Getting around in French means using à + place (au cinéma, à la boulangerie). For going inside: dans. For coming from: de.
Shops (les magasins)
| French | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| la boulangerie | bakery (bread) | |
| la pâtisserie | pastry shop | |
| la boucherie | butcher's | |
| la charcuterie | deli, cooked meats | |
| l'épicerie (f) | grocery store | |
| le supermarché | supermarket | |
| le marché | open-air market | |
| la pharmacie | pharmacy | |
| la librairie | bookshop | False friend — NOT a library. That's la bibliothèque. |
| le magasin | store, shop |
Around town (en ville)
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la rue | street |
| l'avenue (f) | avenue |
| la place | square (public) |
| le quartier | neighborhood |
| le centre-ville | downtown / city centre |
| la banlieue | suburbs |
| le parc | park |
| le jardin | garden |
| le pont | bridge |
Public buildings
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la mairie | town hall |
| la poste | post office |
| la banque | bank |
| l'hôpital (m) | hospital |
| l'école (f) | school |
| le lycée | high school |
| l'université (f) | university |
| le musée | museum |
| la bibliothèque | library |
| l'église (f) | church |
| le cinéma | cinema |
| le théâtre | theatre |
| le restaurant | restaurant |
| le café | café |
| l'hôtel (m) | hotel |
Transportation
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la gare | train station |
| l'aéroport (m) | airport |
| la station de métro | metro station |
| l'arrêt de bus (m) | bus stop |
| le train | train |
| le métro | subway |
| le bus | bus |
| le taxi | taxi |
| la voiture | car |
| le vélo | bicycle |
| l'avion (m) | plane |
Tips to memorize this list faster
- Use 'au' for masculine places (au cinéma), 'à la' for feminine (à la poste), 'à l'' before a vowel (à l'école).
- False friend: la librairie sells books (a bookshop). The place that lends books is la bibliothèque.
- For going home: 'je rentre à la maison' or 'je rentre chez moi'.
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