🇫🇷 French Level A1

Asking for directions in French

You're on a street in France and you're lost. You stop a passer-by (Thomas) and ask the way. Listen to what he tells you, then choose how to reply — tap an answer to hear its pronunciation and see its translation, then confirm. What you pick changes what he says. Open “Vocabulary” for the words (or “Explore the scene”) and tap “🗣️ On the street” for the real language.

Play the scene — free

▶Get it onGoogle Play

What you'll learn here

✔politely approach a stranger (“Excusez-moi”)
✔ask where a place is (“Où est… ?”)
✔understand directions: tout droit, au feu, au carrefour
✔confirm or ask for a clarification (“C'est loin ?”)
✔thank and say goodbye (“Merci, au revoir”)

Key words

tout droit tu DRUA

straight ahead

“Tout droit” = straight ahead, NOT “to the right”! “To the right” is “à droite”, and “to the left” is “à gauche” — easy to mix up by ear. The final t in “droit” is silent. You'll often hear “Allez tout droit” or “Continuez tout droit”.

le feu lö FÖ

the traffic light

“Le feu” literally means “the fire”, but here it's the traffic light (fully: “le feu rouge” / “les feux”). “Au feu, tournez…” = at the light, turn… “Au feu” is the classic landmark in directions, alongside “au carrefour”.

le carrefour lö car-FUR

the crossroads

“Le carrefour” = the crossroads where several streets meet. Note it's also the name of a big French supermarket chain — but in a street context it always means “crossroads”. “Un rond-point” = a roundabout, another common landmark.

la station de métro la sta-si-ON dö me-TRO

the metro station

For the metro you say “une station” (de métro), but for a train it's “une gare” — don't mix them up! Paris metro entrances often have the famous yellow “M”. The bus has “un arrêt de bus” (a bus stop).

au coin o COĂN

on the corner

“Au coin (de la rue)” = on the corner of the street. “Coin” also means “area/nook”: “le coin” can mean “the neighbourhood/area” (“un bon resto dans le coin” = a good restaurant around here). “En face” = opposite/across, another handy landmark.

How locals really say it

Not the textbook version — the real language you hear in French.

“Oui, je peux vous aider ?” — Yes, can I help you?

“Bon, vous êtes là, c'est simple.” — Right, you're here, it's simple.

“À pied ou en métro ?” — On foot or by metro?

“Tout droit, et au feu, à droite.” — Straight ahead, and at the light, right.

Dialogue (excerpt)

A taste of the conversation — play the rest in the app.

Thomas

Oui ? Je vous écoute.

Yes? I'm listening.

You

Excusez-moi, je suis perdu. Où est la station de métro ?

Excuse me, I'm lost. Where is the metro station?

Thomas

Alors, vous êtes ici. Ce n'est vraiment pas compliqué.

So, you are here. It's really not complicated.

Thomas

Vous voulez y aller à pied ou en métro ?

Do you want to go on foot or by metro?

You

À pied, c'est possible ?

On foot, is that possible?

Thomas

Vous allez tout droit, puis au feu, vous tournez à droite.

You go straight ahead, then at the traffic light you turn right.

…continues in the app →

Asking for directions in French

What you'll learn here

Key words

How locals really say it

Dialogue (excerpt)

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