Directions

1. Où est la station de métro la plus proche ?

   Where is the nearest metro station?

   Usage

   Used in Paris and other cities to find the nearest metro station

   Grammar Note

   Paris metro stations are marked with a large M. "Pour aller à…?" is a handy alternative

2. Tournez à gauche au feu

   Turn left at the traffic light

   Usage

   Used when giving or understanding directions involving a turn

   Grammar Note

   "À gauche" (left) and "à droite" (right) are essential. "Tout droit" means straight ahead

3. C'est loin d'ici ?

   Is it far from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether the destination is far away

   Grammar Note

   Opposite: "C'est près d'ici?" (Is it nearby?). "C'est à combien de km?" asks the distance

4. Pouvez-vous me montrer sur la carte ?

   Could you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are hard to follow and you want to see the map

   Grammar Note

   Effective when showing your phone's map. Note: "carte" also means card and menu depending on context

5. Je suis perdu(e)

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you are lost and need help finding your way

   Grammar Note

   "Perdu" (m) or "perdue" (f). Follow with "Je cherche…" (I am looking for…) for specifics

6. Continuez tout droit jusqu'au carrefour

   Go straight ahead until the intersection

   Usage

   A direction instruction; understanding this makes navigating French cities much easier

   Grammar Note

   "Jusqu'à + place" means "until / as far as". Carrefour is also a famous French supermarket chain

7. C'est en face de la mairie

   It is opposite the town hall

   Usage

   Used to describe a location using a landmark as a reference point

   Grammar Note

   Position prepositions: "à côté de" (next to), "devant" (in front), "derrière" (behind), "près de" (near)

8. Comment aller à l'aéroport ?

   How do I get to the airport?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to reach the airport from your current location

   Grammar Note

   "Comment aller à…?" is a versatile way to ask for any destination. "à l'" contracts before vowels

9. Prenez la deuxième rue à droite

   Take the second street on the right

   Usage

   Used when giving or following directions that specify which street to take

   Grammar Note

   Ordinals: première (1st), deuxième (2nd), troisième (3rd). "Rue" is street, "avenue" is avenue

10. C'est à dix minutes à pied

    It's a ten-minute walk

    Usage

    Used to indicate how long a destination takes to reach on foot

    Grammar Note

    For other transport: "en voiture" (by car), "en métro" (by metro), "en bus" (by bus)

11. à droite

    Right

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "right" in a taxi or when getting directions — one word stays readable while moving

12. à gauche

    Left

    Usage

    Point to this to indicate "left" in a taxi or when getting directions

13. tout droit

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Point to this for "go straight"; "droite" (right) and "droit" (straight) look alike, so always use "à droite" for right

14. Faites demi-tour

    Turn back

    Usage

    Shown to a driver to ask them to turn around after going too far

15. Arrêtez-vous ici

    Stop here

    Usage

    Shown in a taxi or car at the spot where you want to get out

16. le nord

    North

    Usage

    Point to this when checking a compass direction on a map or sign

17. le sud

    South

    Usage

    Point to this when checking a compass direction on a map or sign

18. l'est

    East

    Usage

    Point to this when checking a compass direction on a map or sign

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; bare "est" is spelled like the verb form of "être", so always show it as "l'est"

19. l'ouest

    West

    Usage

    Point to this when checking a compass direction on a map or sign

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun elided to "l'"

20. l'hôtel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point to this when asking the way to a hotel

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the silent "h" causes elision to "l'"

21. l'aéroport

    Airport

    Usage

    Point to this when asking how to get to the airport

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun elided to "l'"

22. l'arrêt de bus

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where the bus stop is

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun elided to "l'"

23. le métro

    Subway

    Usage

    Point to this when asking about the metro; a metro station is "la station de métro"

24. l'ambassade

    Embassy

    Usage

    Point to this when you need to reach your embassy, e.g. after losing a passport

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun elided to "l'"

25. le distributeur de billets

    ATM

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where to withdraw cash; signs often abbreviate it as "DAB"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "distributeur" alone can mean a vending machine, so keep "de billets"

26. le bureau de change

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where money can be exchanged

27. la laverie automatique

    Laundromat

    Usage

    Point to this when asking for a self-service laundry; a dry cleaner is "le pressing"

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