, ask a driver to direct him to the bus to %26#39;la guerre%26#39; (the war) The driver, poker faced, pointed in the direction of the bus for %26#39;la gare%26#39; (the station) After the man had gone, the driver wondered aloud if the tourist had actually wanted the foreign legion recruitment office which is on the edge of the old town.

Seriously though, Nice is a relaxed and friendly place. You will be fine provided you don%26#39;t do something dreadful, such as complaining that you have been waiting thirty minutes to be served your main course. Nice is a no rush city!

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