Lesson 10: Essential Travel Phrases in French

Welcome back!

Congratulations on reaching Lesson 10!

So far you’ve learned how to:

✓ Greet people

✓ Introduce yourself

✓ Ask how someone is

✓ Count to ten

✓ Be polite

✓ Talk about where you’re from

✓ Talk about your family

✓ Use the days of the week

✓ Order food and drinks

Today we’re going to learn some essential travel phrases that can help you in France.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

  • Ask simple questions
  • Understand common travel phrases
  • Find your way around
  • Feel more confident when visiting France

Let’s begin!

Check out my great video below


1. Excuse Me

One of the most useful phrases is:

Excusez-moi

Pronunciation:

Ex-kew-zay mwah

Meaning:

Excuse me

Example:

Excusez-moi.

Où est la gare ?

Excuse me.

Where is the station?


2. Where Is…?

Où est… ?

Pronunciation:

Oo ay

Meaning:

Where is…?

Example:

Où est l’hôtel ?

Where is the hotel?


3. The Hotel

L’hôtel

Pronunciation:

Lo-tel

Meaning:

Hotel

Example:

Où est l’hôtel ?

Where is the hotel?


4. The Station

La gare

Pronunciation:

La gar

Meaning:

Train station

Example:

Où est la gare ?

Where is the station?


5. The Toilet

Les toilettes

Pronunciation:

Lay twa-let

Meaning:

The toilets

Example:

Où sont les toilettes ?

Where are the toilets?


6. I Don’t Understand

Je ne comprends pas

Pronunciation:

Zhuh nuh kom-prond pah

Meaning:

I don’t understand

Example:

Je ne comprends pas.

I don’t understand.


7. Do You Speak English?

Parlez-vous anglais ?

Pronunciation:

Par-lay voo on-glay

Meaning:

Do you speak English?

Example:

Bonjour.

Parlez-vous anglais ?

Hello.

Do you speak English?


8. Help!

Au secours !

Pronunciation:

Oh suh-koor

Meaning:

Help!

Fortunately, you will probably never need this phrase.


9. How Much Is It?

Combien ça coûte ?

Pronunciation:

Kom-bee-en sah koot

Meaning:

How much does it cost?

Example:

Combien ça coûte ?

How much is it?


10. A Useful Conversation

Traveller:

Bonjour.

Excusez-moi.

Où est la gare ?

Local:

La gare est là-bas.

(The station is over there.)

Traveller:

Merci.

Local:

De rien.

Simple and useful!


11. Reading Practice

Read these aloud:

Excusez-moi

Où est l’hôtel ?

Où est la gare ?

Je ne comprends pas

Parlez-vous anglais ?

Combien ça coûte ?

Repeat them three times.


12. Real-Life Example

Imagine you’re visiting Paris.

You need directions.

Bonjour.

Excusez-moi.

Où est l’hôtel ?

The person points the way.

Merci !

You’ve just had a successful French interaction.


Quick Practice

Translate into French.

  1. Excuse me
  2. Where is the station?
  3. I don’t understand
  4. Do you speak English?
  5. How much is it?

Answers:

  1. Excusez-moi
  2. Où est la gare ?
  3. Je ne comprends pas
  4. Parlez-vous anglais ?
  5. Combien ça coûte ?

Mini Challenge

Can you say:

Excuse me, where is the hotel?

Answer:

Excusez-moi.

Où est l’hôtel ?

Excellent!


Lesson Summary

Today you learned:

Excusez-moi = Excuse me

Où est… ? = Where is…?

L’hôtel = Hotel

La gare = Station

Les toilettes = Toilets

Je ne comprends pas = I don’t understand

Parlez-vous anglais ? = Do you speak English?

Combien ça coûte ? = How much is it?

You now know some of the most useful travel phrases in the French language.

You’ve completed the first ten lessons of your beginner French journey.

Bravo !

Here is the FREE Download of Lesson 10