Mastering French Table Etiquette 🍽

Author: Camille Chevalier

There is more to French Table Etiquette than “Bon appĂŠtit”: did you know for example that you needed to wait for your host to start eating AND drinking? The French keep both hands on the table and cheese is only passed once… 

In this article, I’m going to describe somewhat formal French table etiquette. Of course, table manners may be more relaxed in certain French homes. I will principally compare the French table etiquette with the American table manners since I am also an American citizen.

I also encourage you to make flashcards to memorize all the French table vocabulary and expressions – they will come in handy.

General French Table Etiquette

Where should you keep your hands at the table in France?

At the French table, you should keep your hands on the table, on each side of the plate, in a relaxed manner. Palms may be down, or your hands can be on the side, but both hands should be on the table, never under the table on your lap.

People will put their elbow on the table, rest their head in it, or cross their hands. That’s OK in a very relaxed setting, like at home, or at a barbecue or at a café, but in a fancy restaurant, or at a formal business meal, polite table manners dictate you sit very straight in your chair, and keep both your hands on the table.

This is actually a habit that is hard to break: when I lived in the US, I was invited for Thanksgiving to the mother of a friend’s house. Of course, I wanted to show off my good side, and be a polite guest, so tried to keep my hands on my lap to conform to the American code of table manners.

Each time I used my fork and knife, or drank, my hands went back on the table…I’d realize it and put them back on my lap. And then they’d go up on the table again… It must have been fun watching me doing this little hand dance all afternoon long!

How to Politely Hold Your Knife and Fork in France?

When holding your knife and fork (le couteau et la fourchette), your index finger should be extended on the handle. In France, we never hold our knife or fork in a fist like position at the table, even when we are cutting something. It’s something I’ve seen many people do in the US, but I’ve never seen anybody hold their cutlery this way in France.

The fork will be placed to the left of the plate, and the knife on the right. The knife with the sharp edge towards the plate.

how to hold your silverware at the french table

Note that your knife should be used with your right hand, even if you are left handed… It may not be practical, but that’s what good French table manners dictate!

If you are only using your fork or spoon, it will be with the right hand. Your knife should then be resting on the knife rest (le porte-couteau).

Then, when you are eating something that requires cutting, you’ll switch your fork to the left hand and hold your knife in the right hand.

Fork Tines Up or Down in France?

This is a tricky one, and not everybody agrees.

Most French table will have the fork tines up. I don’t really know why, some say it is not to damage the table cloth…

Other people put the tines down. If you have real silverware, there is often some pretty drawing / initials on the handle and it’s prettier that way.

As you can see on my pictures, I prefer setting my table with fork tines down, but I know this is not the case in the majority of French homes…

How To Indicate Your Are Done Eating?

Between two bites, put your silverware at 4 and 8 o’clock on the plate, but not crossing, nor falling out of the plate to indicate you are still eating (picture 1)

Your silverware should never touch the table when resting on the plate. If you prefer, and if they are not covered with sauce, you may also put your silverware back on the table: under your knife, you will probably have a little stand, like a chopstick stand, to rest the knife. It’s called “un porte-couteau”, and you should rest your knife on it. It will prevent the tablecloth (la nappe) from getting soiled.

When you are done, place your silverware parallel slightly to the right side (picture 2 ) This is will indicate you are no longer eating, but it doesn’t mean the waiter will take your plate away instantaneously. Meals are a long affair in France. But, it should get things moving.

5 Tips About Silverware Etiquette in France

Depending on the formality of the place, you may get several pieces of silverware (les couverts).

The minimum is:

  1. a fork (une fourchette – to the left of the plate),
  2. a knife (un couteau – to the right)
  3. maybe a soup spoon (une cuillère à soupe – next to the knife if soup is to be served),
  4. a small spoon (une petite cuillère, usually placed between the glass and the plate)
  5. maybe a small fork (une petite fourchette) for dessert (placed by the small spoon).

You may also get several different kinds of forks and knifes to the side of the plate, for fish, meat etc…

Work your way from the farthest to the closest to the plate, dish after dish. It is rather common to give a smaller knife (un petit couteau) for cheese, a smaller fork for cake and fruits, a small spoon for other less solid desserts…

To help yourself to a dish at a French home, special silverware will be offered, usually a big spoon and fork (les couverts de service), or a knife for cheese.

Help yourself, then don’t forget to put them back in the dish, then turn the dish to face the person next to you when you hand him/her the dish.

At the end of the meal, put your napkin (la serviette) by the side of your plate, without folding it.

Usually, French hosts pay close attention to the setting of the table; they carefully choose tablecloth (we have many different ones), plates and glasses to best feature the food they are preparing.

