Asking for and Giving Directions (Demander et donner des directions)

Getting lost in a French city can actually be a wonderful opportunity to practise your French. Knowing how to ask for and understand directions is one of the most useful skills a traveller can have. This lesson covers all the vocabulary and phrases you need to navigate streets, find landmarks, and understand responses from locals.

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Essential Direction Vocabulary

French	English
à gauche	to the left
à droite	to the right
tout droit	straight ahead
en face de	opposite / facing
à côté de	next to
entre	between
derrière	behind
devant	in front of
au coin de	on the corner of
au bout de	at the end of
le carrefour	the crossroads / intersection
le rond-point	the roundabout
le feu (rouge)	the traffic light
le passage piéton	the pedestrian crossing
le trottoir	the pavement / sidewalk
le pont	the bridge
la rue	the street
l'avenue (f)	the avenue
le boulevard	the boulevard
la place	the square
le quartier	the neighbourhood / district

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Asking for Directions

French	English
Excusez-moi, je cherche la gare.	Excuse me, I am looking for the station.
Pardon, pourriez-vous m'indiquer le chemin pour aller au musée ?	Excuse me, could you show me the way to the museum?
Comment est-ce que je peux aller à la cathédrale ?	How can I get to the cathedral?
Où se trouve la pharmacie la plus proche ?	Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Est-ce que c'est loin d'ici ?	Is it far from here?
C'est à combien de minutes à pied ?	How many minutes is it on foot?
Je suis perdu(e). Pouvez-vous m'aider ?	I am lost. Can you help me?

Tip: Starting with Excusez-moi or Pardon is essential in France. It is considered rude to jump straight into a question without first greeting the person or excusing yourself.

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Giving Directions

French	English
Allez tout droit.	Go straight ahead.
Tournez à gauche.	Turn left.
Tournez à droite.	Turn right.
Prenez la première rue à droite.	Take the first street on the right.
Prenez la deuxième rue à gauche.	Take the second street on the left.
Continuez tout droit pendant cinq minutes.	Continue straight for five minutes.
Traversez la place.	Cross the square.
Passez devant l'église.	Go past the church.
C'est au bout de la rue.	It is at the end of the street.
C'est juste après le feu.	It is just after the traffic light.
C'est sur votre gauche / droite.	It is on your left / right.
C'est en face de la boulangerie.	It is opposite the bakery.
Vous ne pouvez pas le manquer.	You cannot miss it.

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Dialogue: Asking a Passer-by for Directions