Transport modes vocabulary in French, covering common means of transportation, usage examples, and essential terms for travel and daily life.
Understanding the different modes of transportation is essential for navigating travel situations, asking for directions, and discussing plans in French. This guide covers common transport modes, including trains, cars, buses, planes, and more, with useful example sentences.
Train Travel
Trains are a popular and efficient way to travel across France and many other French-speaking countries. The vocabulary includes types of trains, related places, and common actions.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le train | les trains | train | trains | Le train part à 18h. | The train leaves at 6 p.m. |
| le TGV | les TGV | TGV (high-speed train) | TGVs | Le TGV est très rapide. | The TGV is very fast. |
| la gare | les gares | train station | train stations | Nous sommes à la gare. | We are at the train station. |
| le billet | les billets | ticket | tickets | J’ai acheté un billet. | I bought a ticket. |
| le quai | les quais | platform | platforms | Le train est au quai 3. | The train is at platform 3. |
| le contrôleur | les contrôleurs | conductor | conductors | Le contrôleur vérifie les billets. | The conductor checks the tickets. |
| le wagon | les wagons | carriage | carriages | Nous sommes dans le wagon 5. | We are in carriage 5. |
| le départ | les départs | departure | departures | Le départ est retardé. | The departure is delayed. |
| l’arrivée (f) | les arrivées | arrival | arrivals | L’arrivée est prévue à 20h. | The arrival is scheduled for 8 p.m. |
| le retard | les retards | delay | delays | Il y a un retard de 30 minutes. | There is a 30-minute delay. |
Le ___ vérifie les billets.
Who checks the tickets on a train?
contrôleur
The 'contrôleur' is the conductor who checks tickets on a train.
Car Travel
Car travel vocabulary includes types of vehicles, driving verbs, and common situations you might encounter on the road.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| la voiture | les voitures | car | cars | J’ai une nouvelle voiture. | I have a new car. |
| le conducteur | les conducteurs | driver | drivers | Le conducteur est gentil. | The driver is kind. |
| le volant | les volants | steering wheel | steering wheels | Elle tient le volant. | She is holding the steering wheel. |
| le siège | les sièges | seat | seats | J’ai pris le siège côté fenêtre. | I took the window seat. |
| l’autoroute (f) | les autoroutes | highway | highways | Nous roulons sur l’autoroute. | We are driving on the highway. |
| l’essence (f) | – | gasoline | – | La voiture a besoin d’essence. | The car needs gasoline. |
| la voiture de location | les voitures de location | rental car | rental cars | Nous avons une voiture de location. | We have a rental car. |
| le péage | les péages | toll | tolls | Il y a un péage sur la route. | There is a toll on the road. |
| le parking | les parkings | parking lot | parking lots | Le parking est plein. | The parking lot is full. |
| démarrer | – | to start (the car) | – | Je vais démarrer la voiture. | I’m going to start the car. |
Public Transport
Public transport includes buses, trams, and metros. The vocabulary covers vehicles, tickets, and common phrases used when navigating urban transit.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le bus | les bus | bus | buses | Le bus arrive dans 5 minutes. | The bus arrives in 5 minutes. |
| le tram | les trams | tram | trams | Je prends le tram tous les jours. | I take the tram every day. |
| le métro | les métros | metro/subway | metros/subways | Le métro est très rapide. | The metro is very fast. |
| l’arrêt (m) | les arrêts | stop | stops | Descends à l’arrêt suivant. | Get off at the next stop. |
| le ticket | les tickets | ticket | tickets | J’achète un ticket de bus. | I buy a bus ticket. |
| le pass | les pass | pass (travel card) | passes | J’ai un pass mensuel. | I have a monthly pass. |
| la rame | les rames | train (metro/tram) | trains | La rame est pleine ce matin. | The train is full this morning. |
| valider | – | to validate (a ticket) | – | N’oublie pas de valider ton ticket. | Don’t forget to validate your ticket. |
| la correspondance | les correspondances | transfer | transfers | J’ai une correspondance à Lyon. | I have a transfer in Lyon. |
| le terminus | les terminus | last stop/terminal | last stops/terminals | C’est le terminus du bus 10. | This is the last stop for bus 10. |
Le ___ arrive dans 5 minutes.
What is the French word for 'bus'?
bus
'Bus' in French refers to the same vehicle—public bus transport.
Air Travel
Air travel vocabulary is useful for talking about flights, airports, and the boarding process.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| l’avion (m) | les avions | airplane | airplanes | L’avion décolle à 21h. | The plane takes off at 9 p.m. |
| l’aéroport (m) | les aéroports | airport | airports | Nous sommes à l’aéroport. | We are at the airport. |
| le vol | les vols | flight | flights | Notre vol est en retard. | Our flight is delayed. |
| l’enregistrement (m) | – | check-in | – | L’enregistrement se fait au comptoir 5. | Check-in is at counter 5. |
| la porte d’embarquement | les portes d’embarquement | boarding gate | boarding gates | La porte d’embarquement est fermée. | The boarding gate is closed. |
| la valise | les valises | suitcase | suitcases | Ma valise est lourde. | My suitcase is heavy. |
| le bagage à main | les bagages à main | carry-on luggage | carry-on luggages | Je prends un bagage à main. | I’m taking a carry-on bag. |
| embarquer | – | to board | – | Nous allons embarquer dans 10 minutes. | We will board in 10 minutes. |
| le décollage | – | takeoff | – | Le décollage a été retardé. | The takeoff was delayed. |
| l’atterrissage (m) | – | landing | – | L’atterrissage est prévu à minuit. | The landing is scheduled for midnight. |
Nous allons ___ dans 10 minutes.
What does 'embarquer' mean?
embarquer
'Embarquer' means 'to board' the plane.
L’___ est prévu à minuit.
What is 'l’atterrissage'?
atterrissage
'Atterrissage' means 'landing'—when the plane touches down.
Je prends un ___.
What is 'le bagage à main'?
bagage à main
'Bagage à main' means 'carry-on luggage' that you take onto the plane.
Other Transport Modes
This section covers various other ways of getting around, including taxis, bikes, ferries, and walking.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| le taxi | les taxis | taxi | taxis | J’ai pris un taxi ce matin. | I took a taxi this morning. |
| le vélo | les vélos | bicycle | bicycles | Je vais au travail à vélo. | I go to work by bike. |
| la trottinette | les trottinettes | scooter | scooters | Les trottinettes électriques sont populaires. | Electric scooters are popular. |
| le ferry | les ferries | ferry | ferries | Le ferry part à 14h. | The ferry leaves at 2 p.m. |
| la marche | – | walking | – | La marche est bonne pour la santé. | Walking is good for your health. |
| l’embouteillage (m) | les embouteillages | traffic jam | traffic jams | Il y a un embouteillage sur l’autoroute. | There is a traffic jam on the highway. |
| la gare routière | les gares routières | bus terminal | bus terminals | La gare routière est à côté de la station. | The bus terminal is next to the station. |
| le covoiturage | – | carpooling | – | Le covoiturage est économique. | Carpooling is economical. |
| la moto | les motos | motorcycle | motorcycles | Il roule en moto. | He rides a motorcycle. |
| l’hélicoptère (m) | les hélicoptères | helicopter | helicopters | L’hélicoptère atterrit sur le toit. | The helicopter lands on the roof. |
Understanding these transport mode vocabulary words and phrases will help you navigate travel situations with confidence and ease in French-speaking environments.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Singular: train
- English Plural: trains
- English Example: The train leaves at 6 p.m.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
