Les Transports — getting around | Vocabulary
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All the ways to talk about transport in French — le train, le métro, en voiture — with audio. Getting around in French. This French getting around vocabulary list gives you 16 essential words — from le train (the train) to composter (to validate (a ticket)) — each with audio and its English translation. Use it to build the French words you need to talk about getting around, then test yourself with the games below.
Les Transports
Getting around in French
Les moyens de transport
À la gare / à l’aéroport
🎬 The 20-second version
5 quick questions on « Les Transports » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →
📘 Transport French that saves your trip
- EN + enclosed transport: en train, en voiture, en avion, en bus · À + open/astride: à pied, à vélo, à moto.
- Prendre is THE transport verb: je prends le métro — never “utiliser”.
- Ticket machines ask you to composter (validate) regional train tickets — skip it and the contrôleur can fine you.
- Une correspondance = your connection: j’ai une correspondance à Lyon.
- The SNCF announcement you’ll hear forever: le train à destination de… partira voie 7.
🔊 Useful phrases
🔊 Example sentences
✍️ Practice
by car = ___ voiture · by bike = ___ vélo (en vs à)
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en … à
a return ticket = un aller-___ (ticket type)
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retour
to validate a ticket = ___ son billet (SNCF ritual)
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composter
🎮 Practise this with games
🎯 More practice — vocabulary recall — both directions
How do you say « the train »? (recall)
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le train
What does « le bus » mean? (recall)
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the bus
How do you say « the plane »? (recall)
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l’avion
What does « la voiture » mean? (recall)
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the car
How do you say « a ticket »? (recall)
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un billet
What does « un aller-retour » mean? (recall)
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a return
How do you say « the track »? (recall)
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la voie
What does « le contrôleur » mean? (recall)
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the ticket inspector
Go further: get the full picture in our guide 25 survival phrases for your trip to France.
Transport in French — FAQ
How do you say common getting around words in French?
For example: the train is « le train », the underground is « le métro », the bus is « le bus ». The full list above has 16 French getting around words, each with audio so you can hear the pronunciation.
What are the most useful French getting around words to learn first?
Start with the basics: le train (the train), le métro (the underground), le bus (the bus), le tramway (the tram), l’avion (the plane), le vélo (the bike). Master these core French words before moving on to the rest of the list.
How can I memorise French getting around vocabulary?
Learn the words in small themed groups, say each one out loud with the audio, and use it in a short sentence about your own life. Spaced repetition is what makes new vocabulary stick — see our guide to learning French vocabulary that sticks.
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