English To French Words: Travelling Around France
This English to French Words Page provides some handy vocabulary and phrases that you may need to use while travelling around France, whether you’re driving, taking the train or finding your way around the airport.
You might also be interested in this online french course, which will really help you improve your conversational french, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced.
Trains, planes and taxis
Booking a train ticket, changing your flight or catching a taxi are all common scenarios. Here are a few basic french phrases to start….
Vocabulary, Basic French Words
| Annuler | Cancel |
| Composter votre billet | To punch/stamp your ticket (with a date stamp) |
| Guichet | Ticket office |
| Horaire | Timetable |
| Non-fumeurs | Non-smoking |
| Première classe | First class |
| Seconde class | Standard (second) class |
| SNCF | French Railway |
| TGV Train à grande vitesse | High-speed train |
English To French Words and Basic French Phrases
| Où est la gare la plus proche? | Where’s the nearest railway station? |
| Où est-ce que je peux prendre un taxi? | Where can I get a taxi? |
| Je voudrais réserver/faire une réservation | I’d like to make a reservation |
| Je voudrais réserver une place | I’d like to reserve a seat |
| Est-ce qu-il y a une place non-fumeurs? | Is there a non-smoking seat? |
| Je voudrais une place dans la section non-fumeurs | I’d like a seat in the non-smoking section |
| Combien coûte un billet aller-retour pour Avignon, s’il vous plaît? | How much is a one-way/return ticket to Avignon, please? |
| Un carnet, s’il vous plaît | A pack of 10 métro tickets, please (for paris metro) |
| Le prochain train pour Paris est à quelle heure? | What time is the next train to Paris? |
| Le train part de quel quai? Il part/arrive à quelle heure? | Which platform does the train leave from? When does it leave/arrive? |
| Il faut changer à Lyon | You need to change at Lyon |
| Pouvez-vous me confirmer l’heure de départ du vol pour New York? | Can you confirm departure time for the plane to New York? |
| À quelle heure part le prochain vol pour Londres? | What time does the next plane for London leave? |
| Est-ce que l’avion partira à l’heure? | Is the plane due to leave on time? |
| Le train est en retard/à l’heure | The train is delayed/on time |
| Le voyage dure combien de temps? | How long does the trip take? |
| Est-ce que cette place est occupée? | Is this seat taken? |
| Non, c’est libre | No, it’s free |
| Pardon, je descends ici | Excuse me, this is my stop |
English To French Words:
Driving and Car Rental
Here are some french words in english that you’ll need to be aware of if you’re organising a hire carand/or driving in France – especially outside of the cities where sometimes little english is spoken.
Basic French Words – Petrol/Gas Stations
| Station-service | Petrol Station |
| Essence | Petrol |
| Gazole | Diesel |
| Super | 4 star |
| Sans plomb | Unleaded |
Common Road Signs
You’ll probably find that the relationship between the english to french words is quite similar – you can often figure out their meaning (such as deviation and diversion, see below). Plus, often the road signs have other signs or symbols which clearly indicate what they are trying to say and you don’t need to know the french word anyway.
Still, knowing a few important words may put your mind at ease.
| Cédez le passage | Yield |
| Centre ville | Town centre |
| Toutes/Autres Directions | All/Other Directions |
| Déviation | Diversion |
| Limite de vitesse | Speed Limit |
| Ralentissez | Slow down |
| Sens interdit | No entry |
| Sens unique | One way |
| Sortie | Exit |
| Stationnement interdit | No Parking |
| Zone bleue | Restricted parking zone |
| Zone piétonne/piétonnière | Pedestrian zone |
Useful French Phrases for Driving
| Je voudrais louer une voiture | I would like to rent a car |
| C’est combien par jour? | How much is it per day? |
| Est-ce que l’assurance est comprise? | Is insurance included in the price? |
| J’ai fait une réservation le mois dernier | I made a booking last month |
| Je voudrais modifier une réservation éxistante | I would like to modify/change an existing reservation |
| Je dois annuler ma réservation | I have to cancel my reservation |
| Ou se trouve votre agence? | Where is your office? |
| Où est la station-service? | Where is the petrol station? |
| Je suis tombé(e) en panne | I have broken down |
| J’ai un pneu crevé | I have got a puncture |
| La batterie est à plat | The battery is flat |
| Le moteur ne veut pas démarrer | The engine won’t start |
| Où dois-je payer? | Where do I pay? |
| Vous acceptez les cartes de crédit? | Do you accept credit cards? |