Complete Travelers Guide To Asking Directions In French

To ask directions in French simply say, “Où est?”. For example “Où est la gare?” (Where is the train station). For a plural place, ask “Où sont?”. For example, “Où sont les toilettes?”. This page offers an extensive guide for asking and understanding directions, covering vocabulary for various places around town, specific words for directions as well as verbs covering directions.

How do you ask directions in French?

Here’s a list of some sample questions for asking directions. Remember to use the formal ‘s’il vous plaît’ (please in French) with strangers in the street!

I’m looking for the train station, please.
S’il vous plaît, je cherche la gare.
Where’s the stadium, please?
S’il vous plaît, où est le stade?
Excuse me, I’d like to go the school.
Pardon, je voudrais aller à l’école.
Excuse me, ma’am, where is the library?
Pardon madame, où est la bibliothèque?
I want to go the the Eiffel Tower. Where is it? Is it far from here?
Je veux aller à la tour Eiffel, c’est par où? C’est près d’ici?
Can you show me where’s Marseille Street?
Vous pouvez m’indiquer la rue de Marseille?
I think I’m lost. I’m looking for the train station, please.
Je pense que je suis perdu. Je cherche la gare, s’il vous plaît.

Giving directions

Here’s a list of answers you might hear when somebody gives you directions.

Take the street going straight. After the school, it’s 20 meters on the right.
Prenez la rue tout droit, après l’école, c’est sur la droite à 20 mètres.
It’s in the city square, across from McDonald’s. It takes ten minutes.
Il se trouve dans la place, en face du McDo. C’est à 10 minutes.
It’s at the end of the street, near city hall.
C’est à la fin de la rue, près de la marie.
Cross the bridge and take the third street on the left. The store is 25 meters from there.
Traversez le pont et prenez la troisième rue à gauche. Le magasin est à 25 mètres.
Go until the bridge and walk along the river. The university is a bit further. You need 15 minutes on foot.
Allez jusqu’au pont et longez la rivière. L’université est un peu plus loin. Il faut un quart heure à pied.
Continue on Marseille Street and it’s on the second street on the right.
Continuez la rue de Marseille et c’est la deuxième rue à droite.
Take this street. Pass in front of the school and it’s right across from the church.
Prenez cette rue, passez devant l’école et c’est juste en face de l’église.

Names of places around town

Here’s a list of basic places you’ll find in most towns. Pay close attention to the gender (masculine, feminine) of the words!

avenue une avenue
boulevard un boulevard
bridge un pont
church l’église
city hall la marie
city square une place
high school le lycée
intersection un carrefour
library la bibliothèque
mall un centre commercial
movie theater le cinéma
park un parc
police station le commissariat de police
pool la piscine
post office la poste
river la rivière
school l’école
stadium le stade
store un magasin
street une rue
theater le théâtre
traffic light un feu (rouge)
train station la gare
university l’université

French direction words

Here’s a list of words you’ll need to memorize for both describing and understanding directions.

straight ahead tout droit
the right (of) (on your right) à droit de (sur votre droite)
to the left (of) (on your left) à gauche (de) (sur votre gauche)
in front of the, opposite en face (de)
on the other side of de l’autre côté de
in front of devant
behind the derrière
near près de
far from loin de
before avant
after après
next to à côte de
between A and B entre A et B
at the corner of A and B streets au coin/à l’angle de la rue A et de la rue B
at the end of the street au bout de la rue
at the end of the street à la fin de la rue
on A boulevard/avenue sur le boulevard A/l’avenue A
in A street dans la rue A
au bord de (la plage) beside (the beach)
to the north (of) au nord (de)
to the south (of) au sud (de)
to the east (of) à l’est (de)
to the west (of) à l’ouest (de)

Verbs for directions

Here’s a list of specific verbs necessary for both describing and understanding directions.

go (until the) aller (jusqu’a/au)
continue (until the) continue (jusqu’a/au)
go by the… passer devant le/la/les
go along the… longer
turn right, left tourner, prendre (à droite, à gauche)
take the first, second third street to the right, left prendre la première, deuxième, troisième rue à droite, à gauche
cross (the steet, bridge, city square) traverser (la rue, le pont, la place)
go back revenir, retourner (en arrière)
go up the street remonter la rue
go down the street redescendre la rue
to be located se trouver

Related lessons:

More resources:

See all French vocabulary lists

David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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