Bonjour tout le monde (hello everyone)! Are you planning un voyage (a trip) to France or a French-speaking country soon? Whether you’re a beginner or just looking to refresh your travel vocab, knowing some essential words & phrases can make your journey more pleasant.
From basic greetings to navigating the airport, these words will help you communicate more effectively and feel more confident while on the go! Plus, speaking a few words of French is a great way to feel immersed in the local culture.
So, pack your bags, brush up on these essential terms, and get ready for your French adventure!
Basic greetings and politenessWhen traveling, it’s always important to start with the basics. Greetings and polite expressions can go a long way in making a good impression and showing respect for the local culture. In France, it can be considered rude not to greet someone when first addressing them or forgetting to say s’il vous plaît. –Bonjour (hello, daytime): The most important word to know. It’s good etiquette to say “bonjour” when first addressing someone, whether you're entering a shop, greeting restaurant staff, or asking for directions in the street. |
|
Travel questions & phrases
When you’re on the go in a new place, it’s a good idea to know how to ask for directions, inquire about prices, or check if someone speaks English when addressing them.
–Où est […] ? (Where is […]?): This is useful for asking where something is. For example, “Où est le métro ?” means “Where is the subway?”
–Vous parlez anglais ? (Do you speak English?): If you’re wondering if someone speaks English, you can also simply ask, “Anglais ?”
–Combien… ? (How much…?): Handy when shopping or dining. You can use it when asking for the price of something, like “Combien ça coûte ?” (How much does it cost?).
–L’addition, s’il vous plaît (the check please): For when you’re ready to pay at a restaurant.
–Les toilettes (the bathroom/toilet): Always helpful to know, especially when exploring a new city.
It’s OK to make mistakes! The 💪effort is what counts, and many French speakers who encounter visitors appreciate their willingness to speak their language. Even if you manage to say “merci,” that can go a long way. 💙 |
|
Key airport vocabulary
You might see or hear these words often when you’re navigating through an airport or catching a flight.
–Un passeport (a passport): Keep it ready when you hear, “Votre passeport, s’il vous plaît” (Your passport, please).
–Une carte d’embarquement (a boarding pass): Essential for boarding the plane.
–L’aéroport (the airport): For when you need to find the airport or ask for directions.
–Le vol (the flight): As in “le numéro de vol” (the flight number).
–L’enregistrement (the check-in): For checking in your luggage and printing your boarding pass.
–Une compagnie aérienne (an airline): This could be useful when discussing your flight.
–Une porte d’embarquement (a boarding gate): Important when you need to find your gate, e.g., “Où est la porte d’embarquement ?”
–Le départ (the departure): The opposite of arrival; indicates when a flight leaves.
–L’arrivée (the arrival): Indicates when a flight lands.
–Une valise (a suitcase, luggage): Helpful to know when checking in your bags or going to baggage claim.
–Être en retard (to be late): For when you or your flight are late, eg., “Le vol est en retard” (The flight is late).
–Être en avance (to be early): For when you’re ahead of schedule.
@hellofrenchnyc ✈️ Essential French Words for Travel ✈️ Are you visiting a 🇫🇷French-speaking country soon? Learn these key travel words for your trip (🇫🇷un voyage)! 🛫 🧳 🇫🇷French travel vocabulary: - un passeport = a passport - une carte d’embarquement = a boarding pass - l’aéroport = the airport - le vol = the flight - l’enregistrement = the check-in - une compagnie aérienne = an airline - une porte d’embarquement = a boarding gate - le départ = the departure - l’arrivée = the arrival - une valise = a suitcase, luggage - être en retard = to be late - être en avance = to be early Bon voyage ! 🇫🇷✨ #French #FrenchLanguage #LearnFrench #FrenchWords #TravelTips #BonVoyage ♬ Espresso - On Vacation Version - Sabrina Carpenter
Bon voyage !
—Cécilia & the Hello French team
Looking to go further?
Our French language e-books cover all the basics and much more! With in-depth (and fun!) explanations of French grammar, useful vocabulary lessons, and cultural insights, Le Bouquin teaches all the essentials of contemporary French in a modern, approachable way. Pair it with Le Cahier, our interactive exercise book.
To gain confidence with understanding and forming the sounds of spoken French, check out our Hello Pronunciation guide.
Unsure where to start? Explore our Bundles so you can find a tailored combination ahead of your trip!
Finally, if you’re traveling to Paris, you should definitely get our Hello Paris guide! It includes all my favorite spots and a Google map with everything already pinned—so that you can spend more time exploring and less time planning!
We hope these travel vocabulary lists were helpful! Whether you’re planning on eating your way through Paris, living the good life in Provence, or lounging on a beach in the Caribbean, knowing these essentials will help you navigate French with more ease.
And remember! Even if you make mistakes, it’s the effort that truly counts.
|
!%20Are%20you%20planning%20un%20voyage%20(a%20trip)%20to%20France%20or%20a%20French-speaking%20country%20soon?%20Whether%20you%E2%80%99re%20a%20beginner%20or%20just%20looking%20to%20refresh%20your%20travel%20vocab,%20know...){kind=link}