Transport Vocabulary
Navigate Paris like a local
Paris has 14 metro lines, dozens of bus routes, thousands of taxis. But these eighteen words handle everything. I help tourists daily with just this vocabulary.
Essential Transport (18)
Le métro
Metro/subway
↻
luh may-troh
14 lines in Paris
Le bus
Bus
↻
luh beuss (not boos)
Scenic but slower
Le RER
Regional express
↻
luh reh-ehr-ehr
CDG/Orly airports
Le train
Train
↻
luh trahn (nasal)
Long distance
Le taxi
Taxi
↻
luh tak-see
Most expensive
Le vélo
Bike
↻
luh vay-loh
Vélib' bike share
À pied
On foot
↻
ah pee-ay
Often best option
La station
Station (metro)
↻
lah stah-see-on
Metro station
La gare
Train station
↻
lah gar
Gare du Nord
L'arrêt
Stop (bus)
↻
lah-reh
Bus stop
La ligne
Line
↻
lah leen-yuh
Ligne 1, Ligne 4
La direction
Direction
↻
lah dee-rek-see-on
Direction Vincennes
La sortie
Exit
↻
lah sor-tee
Follow EXIT signs
Le quai
Platform
↻
luh kay
Wait here for train
La correspondance
Transfer/connection
↻
kor-ehs-pon-dahns
Change lines here
Le billet
Ticket (train)
↻
luh bee-yeh
For longer trips
L'horaire
Schedule
↻
loh-rehr
Timetable
Le plan
Map
↻
luh plahn
Metro map
Sophie's Metro System
Each line has two directions, named after the final stop at each end. Line 1 goes either "Direction La Défense" or "Direction Château de Vincennes." Find your destination, check which direction, follow the signs. Suivez la direction du terminus.
Insider Tip:
Download the RATP app or use Google Maps. But still learn "Quelle ligne pour aller à...?" because sometimes apps fail and locals are faster.
Asking Directions
Never get lost in Paris
Every day, tourists ask me for directions. Most use the same ten questions. Learn these plus left, right, straight - you can navigate any French city. The key is confidence, not perfection.
Direction Essentials (18)
Où est...?
Where is...?
↻
oo eh
Most important Q
Comment aller à...?
How to get to...?
↻
ko-mon tah-lay ah
Asking for route
C'est loin?
Is it far?
↻
seh lwan
Distance check
C'est près?
Is it close?
↻
seh preh
Checking proximity
À gauche
To the left
↻
ah gohsh
Turn left here
À droite
To the right
↻
ah drwaht
Turn right here
Tout droit
Straight ahead
↻
too drwah
Keep going forward
Continuez
Continue
↻
kon-teen-way
Keep walking
Tournez
Turn
↻
toor-nay
Tournez à gauche
Au coin
At the corner
↻
oh kwan
Street corner
En face de
Across from
↻
on fahss duh
Opposite side
À côté de
Next to
↻
ah koh-tay duh
Beside something
Derrière
Behind
↻
deh-ree-ehr
In back of
Devant
In front of
↻
duh-von
Before/ahead
Pardon, plus lentement
Sorry, slower please
↻
ploo lon-tuh-mon
When you're lost
La première rue
The first street
↻
pruh-myair roo
1st street turn
La deuxième rue
The second street
↻
duh-zyem roo
2nd street turn
Prenez la sortie
Take the exit
↻
pruh-nay lah sor-tee
Metro exits
Sophie's Direction Strategy:
When someone gives directions, repeat back the key words: "À gauche, puis tout droit?" (Left, then straight?). This confirms you understood and shows you're trying. Parisians appreciate effort more than perfect French.
Near Future Tense
Je vais + verb = instant intermediate
Want to sound more advanced? Use "je vais" plus any verb. "Je vais manger" - I'm going to eat. "Je vais visiter" - I'm going to visit. This pattern takes you from beginner to intermediate instantly. It's the bridge I teach everyone.
Future Pattern (15)
Je vais aller
I'm going to go
↻
zhuh vay ah-lay
Most common pattern
Je vais visiter
I'm going to visit
↻
zhuh vay vee-zee-tay
Je vais visiter le Louvre
Je vais prendre
I'm going to take
↻
zhuh vay pron-druh
Je vais prendre le métro
Je vais manger
I'm going to eat
↻
zhuh vay mon-zhay
Je vais manger au café
Je vais acheter
I'm going to buy
↻
zhuh vay ah-shuh-tay
Je vais acheter un ticket
Vous allez où?
Where are you going?
↻
voo zah-lay oo
Common question
On va essayer
We're going to try
↻
on vah eh-say-yay
On va essayer le restaurant
Tu vas partir
You're going to leave
↻
too vah par-teer
Tu vas partir quand?
