FROM FLUENTU.COM
à at, in
chez at the home/office of
dans in
derrièrei n back of, behind
devanti n front of
en in
entre between
sous under
sur on
vers toward, near
Prepositional phrases of place
à côté de next to, beside
à droite de to the right of
à gauche de to the left of
à l’extérieur de outside (of)
à l’intérieur de inside (of)
au coin de in the corner of
au-dessous de below, underneath
au-dessus de higher than, above
autour de around
en arrière de behind
en bas de below, at the bottom of
en dehors de outside of
en dessous de lower than, below
en face de facing, across from
en haut de above, at the top of
hors de outside of
loin de far from
près de near (to)
à at, in
chez at the home/office of
dans in
derrièrei n back of, behind
devanti n front of
en in
entre between
sous under
sur on
vers toward, near
Prepositional phrases of place
à côté de next to, beside
à droite de to the right of
à gauche de to the left of
à l’extérieur de outside (of)
à l’intérieur de inside (of)
au coin de in the corner of
au-dessous de below, underneath
au-dessus de higher than, above
autour de around
en arrière de behind
en bas de below, at the bottom of
en dehors de outside of
en dessous de lower than, below
en face de facing, across from
en haut de above, at the top of
hors de outside of
loin de far from
près de near (to)
Asking For Directions In French (from masteryourfrench.com)
https://www.google.com/search?q=giving+directions+french&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS947US947&oq=giving+directions+french&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l7j0i390.4857j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_TaFkYZv0E96CwbkPr_OG8AI16
The first thing to study is the vocabulary that is useful to reference a specific place or an address. With these simple terms, you’ll make your journey more enjoyable, relaxing and you’ll reduce the chances that you get lost in a French-speaking city. But of course, not all those who wander are lost.
Excusez-moi
To start a conversation with a person in the street or in a store, the first thing to say is “Excusez-moi” which means “Excuse me”. It is a polite way to grab the attention and it signals to the other person that you’d like to initiate a conversation.
Savez-vous où se trouve…
Once the other person is aware that you have something to say then you’re good to go to ask for directions in French. Learn the following question:
To learn how to properly ask questions in French, check the ultimate guide to ask questions in French.
Où est…
A more simple and shorter alternative is to say:
Another way to ask for directions in French is to use a question that starts with “comment peut-on aller à”. Here is an example:
Sometimes, you won’t be looking for a specific address or place. Instead, you’d like to find the closest bakery or get to the nearest metro station. In this case, add to your question “la plus proche” or “le plus proche” (nearest). Check the example below with “la plus proche” (boulangerie is a feminine noun):
Similarly, another way to ask for the nearest service, business, or boutique is to say:
Here is a list of expessions in French, as cited above, that you can use to ask for directions:
Est-ce que c’est près d’ici
Not sure about how far is the place from where you are? Then, ask about the distance to better know if you can get there walking or by car. To get this direction in French right, ask if it’s close from here (près d’ici) or far from here (loin d’ici):
Do you want to be sure that you can walk there? Then, explicitly ask if you can go on foot. In this case, here is the question to ask:
It is not only important to learn how to ask for directions in French but also it is essential to understand the answer that you get back in French. Here are some key elements that are related to locations and directions in French:
o In English: The bakery is next to the bank.
o In English: The bakery is in front of the bank.
o In English: The bakery is on the right of the bank.
o In English: The bakery is on the left of the bank.
o In English: The bakery is behind the bank.
o In English: The bakery is in front of the bank.
https://www.google.com/search?q=giving+directions+french&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS947US947&oq=giving+directions+french&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l7j0i390.4857j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_TaFkYZv0E96CwbkPr_OG8AI16
The first thing to study is the vocabulary that is useful to reference a specific place or an address. With these simple terms, you’ll make your journey more enjoyable, relaxing and you’ll reduce the chances that you get lost in a French-speaking city. But of course, not all those who wander are lost.
Excusez-moi
To start a conversation with a person in the street or in a store, the first thing to say is “Excusez-moi” which means “Excuse me”. It is a polite way to grab the attention and it signals to the other person that you’d like to initiate a conversation.
Savez-vous où se trouve…
Once the other person is aware that you have something to say then you’re good to go to ask for directions in French. Learn the following question:
- In French: Savez-vous où se trouve l’hôtel Mirabeau?
- In English: Do you know where the hôtel Mirabeau is located?
To learn how to properly ask questions in French, check the ultimate guide to ask questions in French.
Où est…
A more simple and shorter alternative is to say:
- In French: Où est l’hôtel Mirabeau?
- In English: Where is the hôtel Mirabeau?
- In French: Où sont les toilettes publiques?
- In English: Where are the public restrooms?
Another way to ask for directions in French is to use a question that starts with “comment peut-on aller à”. Here is an example:
- In French: Comment peut-on aller à l’hôtel Mirabeau?
- In English: How to get to the hotel Mirabeau?
Sometimes, you won’t be looking for a specific address or place. Instead, you’d like to find the closest bakery or get to the nearest metro station. In this case, add to your question “la plus proche” or “le plus proche” (nearest). Check the example below with “la plus proche” (boulangerie is a feminine noun):
- In French: Où se trouve la boulangerie la plus proche?
- In English: Where is the nearest bakery?
- In French: Savez-vous où se trouve le distributeur le plus proche?
- In English: Where is the nearest ATM machine?
Similarly, another way to ask for the nearest service, business, or boutique is to say:
- In French: Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d’ici?
- In English: Is there a pharmacy nearby?
Here is a list of expessions in French, as cited above, that you can use to ask for directions:
- Savez-vous où se trouve l’hôtel Mirabeau?
- Où sont les toilettes publiques?
- Comment peut-on aller à l’hôtel Mirabeau?
- Où se trouve la boulangerie la plus proche?
- Savez-vous où se trouve le distributeur le plus proche?
- Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d’ici?
Est-ce que c’est près d’ici
Not sure about how far is the place from where you are? Then, ask about the distance to better know if you can get there walking or by car. To get this direction in French right, ask if it’s close from here (près d’ici) or far from here (loin d’ici):
- In French: Est-ce que c’est près d’ici?
- In English: Is it near from here?
- In French: Est-ce que c’est loin d’ici?
- In English: Is it far from here?
Do you want to be sure that you can walk there? Then, explicitly ask if you can go on foot. In this case, here is the question to ask:
- In French: Est-ce que je peux y aller à pied?
- In English: Can I walk to get there?
It is not only important to learn how to ask for directions in French but also it is essential to understand the answer that you get back in French. Here are some key elements that are related to locations and directions in French:
- “A côté de” (next to):
o In English: The bakery is next to the bank.
- “En face de” (in front of):
o In English: The bakery is in front of the bank.
- “A droite de” (on the right of):
o In English: The bakery is on the right of the bank.
- “A gauche de” (on the left of):
o In English: The bakery is on the left of the bank.
- “Derrière” (behind):
o In English: The bakery is behind the bank.
- “Devant” (in front of):
o In English: The bakery is in front of the bank.