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French Phrases: Getting around town in French

This page lists the French names of common shops and buildings, with useful French phrases for asking directions (and understanding them).

Places and buildings

Monuments and culture

la cathédralela katedʁalthe cathedral
une égliseyn egliza church
un jardin publicæ̃ ʒaʁdæ̃ pyblika park
la mairiela meʁithe town hall, city hall
un muséeæ̃ myzea museum
un musée d'artæ̃ myze daʁan art gallery
le palaislə palethe palace
un parcæ̃ paʁka park
la statue de ...la staty dəthe statue of ...
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Eating and drinking

un baræ̃ baʁa bar
un caféæ̃ kafea bar
une brasserieyn bʁasʁi=a pub,bar serving cheap food
un restaurantæ̃ ʁɛstoʁɑ̃a restaurant
un bistro(t)æ̃ bistʁoa bistro, restaurant
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Shops/stores

une librairie-a bookshop, bookstore
la zone commercialela zon kɔmɛʁsjalthe shopping precinct
un centre commercialæ̃ sɑ̃tʁə kɔmɛʁsjala shopping centre, shopping mall
un grand magasinæ̃ gʁɑ̃ magazæ̃a large store, a department store
le centre-villelə sɑ̃tʁəvilthe town centre, the city centre
les magasinsle magazæ̃the shops
un magasin de...æ̃ magazæ̃ dəa shop/store that sells...
un magasin-photoæ̃ magazæ̃ fotoa camera shop
un supermarchéæ̃ sypeʁmaʁʃea supermarket
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Entertainment

le casinolə kazinothe casino
le cinémalə sinemathe cinema
la patinoirela patinwaʁthe ice rink
la piscinela pisinthe swimming baths
le théâtrelə teatʁthe theatre
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Utility buildings

l'auberge de jeunesselobɛʁʒ də jønɛsthe youth hostel
une banqueyn bɑ̃ka bank
l'office de tourismelofiz də tuʁismthe tourist information office
un bureau de changeæ̃ byʁo tʃɑ̃ʒa bureau de change
la garela gaʁthe train station
la gare d'autobusla gaʁ dotobysthe bus station
la gare routièrela gaʁ ʁutjɛʁthe coach station
un hôtelæ̃ notɛla hotel
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Directions

où est...?u ewhere is...?
où se trouve...?u stʁuvwhereabouts is...?
où puis-je trouver...?u pɥiʃ tʁuvewhere can I find...?
comment est-ce que je fais pour aller à...?kɔmɑ̃ ɛskəʃ fe puʁ ale ahow do I get to...?
c'est loin?se lwæ̃is it far?
(vous) tournez...(vu) tuʁne(you) turn...
...à gauchea goʃ...left
...à droitea dʁwat...right
...au (prochain) feu rougeo (pʁɔʃæ̃) fø ʁuʒ...at the (next) traffic lights
...au rond-pointo ʁõpwæ̃...at the roundabout (UK)/traffic circle (US)
montez jusqu'à...mõte ʒyskago up as far as...
descendez jusqu'à...desɑ̃de ʒyskago down as far as...
la rue principalela ʁy pʁæ̃sipalthe main street
le coin de la ruele kwæ̃ dla ʁythe street corner
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Page written by Neil Coffey. Copyright (c) Javamex UK 2014. All rights reserved.