je voudrais faire une réservation
The English phrase 'I would like to make a reservation' is expressed in French as je voudrais faire une réservation.
This phrase is used when initiating a booking for a table, a room or a service.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I would like to make a reservation', where je voudrais is the conditional form of the verb vouloir (to want).
Which one should you use?
A more concise alternative you can use is je voudrais réserver, which means 'I would like to reserve'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase je voudrais faire une réservation is a polite way to approach staff in settings like hotels or restaurants. The use of the conditional voudrais instead of the present tense veux makes the request polite. For a more formal version, you can say Je souhaiterais effectuer une réservation, s'il vous plaît.
Did you know?
- When making a reservation in France, it is culturally expected to start the conversation with Bonjour before saying je voudrais faire une réservation. Skipping the greeting is often seen as quite rude.
- If you are booking a table in a very high-end establishment, you might hear the verb réserver replaced by retenir, which literally means 'to hold' or 'to retain' a place for you.
- The French word faire in this phrase shares the same Latin root as the English word 'factory'. Both come from the Latin 'facere' meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
Examples in context
- Je souhaiterais effectuer une réservation pour deux personnes à huit heures ce soir, s'il vous plaît.I would like to make a reservation for two people at eight o'clock tonight, please.
- Je voudrais réserver une table pour deux personnes en vue d'une occasion spéciale.I would like to reserve a table for two people for a special occasion.
- Je voudrais faire une réservation pour deux personnes.I would like to make a reservation for two people.
- Bonjour, je voudrais faire une réservation pour ce soir.Hello, I would like to make a reservation for tonight.
Example conversation
Léa is calling a restaurant to book a table.
- LéaBonjour, je voudrais faire une réservation.Hello, I would like to make a reservation.
- HugoOui, pour quelle heure, madame ?Yes, for what time, ma'am?
- LéaPour dix-neuf heures, s'il vous plaît.For 7 p.m., please.
- HugoC'est noté, Léa. À ce soir !It's noted, Léa. See you tonight!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, je, réservation, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
