31 French phrases to use on public transport

Choose from our pick of words to navigate the French public transport system with ease

Je voudrais acheter un billet pour… – I would like to buy a ticket to…

Combien coute le billet pour…? – How much is a ticket to?

À quelle est heure est le prochain train pour…? – What time is the next train to…?

Je veux aller à… Nantes – I want to go to… Nantes

C’est bien le train pour Paris? – This is the train to Paris, isn’t it?

J’aimerais voyager dans le sens du train – I would like to travel in the direction that the train is travelling

La gare SNCF – The train station

Le metro – The underground

RER – The train network serving Paris and the rest of Île-de-France

TGV – A high-speed train that operates all over France

La gare routière – The bus station

L’arrêt de bus – The bus stop

Est-ce qu’il y a un service d’autocar pour aller à Nice? – Is there a coach service to Nice?

Une station de taxi – A taxi rank

Une correspondance – A connection

Une salle d’attente – A waiting area/room

Un carnet – A book of tickets (term used on Paris metro).

Le guichet – The ticket office

Un billet – A ticket

Un billet remboursable – A refundable ticket

Un billet échangeable – An exchangeable ticket

Un billet valable – A valid ticket

Un aller simple – A single ticket

Un aller-retour – A return

Composter – Validate

Le contrôleur – The conductor

Une place – A seat

Le quai – Platform

La voiture B – Carriage B

La voie – Track

L’heure de pointe – Rush hour

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