Swimming at a French Public Pool
Buy a ticket, follow the pool rules, find a lane and talk to the lifeguard at the piscine municipale.
Most French towns have a piscine municipale with cheap entry (often 3–5 €) and a carte of 10 entries. The rules surprise visitors: men must wear tight swimming trunks (baggy shorts are banned for hygiene reasons), many pools require a swimming cap, and you shower and walk through a footbath before the pool. Lockers often need a 1 € coin or a token, and the lanes are split by speed, with a maître-nageur (lifeguard) watching from the side.
- 1
Une entrée adulte, s'il vous plaît.
One adult, please.
- 2
Vous avez une carte de dix entrées ?
Do you have a ten-swim card?
- 3
La piscine ferme à quelle heure ?
What time does the pool close?
- 4
Le bonnet de bain est obligatoire ?
Is a swimming cap required?
- 5
Le short de bain est interdit.
Swim shorts aren't allowed.
- 6
Il faut un slip de bain.
You need to wear trunks.
- 7
Où sont les vestiaires ?
Where are the changing rooms?
- 8
Le casier marche avec une pièce d'un euro.
The locker takes a one-euro coin.
- 9
Prenez une douche avant d'entrer.
Please shower before going in.
- 10
C'est quelle ligne pour nager doucement ?
Which lane is for slow swimmers?
- 11
C'est profond ici ?
Is it deep here?
- 12
Je nage pas très bien.
I can't swim very well.
- 13
Pardon, je peux passer ?
Sorry, can I go past?
- 14
On ne court pas !
No running!
- 15
L'eau est froide aujourd'hui.
The water is cold today.
- 16
Je fais des longueurs.
I'm doing lengths.
- 17
Vous faites des cours de natation pour adultes ?
Do you offer swimming lessons for adults?
- 18
J'ai perdu mes lunettes de natation.
I've lost my goggles.
- 19
Il y a des objets trouvés ?
Is there a lost property box?
- 20
À la semaine prochaine !
See you next week!