First Phrases

Train and bus phrases · Français

Train and bus phrases in French: 15 phrases

Buy a ticket, ask which platform or stop, check the next departure, ask about delays and changes, pay by card, find your seat, get off at your stop, find the exit or taxi rank, deal with a missed train and say thank you. Short, polite phrases for trains and buses in a new country. Pair them with Meet & Mint once you are settled.

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). With ticket staff, drivers and strangers, "vous" and "s'il vous plaît" are the default in France, and "Bonjour" first is expected before any question. Ticket rules differ between SNCF trains, regional trains and city buses, so check your operator's rules before you travel. 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.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Un billet pour ..., s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: un bee-YEH poor ..., seel voo PLEH
    One ticket to [place], please.
    Register: Put the place name where the dots are. Start with "Bonjour".
  2. 02Polite
    Un aller-retour, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: un al-LAY ruh-TOOR, seel voo PLEH
    A return ticket, please.
    Register: "Aller simple" = one way.
  3. 03Polite
    De quel quai part-il ?
    Say it like: duh kel kay par-TEEL
    Which platform does it leave from?
    Register: "Quai" = platform; "voie" = track.
  4. 04Polite
    C'est bien le train pour ... ?
    Say it like: seh byan luh tran poor ...
    Is this the train to ...?
    Register: "C'est bien...?" = is this really...?
  5. 05Polite
    Est-ce que ce bus s'arrête à ... ?
    Say it like: es kuh suh bews sa-RET ah ...
    Does this bus stop at ...?
    Register: "S'arrêter" = to stop.
  6. 06Polite
    Quand est le prochain ?
    Say it like: kon eh luh pro-SHAN
    When is the next one?
    Register: Works for a train or a bus.
  7. 07Polite
    Le train a du retard. Combien de temps ?
    Say it like: luh tran ah dew ruh-TAR. kom-BYAN duh ton
    The train is delayed. How long?
    Register: "Avoir du retard" = to be late.
  8. 08Polite
    Où dois-je composter mon billet ?
    Say it like: oo dwahzh kom-pos-TAY mon bee-YEH
    Where do I validate my ticket?
    Register: "Composter" = to validate a paper ticket; e-tickets often need no stamping.
  9. 09Polite
    Je peux payer par carte ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh pay-YAY par kart
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Useful at ticket desks and with drivers.
  10. 10Polite
    Cette place est libre ?
    Say it like: set plass eh LEE-bruh
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Asked before you sit next to someone.
  11. 11Polite
    Excusez-moi, c'est mon arrêt.
    Say it like: ek-skew-zay-MWA, seh mon a-REH
    Excuse me, this is my stop.
    Register: Said to get past people to the door.
  12. 12Polite
    Est-ce que je dois changer de train ?
    Say it like: es kuh zhuh dwa shon-ZHAY duh tran
    Do I need to change trains?
    Register: "Une correspondance" = a connection.
  13. 13Polite
    Où est la sortie / la station de taxis ?
    Say it like: oo eh lah sor-TEE / lah sta-SYON duh tak-SEE
    Where is the exit / the taxi rank?
    Register: Choose one: "la sortie" or "la station de taxis".
  14. 14Polite
    J'ai raté mon train. Que puis-je faire ?
    Say it like: zhay ra-TAY mon tran. kuh pwee-zhuh FAIR
    I missed my train. What can I do?
    Register: Say it at the ticket desk or to staff.
  15. 15Polite
    Merci, bon voyage.
    Say it like: mair-SEE, bon vwah-YAHZH
    Thank you, have a good trip.
    Register: "Bon voyage" is the standard send-off.

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Quick answers

How do you ask for a train ticket in French?

Say: "Un billet pour ..., s'il vous plaît." (One ticket to [place], please.)

Should I use formal or informal French with ticket staff and drivers?

With ticket staff, drivers and strangers, "vous" and "s'il vous plaît" are the default in France, and "Bonjour" first is expected before any question. Ticket rules differ between SNCF trains, regional trains and city buses, so check your operator's rules before you travel. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I ask which platform a train leaves from in French?

Say: "De quel quai part-il ?" (Which platform does it leave from?)

How do I say I missed my train in French?

Say: "J'ai raté mon train. Que puis-je faire ?" (I missed my train. What can I do?)

Train and bus phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

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How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you and meet people who are also new. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/train-and-bus-phrases/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint