French · Getting around
French phrases for getting around
Ask where something is, buy a ticket, understand the answer. These ten sentences cover trains, buses, taxis and directions.
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French · lesson preview
Step 4Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start free10 French sentences for getting around
| # | English | French |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Where is the train station? | Où est la gare ? |
| 2 | How do I get to the airport? | Comment aller à l'aéroport ? |
| 3 | One ticket to the city center, please. | Un billet pour le centre-ville, s'il vous plaît. |
| 4 | What time does the train leave? | À quelle heure part le train ? |
| 5 | Which platform? | Quel quai ? |
| 6 | Does this bus go to the museum? | Est-ce que ce bus va au musée ? |
| 7 | Turn left at the corner. | Tournez à gauche au coin. |
| 8 | Go straight ahead. | Allez tout droit. |
| 9 | Is it far? | C'est loin ? |
| 10 | Can you show me on the map? | Pouvez-vous me le montrer sur la carte ? |
Three phrases that save you
You will not always understand the reply. These work in every situation, so learn them first.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Could you repeat that, please? | Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? |
| Please speak more slowly. | Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît. |
| I do not understand. | Je ne comprends pas. |
Tips
- Asking is easy. Understanding the answer is the hard part, so learn left, right and straight on cold.
- Show the destination on your phone and ask them to point. It beats a long spoken answer.
- Learn the numbers 1 to 20. Platforms, buses and times all use them.
These sentences use vous, the polite form, which is right for shops, hotels and restaurants. Use tu only with friends, children and people who use it with you first.
More French phrases by situation
How do you say “Where is the train station” in French?
“Où est la gare ?”.
What are the most useful French phrases for getting around?
“Où est la gare ?” (Where is the train station?) “Comment aller à l'aéroport ?” (How do I get to the airport?) “Un billet pour le centre-ville, s'il vous plaît.” (One ticket to the city center, please.) “À quelle heure part le train ?” (What time does the train leave?) “Quel quai ?” (Which platform?)
What should I say if I do not understand the answer in French?
Say “Je ne comprends pas.” (I do not understand.), then “Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.” (Please speak more slowly.) or “Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?” (Could you repeat that, please?).
How do I learn these French phrases quickly?
Say each sentence out loud, not just read it. Ten sentences a day for a week is plenty before a trip. 4ToSpeak has you hear each one, build it, and say it aloud with feedback.
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