Finding Your Way in a French City
Stop a passer-by politely, ask the way to a station or a street, and understand the answer.
In France you always start with « Bonjour » or « Excusez-moi, monsieur/madame » before asking anything; launching straight into a question sounds rude. Directions are often given by landmarks: the feu (traffic lights), the rond-point (roundabout), the post office, the pharmacy with its green cross, or the bouche de métro (metro entrance). Distances are given in minutes on foot, and street signs are on the corners of buildings rather than on posts.
- 1
Excusez-moi, je cherche la gare.
Excuse me, I'm looking for the train station.
- 2
C'est loin ?
Is it far?
- 3
On peut y aller à pied ?
Can I walk there?
- 4
C'est à dix minutes à pied.
It's ten minutes on foot.
- 5
Allez tout droit.
Go straight on.
- 6
Tournez à gauche au feu.
Turn left at the lights.
- 7
Prenez la première rue à droite.
Take the first street on the right.
- 8
Passez devant la poste.
Go past the post office.
- 9
Traversez le pont.
Cross the bridge.
- 10
C'est en face de la pharmacie.
It's opposite the pharmacy.
- 11
C'est à côté de la boulangerie.
It's next to the bakery.
- 12
Où est la station de métro la plus proche ?
Where's the nearest metro station?
- 13
Je suis perdu.
I'm lost.
- 14
Vous pouvez me montrer sur le plan ?
Could you show me on the map?
- 15
Je ne suis pas d'ici.
I'm not from around here.
- 16
Vous allez dans le mauvais sens.
You're going the wrong way.
- 17
Au bout de la rue.
At the end of the street.
- 18
Il y a un bus qui va là-bas ?
Is there a bus that goes there?
- 19
Merci beaucoup, bonne journée !
Thank you very much, have a nice day!
- 20
Vous pouvez pas la rater.
You can't miss it.