I need some quick French help! Wife was in an accident in France

General Questions
#1

I was just informed via email by my BIL that my wife, living in Germany, was in a car accident in France. Her cell is evidently not working, but I have a number she apparently can be reached at.

I probably remember enough of my high-school & college French to more or less correctly pronounce what you write out for me.

If the person who answers the phone isn’t my wife, and doesn’t speak English, how do I ask to be connected to her?

"Something like, “hello, I’m calling from America, I don’t speak French. My wife is American. She was in an accident, and is at your hospital. Her name is… May I be connected/speak with her?”

Much thanks in advance!

#2

Quick and dirty, sometihing like:
*
Bonjour. Je suis Americain. Je ne parlez pas le Francais. Je veux parlez avec (Wife’s name).*

That prolly ain’t quite right, but oughta get the point across. A real french speaker may be able to help better.

#3

Bonjour. Je suis Americain. Je ne parle pas francais. Mon épouse a été blessée dans un accident d’automobile. Elle s’appelle insert name here. M’aiderez-vous à parler avec elle ?

Best I could do. I haven’t spoken French in a few years, and most of my old course books are tucked away in my attic. The cases may be wrong, and I had to babel fish a little bit as well. They should understand this, however.

Best wishes to you and your wife.

#4

forgot the bit about her being at their hospital. Let me try again:

Bonjour. Je suis Americain. Je ne parle pas francais. Mon épouse a été blessée dans un accident d’automobile. Elle est à votre hôpital. Elle s’appelle insert name here. M’aiderez-vous à parler avec elle ?
winces I think that’s it.

#5

Eh, most Europeans don’t care if you blatantly speak English to them. Just get her name in there and even if they speak none at all, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to figure it out.

#6

Where’s clairobscur when you need him(her)?

#7

Yeah, just about everyone speaks English over there, or there will be someone close by that does. Shouldn’t be a problem communicating.

#8

Thanks for the help guys. The French did help, the people who answered weren’t English friendly, but I got through, eventually.

She hit a large truck. Air Bags deployed, broken bone in left foot, bruised ribs, but otherwise OK. Back to Germany on Saturday.

Thanks again.

If a passing Mod would like to move or close this, that’s fine. It’s no longer GQ, I guess.

#9

levdrakon, sorry to hear that she is injured at all, but how fortunate that they are relatively minor injuries. Wonderful news, and glad you got help so quickly :slight_smile:

#10

If you contact the appropriate US Consulate in France, they have civil service types who can help. I’m sure that they have a protocol for this.

In fact, one of these should be near your wife’s hospital.