A comprehensive guide to essential French travel vocabulary, covering key nouns and phrases for navigating airports, booking accommodations, finding transportation, and more.
Traveling in a French-speaking country is an exciting adventure, but it helps to know the right words to get around smoothly. This guide covers essential French travel vocabulary, from airports and hotels to trains and directions. Plus, each section includes example sentences to see the words in action.
Airports & Air Travel
Here are the most common French nouns you'll see at the airport — plus some verbs and phrases to help you check in, go through security, and find your gate.
French Airport Vocabulary
| French Noun | English Noun | Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| l’aéroport / les aéroports | airport / airports | m. | Je vais à l’aéroport ce soir. | I'm going to the airport tonight. |
| le vol / les vols | flight / flights | m. | Notre vol est en retard. | Our flight is delayed. |
| la porte / les portes | gate / gates | f. | La porte 12 est à droite. | Gate 12 is on the right. |
| le billet / les billets | ticket / tickets | m. | J’ai acheté un billet pour Paris. | I bought a ticket to Paris. |
| l’embarquement | boarding | — | L’embarquement commence à 18 h. | Boarding starts at 6 p.m. |
| la valise / les valises | suitcase / suitcases | f. | Ma valise est lourde. | My suitcase is heavy. |
| le contrôle de sécurité | security checkpoint | — | Passez le contrôle de sécurité. | Go through the security checkpoint. |
| le passeport / les passeports | passport / passports | m. | Montrez votre passeport, s’il vous plaît. | Show your passport, please. |
| l’escale / les escales | layover / layovers | f. | J’ai une escale à Madrid. | I have a layover in Madrid. |
| le terminal / les terminaux | terminal / terminals | m. | Le terminal 2 est fermé. | Terminal 2 is closed. |
Hotels & Accommodations
When booking a hotel or checking in, these French words will help you ask about rooms, make reservations, and understand hotel services.
French Hotel Vocabulary
| French Noun | English Noun | Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| la chambre / les chambres | room / rooms | f. | Je voudrais une chambre pour deux. | I would like a room for two. |
| la réservation / les réservations | reservation / reservations | f. | J’ai une réservation au nom Dupont. | I have a reservation under the name Dupont. |
| la clé / les clés | key / keys | f. | Voici votre clé de chambre. | Here is your room key. |
| la réception | reception | — | La réception est ouverte 24 h/24. | Reception is open 24/7. |
| le lit / les lits | bed / beds | m. | La chambre a un grand lit. | The room has a large bed. |
| le petit-déjeuner | breakfast | — | Le petit-déjeuner est servi à 7 h. | Breakfast is served at 7 a.m. |
| l’hôtel / les hôtels | hotel / hotels | m. | L’hôtel est en centre-ville. | The hotel is downtown. |
| le supplément | extra charge | m. | Il y a un supplément pour le minibar. | There is an extra charge for the minibar. |
| le prix / les prix | price / prices | m. | Quel est le prix par nuit ? | What is the price per night? |
| annuler / annulation | cancel / cancellation | — | Je dois annuler ma réservation. | I need to cancel my reservation. |
El ___ se sirve a las 7 h.
What is the French word for 'breakfast'?
le petit-déjeuner
'Le petit-déjeuner' means breakfast. 'Le déjeuner' is lunch, 'le dîner' is dinner, and 'le goûter' is an afternoon snack.
Trains & Public Transportation
For getting around cities and traveling between destinations, this list covers the essential French words for trains, buses, tickets, and schedules.
French Transportation Vocabulary
| French Noun | English Noun | Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| le train / les trains | train / trains | m. | Le train part à 14 h. | The train leaves at 2 p.m. |
| la gare / les gares | station / stations | f. | Rendez-vous à la gare centrale. | Meet me at the central station. |
| le billet / les billets | ticket / tickets | m. | J’ai un billet aller-retour. | I have a round-trip ticket. |
| le quai / les quais | platform / platforms | m. | Le train est sur le quai 3. | The train is on platform 3. |
| le métro | subway | — | Prenez le métro ligne 4. | Take subway line 4. |
| le bus / les bus | bus / buses | m. | Le bus est en retard. | The bus is late. |
| le carnet | ticket booklet | m. | J’ai acheté un carnet de 10 tickets. | I bought a booklet of 10 tickets. |
| la correspondance | transfer | f. | J’ai une correspondance à Lyon. | I have a transfer in Lyon. |
| l’horaire / les horaires | schedule / schedules | m. | Consultez les horaires en ligne. | Check the schedules online. |
| valider (son billet) | validate (one's ticket) | — | N’oubliez pas de valider votre billet. | Don’t forget to validate your ticket. |
Directions & Asking for Help
If you get lost or need assistance, these French phrases will help you ask for directions, understand responses, and find your way.
French Direction Vocabulary
| French Noun | English Noun | Singular / Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| la rue / les rues | street / streets | f. | La rue est au bout du boulevard. | The street is at the end of the boulevard. |
| à gauche / à droite | left / right | — | Tournez à gauche au prochain feu. | Turn left at the next light. |
| tout droit | straight ahead | — | Allez tout droit pendant deux minutes. | Go straight ahead for two minutes. |
| le coin | corner | m. | Le café est au coin de la rue. | The café is on the corner of the street. |
| le panneau / les panneaux | sign / signs | m. | Suivez les panneaux “Sortie”. | Follow the “Exit” signs. |
| demander son chemin | ask for directions | — | Je vais demander mon chemin. | I’m going to ask for directions. |
| s’orienter | find one’s bearings | — | Je m’oriente avec une application. | I find my bearings with an app. |
| perdue(e) | lost | — | Je suis perdue dans le quartier. | I’m lost in the neighborhood. |
| un instant / un moment | just a moment | — | Un instant, je vais vérifier. | Just a moment, I’ll check. |
| excusez-moi | excuse me | — | Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie ? | Excuse me, where is the pharmacy? |
Essential Travel Verbs
These common French verbs are used in everything from booking a trip to asking for help — making them key building blocks for travel conversations.
French Travel Verbs
| French Verb | English Verb | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| voyager | to travel | J’aime voyager en train. | I like to travel by train. |
| réserver | to book / reserve | J’ai réservé une chambre d’hôtel. | I booked a hotel room. |
| partir | to leave | Le train part dans 10 minutes. | The train leaves in 10 minutes. |
| arriver | to arrive | Nous arrivons à Paris ce soir. | We arrive in Paris tonight. |
| chercher | to look for | Je cherche un taxi. | I’m looking for a taxi. |
| montrer | to show | Montrez votre billet, s’il vous plaît. | Show your ticket, please. |
| attendre | to wait | J’attends mon vol à la porte 5. | I’m waiting for my flight at gate 5. |
| prendre | to take | Je prends le métro ligne 2. | I take subway line 2. |
| demander | to ask | Je vais demander mon chemin. | I’m going to ask for directions. |
| annuler | to cancel | J’ai dû annuler ma réservation. | I had to cancel my reservation. |
Bon voyage! With this essential French travel vocabulary, you’re ready to navigate airports, hotels, trains, and city streets with confidence. 🛫🏨🚆🗺️
J’ai ___ une chambre d’hôtel.
What is the French verb for 'to book'?
réservé
The past participle of 'réserver' (to book) is 'réservé'. 'Voyagé' means traveled, 'pris' means taken, and 'annulé' means canceled.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- Singular / Plural: m.
- English Noun: airport / airports
- English Example: I'm going to the airport tonight.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
