Ski and mountain trip · Français
Ski and mountain trip phrases in French: 15 phrases
Buy a lift pass, rent skis and boots in your size, ask which pistes are easy, check the weather and avalanche danger, order hot food at a mountain hut, call mountain rescue, ask when the cable car runs and book a ski lesson. Short, natural phrases for a ski or mountain trip.
Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.
Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "vous" with ticket sellers, rental staff and instructors, and start with "Bonjour". A lift pass is a "forfait", ski boots "chaussures de ski", a chairlift "télésiège", a gondola "télécabine", a cable car "téléphérique", a ski instructor "moniteur" or "monitrice". Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.
How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.
15 phrases you will need
- 01PoliteJe voudrais un forfait pour une journée, s'il vous plaît.Say it like: zhuh voo-DRAY un for-FAY poor oon zhoor-NAY, seel voo PLAYI'd like a one-day lift pass, please.Register: "Forfait" is the lift pass; "forfait journée" is a day pass.
- 02NeutralCombien coûte le forfait pour trois jours ?Say it like: kom-BYAN koot luh for-FAY poor trwah zhoorHow much is a three-day pass?Register: Change "trois" for other lengths.
- 03PoliteJe voudrais louer des skis et des chaussures de ski.Say it like: zhuh voo-DRAY loo-AY day SKEE ay day shoh-SEWR duh SKEEI'd like to rent skis and ski boots.Register: Add "et un casque" (and a helmet).
- 04NeutralJe chausse du quarante-deux.Say it like: zhuh shohs dew ka-rahnt-DUHMy shoe size is 42.Register: "Je chausse du..." is how you give a shoe size. They may ask your height ("taille") and weight ("poids").
- 05NeutralQuelle piste est facile pour un débutant ?Say it like: kel peest eh fa-SEEL poor un day-bew-TAHNWhich piste is good for a beginner?Register: Say "une débutante" if you are a woman.
- 06NeutralEst-ce que cette piste est difficile ?Say it like: es-kuh set peest eh dee-fee-SEELIs this piste difficult?Register: Pistes are graded by colour on the map: ask "De quelle couleur est-elle ?".
- 07NeutralQuelles pistes sont ouvertes aujourd'hui ?Say it like: kel peest sohn oo-VERT oh-zhoor-DWEEWhich pistes are open today?Register: Also "Quelles remontées mécaniques fonctionnent ?" (which lifts are running?).
- 08NeutralQuel temps fera-t-il demain ?Say it like: kel tahn fuh-rah-TEEL duh-MANWhat will the weather be like tomorrow?Register: Add "en haut" (at the top).
- 09NeutralQuel est le niveau de risque d'avalanche aujourd'hui ?Say it like: kel eh luh nee-VOH duh reesk da-va-LAHNSH oh-zhoor-DWEEWhat is the avalanche danger level today?Register: Ask for the number from 1 to 5.
- 10NeutralVous servez des repas chauds ?Say it like: voo ser-VAY day ruh-PAH shohDo you serve hot meals?Register: At a mountain restaurant.
- 11PoliteUne soupe et un chocolat chaud, s'il vous plaît.Say it like: ewn soop ay un shoh-koh-LAH shoh, seel voo PLAYA soup and a hot chocolate, please.Register: Add "Qu'est-ce que vous avez comme plat du jour ?" (what is the dish of the day?).
- 12PoliteAppelez le cent douze, s'il vous plaît. Il y a un blessé sur la piste.Say it like: ap-LAY luh sahn DOOZ, seel voo PLAY. eel ee ah un bleh-SAY sewr lah peestPlease call 112. Someone is injured on the piste.Register: 112 is the emergency number in France; on the piste you can also ask for "les secours" (the rescue).
- 13NeutralÀ quelle heure descend la dernière télécabine ?Say it like: ah kel UR deh-SAHN lah dehr-NYAIR tay-lay-ka-BEENWhat time does the last gondola go down?Register: Skiers also say "la dernière descente". Check the board at the station.
- 14NeutralÀ quelle heure monte la première télécabine ?Say it like: ah kel UR mohnt lah pruh-MYAIR tay-lay-ka-BEENWhat time does the first gondola go up?Register: For a cable car say "téléphérique".
- 15PoliteJe voudrais réserver un cours de ski pour débutant.Say it like: zhuh voo-DRAY ray-zer-VAY un koor duh SKEE poor day-bew-TAHNI'd like to book a ski lesson for a beginner.Register: "Cours collectif" = group lesson, "cours particulier" = private lesson.
Local custom
- 112 is the European emergency number, free of charge from any phone in every EU country, including in the mountains. Source: European Commission, 112 (official EU page)
- The European avalanche danger scale has five levels: 1 low, 2 moderate, 3 considerable, 4 high, 5 very high. Source: European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS)
Quick answers
How do you ask for a lift pass in French?
Say: "Je voudrais un forfait pour une journée, s'il vous plaît." (I'd like a one-day lift pass, please.)
Should I use informal or formal French at a ski resort?
Use "vous" with ticket sellers, rental staff and instructors, and start with "Bonjour". A lift pass is a "forfait", ski boots "chaussures de ski", a chairlift "télésiège", a gondola "télécabine", a cable car "téléphérique", a ski instructor "moniteur" or "monitrice". Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.
How do I ask about the avalanche danger in French?
Say: "Quel est le niveau de risque d'avalanche aujourd'hui ?" (What is the avalanche danger level today?)
How do I call for help on the piste in French?
Say: "Appelez le cent douze, s'il vous plaît. Il y a un blessé sur la piste." (Please call 112. Someone is injured on the piste.)
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