French Phrases for Transport & Getting Around
Getting around France — whether by metro, train, taxi, or through a busy airport — is much easier when you can ask for what you need. French transport staff are generally helpful, but in stations and airports things move quickly. These phrases cover the most common situations you'll face on the move, from buying a ticket to finding your gate.
Tickets & Stations
The standard way to buy a train or metro ticket — replace 'Paris' with your destination
A ticket to Paris, please.
Un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plaît
uhn bee-yay poor pah-ree, seel voo pleh
A return ticket — there and back
One Return (ticket)
Un aller-retour
uhn ah-lay ruh-toor
A one-way ticket — just getting there
A One-way ticket
Un aller simple
uhn ah-lay sahn-pl
Ask this at the ticket office or information board — important for long-distance trains
Which platform?
Quelle voie?
kel vwah
If you need to find the main train station in a city
Where is the station?
Où est la gare?
oo eh lah gahr
Metro & Directions
For finding the nearest metro entrance — very useful in Paris
Where is the metro?
Où est le métro?
oo eh luh may-troh
Ask staff which metro or train line you need
Which line?
Quelle ligne?
kel leen-yuh
Check you're heading the right way on the platform
Which direction?
Dans quelle direction?
dahn kel dee-rek-syon
Say where you are going.
I am going to Bordeaux
Je vais à Bordeaux
zhu vay ah bor-doh
A quick check before you board — useful when platforms have multiple trains
Is this the right train?
C’est le bon train?
say luh bon trahn
Ask this if you're unsure of your stop — a fellow passenger or conductor can help
Where do I get off?
Où dois-je descendre?
oo dwah zhuh day-sondr
Taxis & Ride Share
Tell a taxi driver where you want to go — follow with your destination
Can you take me to…?
Pouvez-vous m’emmener à… ?
poo-vay voo meh-meh-nay ah
Ask before you get in if there's no meter visible — or just to be sure
How much will it cost?
Ça coûte combien ?
sah koot kom-bee-ehn
Tell the driver you want to stop here
Stop here, please
Arrêtez ici, s’il vous plaît
ah-reh-tay ee-see, seel voo pleh
A quick way to gauge whether you need a taxi or can walk
Is it far?
C’est loin ?
say lwahn
Useful if you're running errands and need the driver to stay
Can you wait here?
Vous pouvez attendre ici ?
voo poo-vay ah-tahn-dr ee-see
Airport
Hand this over at immigration or when asked — having the phrase ready avoids the fumble
Here is my passport
Voici mon passeport
vwah-see mon pass-por
Find the check-in desks when you first arrive at the airport
Where is check-in?
Où est l’enregistrement ?
oo eh lon-reh-zhis-truh-mon
Let the check-in agent know if you're not just carrying hand luggage
I have luggage to check in
J’ai des bagages à enregistrer
zhay day bah-gazh ah on-reh-zhis-tray
The French term for hand luggage — useful at bag drop or security
Carry-on baggage
Bagage cabine
bah-gazh kah-been
After landing, ask an airport worker to point you in the right direction
Where is baggage claim?
Où est la récupération des bagages ?
oo eh lah ray-koo-pay-rah-syon day bah-gazh
Ask at the airport if you're unsure where to go after check-in
Where is security?
Où est le contrôle de sécurité ?
oo eh luh kon-trohl duh say-kyoo-ree-tay
Find your departure gate once you're through security
Where is my gate?
Où est ma porte ?
oo eh mah port
Check the boarding time — especially useful if you can't find it on the departures board
What time is boarding?
À quelle heure est l’embarquement ?
ah kel uhr eh lon-bar-kuh-mon
Use this when you can't tell which of two queues you should be in
Is this the line for…?
C’est la file pour… ?
say lah feel poor