Phrase guide · Updated October 2026
Getting Around in French
Buying a ticket, finding your platform and following directions with a handful of words and the signs you will see everywhere.
Tickets and trains
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|
| Where is the train station? | Où est la gare ? | oo AY lah GAR |
|---|
| A ticket to…, please | Un billet pour…, s'il vous plaît | un bee-YAY poor… |
|---|
| A one-way ticket | Un aller simple | un a-lay SAM-pluh |
|---|
| A return ticket | Un aller-retour | un a-lay ruh-TOOR |
|---|
| Which platform? | Quel quai ? | kel KAY |
|---|
| What time does it leave? | Il part à quelle heure ? | eel par ah kel UHR |
|---|
Directions
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|
| Left | À gauche | ah GOHSH |
|---|
| Right | À droite | ah DRWAHT |
|---|
| Straight ahead | Tout droit | too DRWAH |
|---|
| Is it far? | C'est loin ? | say LWAN |
|---|
| I am lost | Je suis perdu (m) / perdue (f) | zhuh swee pair-DEW |
|---|
“À droite” (to the right) and “tout droit” (straight on) sound alike. If you are unsure, point and ask again.
Signs to recognise
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|
| Exit | Sortie | sor-TEE |
|---|
| Entrance | Entrée | on-TRAY |
|---|
| Push / Pull | Poussez / Tirez | poo-SAY / tee-RAY |
|---|
| Open / Closed | Ouvert / Fermé | oo-VAIR / fair-MAY |
|---|
| Toilets | Toilettes / WC | twah-LET / vay-SAY |
|---|
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