Asking for Directions in French – Essential Vocabulary List
Although traveling around France or other French-speaking nations is certainly a fantastic opportunity, getting lost or delayed in getting to your destination can definitely mar the experience.
Plus, nothing is worse than asking for directions in a foreign country and not understanding what the locals are saying.
Not only is it best to learn to ask for directions and understand the responses, but it's also recommended to get more familiar with names of the local transportation systems.
Here are some phrases that will come in useful during your travels:
|
Phrase in French |
Phrase in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Excusez-moi |
Excuse me |
Ex-kyoo-zeh mwah |
|
Où est… ? |
Where is…? |
Ooo eh ? |
|
Comment est-ce que je vais à la gare ? |
How do I get to the train station? |
Commaw es kuh zhuh vay za la gahr ? |
|
La carte |
The map |
Lah cart |
|
À droite |
Right |
Ah drwat |
|
À gauche |
Left |
Ah goh-sh |
|
Tout droit |
Straight |
Too drwah |
|
Vers la/le… |
Towards the… |
Ver luh/lah… |
|
Au coin de |
At the corner of |
Oh kwan duh |
|
Devant |
In front of |
Duh-vahn |
|
Là bas |
Over there |
Lah bah |
|
C'est loin ? |
Is it far? |
Say lwan ? |
|
Rue |
Street |
Roo |
|
Tournez |
Turn |
Toor-nay |
|
Restaurant |
Restaurant |
Res- toh-rahn |
|
L'aéroport |
Airport |
Lah–air-oh-por |
|
Un taxi |
A taxi |
Uhn taxi |
|
TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) |
The TGV (High Speed Train) |
Tay-Zhay-Vay (traihn ah grwand vee-tess) |
|
Le métro |
The metro (underground train) |
Luh meh-tro |
|
À côté de |
Next to |
Ah kotay duh |
|
L'hotel |
The hotel |
Loh-tel |
|
Montez jusqu'à |
Go up just until |
Mohn-tay zhoosk-ah |
|
Où puis-je trouver ? |
Where can I find ? |
Ooh pwee-zhuh troo-vay ? |
|
Le Nord |
North |
Luh Nohr |
|
Le Sud |
South |
Luh Syood |
|
L'Est |
East |
Lehst |
|
L'Ouest |
West |
Loo-est |
|
Près de |
Near |
Pray duh |
|
Après le/la… |
After the… |
Ahh-pray luh/lah… |
|
Avant le/la… |
Before the… |
Ahh-vawn luh/lah… |
Slang/Commonly Used Expressions:
|
Expression in French |
Expression in English |
Pronunciation |
|
Au secours ! |
Help! |
Oh seck-oor ! |
|
Je suis perdu(e). |
I am lost. |
Zhuh swee pare-dyoo. |
|
Où y'a-t-il plein de restaurants ? |
Where are a lot of restaurants? |
Ooh yah-till plain duh res-toh-rahn ? |
|
Dans quelle rue se trouve le musée ? |
On which street is the museum? |
Dahn kell roo suh troov luh myoozay ? |
Do you know of a resource that should be
added to this list? E-mail us and let us know!
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