How to Visit New York Without Speaking English

This topic came from a question by Djul02 on the forum. Julien asked: “What do I do if I don’t speak any English?” The answer is simple: stay organized. Here’s the strategy to follow:

1/ Don’t try hard with the immigration officer

• The first person who will speak English to you in New York is the immigration officer processing your arrival. If your English isn’t strong, my advice is simple: don’t try. I’ve tested different approaches on my trips to New York. When I attempted to speak English, the process took much longer because the officer was happy to ask all their questions in detail.
• The opposite happened when I barely responded and acted like I didn’t understand much. Those times, I got through much faster. Just hand over your passport and say “Hello” with a clear accent. The immigration officer will immediately understand you don’t speak English. When they ask their first question, even if you don’t understand a word, smile and answer “Holidays.” A strong accent will do the job perfectly.
• Another option: if you think you’ll laugh trying that word, just say “no English” and you’ll be fine. If the officer really wants answers to all their questions, don’t worry. They’ll ask another passenger nearby to translate. I’ve seen this happen many times and it always goes smoothly.
• Immigration is not a language exam. The officer understands perfectly that you don’t speak English. In fact, millions of foreign tourists arrive in New York each year speaking no English at all, and they all get through customs without any trouble. So relax.

2/ Arrange your airport transfer before you leave

• To reach your hotel, you have several options (see the section on airport transfers to New York). But if you don’t speak English, the simplest choice is a taxi. Just show the driver your hotel reservation and they’ll take you there. Many taxi drivers come from Haiti or Africa and often speak French.

3/ Print your hotel reservation

• At the hotel, present your passport and your printed reservation. No English needed—everything is written on your confirmation. You might even find a receptionist who speaks some French. The hospitality industry in New York has many French expats.
• Either way, you’ll get a key or a key card with a room number on a slip of paper. No confusion possible.

4/ Buy your transit card at the machine

• Now that you’re settled in your hotel, it’s time to explore New York. To get around, you’ll need an OMNY transit card. Don’t worry: the machines have a language setting. Just switch to your language and you’ll see the menu in French. Buy your card or tickets as easily as you would at a Paris metro machine.
• For more details, see the page on transportation in New York.

5/ Buy your tickets in advance

• To avoid talking at museum and attraction ticket counters, buy your tickets ahead of time. Visit the Excursions in New York section to choose, book, and print your tickets. Everything is in French.
• In New York, a smart move is to get a pass—a package covering multiple attractions and saving you money compared to individual tickets. The New York City Pass is the most popular. It includes the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History. Just show your pass to enter. The same goes for the New York Explorer Pass, where you pick your attractions from a long list. You won’t even need to say hello. Learn more in the section on New York passes.
• We also offer guided tours of New York in French. Our guides will be happy to show you the city, covering all neighborhoods.

6/ Eat at restaurants with menus you understand

• Lunchtime arrives and hunger sets in. Now comes the worry: how do I order food? It’s really not a problem. First, you already know American food classics by heart: burgers, cheeseburgers, hamburgers, pizzas, and mac and cheese.
• If you try an Asian restaurant in Chinatown, you’ll find menus with photos, just like in Europe.
• At bakeries and snack shops, just point at what you want. As for water? You don’t even need to know the word—as soon as you sit down, the server will bring you a pitcher. For a Coca-Cola, skip the tricky pronunciation and ask for a Pepsi. If they don’t have Pepsi, they’ll bring you a Coke. I’ve tried it!
• See our section on great restaurants in New York.

7/ Shop by sight

• To shop and pick up souvenirs, you don’t need English or to understand spoken numbers. At checkout, hand over your items and watch the total appear on the register. Even if you don’t understand “Twenty dollars fifty,” you’ll see the number clearly displayed. Easy.

8/ Use a translator app

• Your smartphone is your best friend in New York. Before you go, download translation apps, especially Google Translate. You can easily translate text and speech on the spot. Google Translate even lets you translate text by taking photos.
• Also install an English-French dictionary. Check our page on apps for a New York trip.

9/ What if something goes wrong?

• Say you face a serious problem—a health issue or lost documents. If it’s serious, contact the French Consulate in New York. It’s located at 934 5th Avenue, and you can call (212) 606-3600. The consular services can direct you to a French-speaking doctor or help you if you lose your passport. If you’re not French, know that every country has representation in New York, partly because of the UN. You can find contact information for embassies of major French-speaking countries in New York here.
• And if you still have concerns, remember you can count on the New York fan community on the forum and on the Destination New York Facebook group. Feel free to reach out via our contact form as well. Enjoy your stay.