French Vocabulary for Travel: 100 Essential Words
Everything you need to navigate France — from airports and train stations to restaurants, hotels, and emergencies. Includes cultural notes on formality, which matters more in French than almost any other language.
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Airport & flights
Vocabulary for navigating French airports — CDG, Orly, and beyond.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| vol | noun | flight |
| billet | noun | ticket |
| départs | noun | departures |
| arrivées | noun | arrivals |
| retard | noun | delay |
| annulé | adj | cancelled |
| embarquement | noun | boarding |
| carte d'embarquement | noun | boarding pass |
| passeport | noun | passport |
| douane | noun | customs |
| bagages | noun | luggage |
| valise | noun | suitcase |
| sac à dos | noun | backpack |
Trains & public transport
France has one of Europe's best rail networks. The TGV and the Paris Métro are unavoidable.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| quai | noun | platform |
| horaire | noun | timetable / schedule |
| correspondance | noun | connection (train) |
| aller simple | noun | one-way ticket |
| aller-retour | noun | return ticket |
| première classe | noun | first class |
| deuxième classe | noun | second class |
| guichet | noun | ticket window |
| distributeur de billets | noun | ticket machine |
| contrôleur | noun | ticket inspector |
| TGV | noun | high-speed train (France) |
Directions & navigation
For reading signs and asking for help on the street.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| gauche | noun | left |
| droite | noun | right |
| tout droit | adv | straight ahead |
| plan | noun | map |
| arrêt | noun | stop (bus/metro) |
| proche | adj | near / nearby |
| loin | adj | far |
| feu rouge | noun | traffic light |
| carrefour | noun | crossroads |
| rond-point | noun | roundabout |
| à pied | phrase | on foot |
| location de voiture | noun | car rental |
| essence | noun | petrol / gasoline |
Hotel & accommodation
From check-in to room amenities — the French hotel vocabulary.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| chambre simple | noun | single room |
| chambre double | noun | double room |
| chambre avec grand lit | noun | room with double bed |
| étage | noun | floor / level |
| ascenseur | noun | lift / elevator |
| carte magnétique | noun | key card |
| service en chambre | noun | room service |
| coffre-fort | noun | safe |
| climatisation | noun | air conditioning |
| chauffage | noun | heating |
| serviette | noun | towel |
| oreiller | noun | pillow |
| couverture | noun | blanket |
Restaurants & dining
French dining has its own vocabulary and rhythm. La formule is the set menu; la carte is ordering freely.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| menu | noun | fixed-price set meal |
| carte | noun | à la carte menu |
| serveur | noun | waiter |
| serveuse | noun | waitress |
| l'addition | noun | the bill |
| pourboire | noun | tip |
| vin de la maison | noun | house wine |
| carafe d'eau | noun | jug of tap water |
| eau gazeuse | noun | sparkling water |
| eau plate | noun | still water |
| je suis allergique à | phrase | I'm allergic to |
| sans gluten | adj | gluten-free |
| végétarien | adj | vegetarian (masc.) |
| végétalien | adj | vegan (masc.) |
Shopping
Markets, boutiques, and payment vocabulary.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| taille | noun | size (clothing) |
| pointure | noun | size (shoes) |
| ticket de caisse | noun | receipt |
| espèces | noun | cash |
| carte de crédit | noun | credit card |
| carte bancaire | noun | debit card |
| soldes | noun | sales |
| remise | noun | discount |
| cabine d'essayage | noun | fitting room |
| caisse | noun | checkout / till |
Emergencies & health
Essential vocabulary if things go wrong — SAMU (15) is the French medical emergency number.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| au secours | phrase | help! |
| police | noun | police |
| urgences | noun | emergency room / A&E |
| SAMU | noun | emergency medical services |
| pompiers | noun | fire brigade |
| pharmacie | noun | pharmacy |
| médicament | noun | medicine |
| ordonnance | noun | prescription |
| assurance | noun | insurance |
| ambassade | noun | embassy |
| consulat | noun | consulate |
Essential phrases
France has a strong formality culture. Bonjour before anything else is non-negotiable.
| French | Type | English |
|---|---|---|
| bonjour | interj | good morning / good day |
| bonsoir | interj | good evening |
| au revoir | interj | goodbye |
| s'il vous plaît | phrase | please (formal) |
| merci | interj | thank you |
| merci beaucoup | phrase | thank you very much |
| de rien | phrase | you're welcome |
| excusez-moi | phrase | excuse me (formal) |
| je suis désolé | phrase | I'm sorry |
| vous parlez anglais | phrase | do you speak English? |
| je ne comprends pas | phrase | I don't understand |
| pouvez-vous répéter | phrase | can you repeat? |
| plus lentement | adv | more slowly |
| Monsieur | noun | Sir / Mr |
| Madame | noun | Ma'am / Mrs |
How to learn French travel vocabulary before a trip
Travel vocabulary sticks best when you practise it in context — not just memorising lists. Here's a method that works:
- →Start 4–6 weeks before travel. 10 words per day gets you through this entire list.
- →Use spaced repetition so the words resurface just before you'd forget them.
- →Always say bonjour first — French culture rates this highly, and getting it right opens doors.
- →Learn the formality distinctions: vous vs tu, Monsieur/Madame matter more in French than in most languages.
- →Watch short YouTube videos set in French cafés, hotels, and train stations to hear the vocabulary in action.
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