French directions are essential for navigating new places and asking for or giving help when traveling. This A1-level summary covers key vocabulary and phrases that will enable you to follow or provide simple directions in French.
Key Vocabulary
- à gauche: to the left
- à droite: to the right
- tout droit: straight ahead
- près de: near
- loin de: far from
- au coin de: at the corner of
- devant: in front of
- derrière: behind
- la rue: the street
- l’avenue: the avenue
- le carrefour: the intersection
- le feu (de circulation): (traffic) light
‘à gauche’ means ‘to the left.’
Basic Phrases for Giving Directions
- Tournez à gauche. – Turn left.
- Tournez à droite. – Turn right.
- Allez tout droit. – Go straight ahead.
- Prenez la première rue à gauche/droite. – Take the first street on the left/right.
- Continuez jusqu’au feu. – Continue until the light.
- Le/la [lieu] est à côté de... – The [place] is next to...
- Vous verrez... – You will see...
‘Allez tout droit’ means ‘Go straight ahead.’
Understanding Directions
When someone gives you directions in French, listen for these key markers to follow along:
- Tournez = Turn
- Continuez = Continue
- Prenez = Take
- Revenez en arrière = Go back
- Vous êtes arrivé(e) = You have arrived
‘Tournez’ is used for ‘turn.’
Example Dialogue
Demander son chemin:
— Excusez-moi, où est la gare?
— Allez tout droit jusqu’au carrefour, tournez à droite, puis la gare est au bout de la rue.
Donner son chemin:
— Pour aller à la bibliothèque, prenez la première rue à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.
— Merci beaucoup!
You turn right at the intersection.
Conclusion
Knowing how to understand and give directions in French makes travel smoother and more enjoyable. You’ll be able to explore confidently and connect with locals even if you only know a few words.
- Master key words for left, right, straight, and landmarks.
- Practice listening for directional cues in conversations.
- Use simple phrases to ask for and give directions yourself.
'Turn right' is 'Tournez à droite.'
'près de' means 'near,' and 'loin de' means 'far from.'
'Allez tout droit' and 'Continuez tout droit' are correct.