Il va arriver
He's going to arrive
↻
eel vah ah-ree-vay
Il va arriver bientôt
Nous allons voir
We're going to see
↻
noo zah-lon vwahr
Nous allons voir la tour Eiffel
Je vais rentrer
I'm going to return
↻
zhuh vay ron-tray
Je vais rentrer à l'hôtel
Je vais demander
I'm going to ask
↻
zhuh vay duh-mon-day
Je vais demander le chemin
Ils vont attendre
They're going to wait
↻
eel von ah-ton-druh
Ils vont attendre ici
Elle va chercher
She's going to look for
↻
el vah shair-shay
Elle va chercher la gare
Je vais réserver
I'm going to reserve
↻
zhuh vay ray-zehr-vay
Je vais réserver une table
The Bridge to Intermediate
This pattern transforms your French instantly. Instead of "Je mange" (I eat), say "Je vais manger" (I'm going to eat). Instead of "Je visite" (I visit), say "Je vais visiter" (I'm going to visit). Same verbs, just add "je vais" in front. Now you're talking about the future like an intermediate speaker.
Key Transport Phrases
Tickets, platforms, and essential questions
Buying tickets, finding platforms, asking for help - these phrases handle every transportation situation in Paris. I've helped thousands of tourists with exactly these words. They work at metros, train stations, and bus stops across France.
Essential Phrases (18)
Un ticket, s'il vous plaît
A ticket, please
↻
tee-keh seel voo pleh
Single journey
Un carnet
10 tickets (booklet)
↻
uhn kar-neh
Cheaper than singles
Un pass Navigo
Transit card
↻
pass nah-vee-go
Weekly/monthly pass
Quelle ligne pour...?
Which line for...?
↻
kel leen-yuh poor
Finding your metro
Vers [lieu]
Toward [place]
↻
vehr
Vers La Défense
Dans le sens de
In direction of
↻
dahn luh sahns duh
Follow terminus
Jusqu'à [station]
Until [station]
↻
zhüs-kah
Jusqu'à Châtelet
À quelle heure?
At what time?
↻
ah kel uhr
Schedule question
Le prochain métro
The next metro
↻
luh pro-shan may-troh
When's next one?
C'est la bonne direction?
Is this right way?
↻
seh lah bun dee-rek-see-on
Double-checking
Quel quai?
Which platform?
↻
kel kay
Finding your train
Je dois descendre où?
Where should I get off?
↻
zhuh dwah day-son-druh oo
Asking locals
C'est direct?
Is it direct?
↻
seh dee-rekt
No transfers?
Il faut changer?
Must I transfer?
↻
eel foh shon-zhay
Need to change?
Combien de temps?
How much time?
↻
kom-bee-an duh tom
Duration question
Où acheter un ticket?
Where to buy ticket?
↻
oo ah-shuh-tay
Finding machines
Ça coûte combien?
How much cost?
↻
sah koot kom-bee-an
Price question
Je suis perdu(e)
I'm lost
↻
zhuh swee pehr-dü
Need help
Sophie's Transport Hack:
At any metro station, find the big map and ask "Excusez-moi, quelle ligne pour aller à [place]?" Point at the map while asking. Parisians are actually helpful when you ask in French - even bad French.
Ticket Buying Tips
Buy a carnet (10 tickets) if staying 3+ days. Use contactless payment on buses. Keep your ticket until you exit - inspectors check randomly. Fine for no ticket: €50. The machines have English option but practice French first!
Essential Locations
Where tourists actually go
After ten years at this desk, I know exactly which locations tourists need. These eighteen cover 95% of all questions I get. Learn these and you can ask for directions to anywhere that matters in Paris or any French city.
Key Destinations (18)
Le musée
Museum
↻
luh moo-zay
Le Louvre, Orsay
L'hôtel
Hotel
↻
loh-tel
Where you stay
Le restaurant
Restaurant
↻
luh res-toh-ron
Where to eat
La pharmacie
Pharmacy
↻
lah far-mah-see
Green cross sign
L'aéroport
Airport
↻
lah-ay-ro-por
CDG or Orly
La banque
Bank
↻
lah bonk
ATM/money
La poste
Post office
↻
lah post
Send mail
Le parc
Park
↻
luh park
Luxembourg
Le marché
Market
↻
luh mar-shay
Fresh food
La cathédrale
Cathedral
↻
lah kah-tay-dral
Notre-Dame
Le café
Café
↻
luh kah-fay
Coffee/drinks
L'église
Church
↻
lay-gleez
Religious site
Le supermarché
Supermarket
↻
soo-pehr-mar-shay
Groceries
L'hôpital
Hospital
↻
loh-pee-tal
Emergency
Le commissariat
Police station
↻
ko-mee-sah-ree-ah
For help
La boulangerie
Bakery
↻
boo-lon-zhuh-ree
Fresh bread
L'office de tourisme
Tourist office
↻
loh-fees duh too-reesm
Info center
L'arrêt de bus
Bus stop
↻
lah-reh duh beuss
Wait here
Sophie's Location Formula:
Combine what you learned: "Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie?" (Where's the pharmacy?) Then listen for "à gauche" or "tout droit." That's it. You just navigated Paris in French.
Ready to Navigate Paris with Sophie?
"Voilà. You now have the system - transport vocabulary, direction questions, the near future tense, and every location that matters. Paris isn't complicated once you see the patterns. Come practice with me at the concierge desk." - Sophie