They might decorate the table with candles (des bougies) or other decorative ornaments, or take out their Grandma’s real silverware (l’argenterie) etc…

beautifully dressed French table

This is not to show off, but it’s part of the culture, to welcome our guests and give them the best dining experience.

It is a nice gesture to comment on the table setting “quelle jolie table” (what a pretty table setting), “oh les belles assiettes” (what gorgeous plates), “cette nappe est ravissante” (this tablecloth is delightful)…

How Do You Say Host & Guest in French?

Let’s start by explaining something quite tricky:  the word “un / une hôte” in French refers to both the hosts and the guests…

We usually say “la maîtresse de maison” for the hostess, “le maître de maison” for the host, and “les invités” (sometimes “les convives” but it’s quite old fashioned) for the guests.

For more on this subject, I suggest you read my article on how to be a polite home guest in France.

French Etiquette For Sitting at and Leaving the table

Often, the hostess will have decided on a particular order to sit the guests. There might be nametags, but usually she will show you your seat. The guests of honor should be seated to the right of the hosts, and after it always goes man, woman, man, woman whenever possible.

In France, when sitting by themselves, a couple always sits one in front of the other, not next to each other.

Men will wait for the hostess sit first – if you are a man you could pull the chair of the woman next to you, it’s still very much done in France. And when a woman leaves the table and come back, some men still stand up – that is quite old fashioned, a bit much in everyday life.

Before starting to eat, in a not too formal setting, the hostess will say “bon appétit” (enjoy your meal) and everybody will answer the same. Among younger people, a shorter version “bon ap’” is pretty common.

You should not leave the table during a meal, which might very well last several hours. Plan on using the restroom before (Here is my article on how to ask where is the restroom in French).

If a child wants to leave the table early – common in France since the meals can be so long – he/she should ask the hostess “est-ce que je peux sortir de table s’il vous plaît” (may I be excused please).

How To Politely Accept or Refuse Food in French?

At home, soups, salads, cheese and fruits are supposed be offered only once. All the rest twice (yet, if it’s your home, you do whatever pleases you…)

Accepting a second serving of the main course will please your hosts, but don’t forget there is still salad, cheese and desert coming, so save some room!

  1. To accept a second serving, say something like “volontiers, c’est délicieux” (with pleasure, it’s delicious).
  2. To refuse “non merci, c’est délicieux mais je n’ai pas très faim” (no thanks, it’s delicious but I am not very hungry).
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What Should You do if You Don’t Like Some French Food?

Eat what you like, try the rest (unless you are allergic of course), and leave whatever you don’t feel like eating neatly put together on one side.

Do not push the food apart and search and pick only a couple of bites: this is considered very impolite in France.
You eat it, or you don’t.

And if you don’t eat it, don’t make a big fuss about it: no-one should comment as not to embarrass you.. If they do, say “c’était délicieux mais je n’ai pas très faim”. (it was delicious but I am not very hungry).

Note that in France, it’s customary to finish one’s plate. Kids are taught to finish their food, and people only take what they know they will eat. If someone else gave you too much food, or if you over estimated your appetite, then you may want to say something like : “je suis désolé, mais c’est trop pour moi. C’était vraiment délicieux” (I’m sorry, but it’s too much for me. It was really delicious”.

General French Good Manners

So let’s review the general good manners are the French table.

Keep your hands on the table, on each side of the plate, in a relaxed manner. Palms may be down, or your hand can be on the side, but both hands should be on the table, never under the table. No elbow either, although elbows are OK in a more relaxed setting as far as you are still sitting somewhat straight.

When holding your knife and fork (le couteau et la fourchette), your index finger should be extended on the handle: don’t hold your knife in a fist like position.

Always wait for the hostess’ signal to start drinking and eating. This may look old fashioned but it’s still very much done in France: no one eat or drink before the hostess says “bon appétit” and starts eating / drinking herself.

Furthermore, it’s still quite common in France to make a toast, so it would be a faux-pas if someone did make a toast and you had already finished your glass…

Oh, and here comes a big one: traditionally in France, women don’t pour wine for themselves. The man sitting next to them does. Of course, if there is no man at the table, a woman will do the pouring. But otherwise, the men should gallantly pour the wine for the women sitting next to them.

Last tip: try to eat as quietly as you can. No slurping, no loud chewing… certainly no burping. Try also not to blow your nose at the table.

Also, be careful with the level of your voice, or laugh. Especially in a fancy restaurant where the ambiance can be soft and rather quiet, someone speaking a bit loud in a foreign language can really stand out.

VoilĂ . This should get your nicely started. If you liked this article, you may also enjoy “how to comment on food in French” or â€œTips on What is Very Polite and Very Rude At the French Table“.

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Author: Camille Chevalier

Camille Chevalier

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany.

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