CEFR A1-A2
French Transport Phrases: Tickets, Directions, Taxis and Public Transport
Public transport in major francophone cities (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Brussels, Montreal) is well-signposted and increasingly multilingual. These phrases handle the situations the apps cannot: small-town France, regional ticket counters, and the daily friction of asking directions when Google Maps is not enough.
How do I get to [place]?
[] ?
IPA /kɔmɑ̃ ʒə vɛ a/
ko-mahn zhuh vay ah ...
Default phrasing. 'Comment puis-je aller a [endroit]' is the formal version; the informal 'comment je vais' is what people actually use in speech.
Is it far from here?
C' ' ?
IPA /sɛ lwɛ̃ disi/
say lwen dee-SEE
Can I walk there?
?
IPA /ʒə pø i ale a pje/
zhuh puh ee ah-LAY ah pee-AY
'A pied' (on foot) is the universal construction. The 'y' pronoun replaces the destination.
How long does it take?
?
IPA /sa pʁɑ̃ kɔ̃bjɛ̃ də tɑ̃/
sah prahn kohm-bee-AHN duh tahn
I would like a ticket to [destination].
billet [destination].
IPA /ʒə vudʁɛ œ̃ bijɛ puʁ/
zhuh voo-DRAY uhn bee-YAY poor ...
'Billet' is universal for trains, planes and concerts; metros and buses use 'ticket' (loaned from English, pronounced 'tee-KAY').
A single, please. / A return, please.
, ' . / -, ' .
IPA /œ̃n ale sɛ̃pl sil vu plɛ / œ̃n ale ʁətuʁ sil vu plɛ/
uhn ah-LAY SAM-pluh / uhn ah-LAY ruh-TOOR
'Aller-retour' is the standard return ticket. In Quebec 'un billet aller-retour' is also used.
What time is the next bus?
quelle ?
IPA /a kɛl œʁ ɛ lə pʁɔʃɛ̃ bys/
ah kell URR ay luh pro-SHAN BOOS
'Bus' is loaned and pronounced 'BOOS'. 'Autobus' is the formal term; both are clear.
Where does the bus stop?
l'arret ?
IPA /u ɛ laʁɛ də bys/
OO ay lah-RAY duh BOOS
'L'arret' (the stop) is the standard term. Tram stops use the same word: 'l'arret de tram'.
Does this bus go to [destination]?
[destination] ?
IPA /sə bys va a/
suh BOOS vah ah ...
I would like to go to [address].
[].
IPA /ʒə vudʁɛ ale a/
zhuh voo-DRAY ah-LAY ah ...
Standard taxi opener. Have the address written down; Paris and Brussels taxi drivers will sometimes appreciate the visual.
How much will it cost approximately?
?
IPA /sa va kute kɔ̃bjɛ̃ ɑ̃viʁɔ̃/
sah vah koo-TAY kohm-bee-AHN ahn-vee-ROHN
Worth asking in cities where the taxi is not metered or where the meter is being avoided. Paris taxis are metered and regulated; some non-Paris taxi services are less rigorous.
Please take me to [hotel].
deposer [] ?
IPA /vu puve mə depoze a/
voo poo-VAY muh day-poh-ZAY ah ...
'Deposer' (to drop off) is the standard taxi verb. 'Emmener' (to take) is also clear.
Stop here, please.
- , ' .
IPA /aʁete vu isi sil vu plɛ/
ah-reh-TAY voo ee-SEE seel voo PLAY
Can I pay by card?
?
IPA /ʒə pø peje paʁ kaʁt/
zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART
Paris and Brussels taxis universally accept card. Smaller towns are more cash-dependent.
Regional notes
Paris
The Paris metro and RER (suburban rail) network is excellent. Buy a Navigo Easy or use contactless card payment at the gate. The metro runs from 05:30 to about 00:40 weekdays, 01:40 weekends.
Lyon, Marseille and other major French cities
Each major city has its own metro / tram card. The 'TCL' card is Lyon's, the 'RTM' card is Marseille's. Single-use tickets work but the cards are cheaper for multi-day stays.
Brussels
The STIB network covers metro, tram and bus. Tickets are bilingual (French / Dutch). Pay contactless at the gate or buy a MOBIB card for longer stays.
Montreal
The Montreal metro uses OPUS cards; the system is monolingual French in signage but bilingual in announcements. Quebec French slang for the metro is 'le metro'; longer-distance trains are 'le train'.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
How do I ask for directions politely?
Excusez-moi, comment je vais a [place] ? Always open with 'excusez-moi' or 'pardon'; opening with the question alone is brusque.
What is the French word for metro / subway?
'Le metro'. Same word across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec. Stations are 'station de metro'.
Is it rude to tip a taxi driver in France?
Not rude; not expected. Rounding up the fare to the nearest convenient euro is standard. A 5-10% tip is appreciated for a good experience but a strict zero tip is also acceptable.