French Train Station Vocabulary

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Last Updated: September 20, 2023

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Whether you are travelling to France soon or not, it’s always a good idea to stock up your French vocabulary with words and phrases related to trains and train stations.

French Train Station Vocabulary

Today, our topic is all about that -- learning vocabulary about train station in French.

Trains are a great way to travel all over France. It’s comfortable and convenient, plus you get treated to the most scenic views! Getting around via trains is an altogether different topic (let’s talk about it on another day), but for now, let’s learn the words and phrases you will encounter at the "gare" (train station in French) and when traveling by train.

la garestation
Un guicheta ticket booth/window
Contrôle des ticketsTicket verification
Poinçonner / composter to validate
billetTicket
billet de traintrain ticket
ticket de métrometro ticket
Un carnetPack of ten metro tickets
les tarifs / les prixticket prices
un remboursementrefund
Un aller simple one way ticket
un aller-retourreturn ticket/ roundtrip ticket
un aller-retour pour Paris, s'il vous plaît?a roundtrip/return ticket to Paris please
Un panneau d’informationinformation display
Le départ departure
L’arrivéearrivals
les horairestimetable/ schedule
Leaving fromen provenance de
Going toa destination de
départs dans l'heuredepartures within the hour
départs grandes lignesmainline departures
départs banlieuelocal departures
heure de départdeparture time
heure d'arrivéearrival time
deux minutes d'arrêttwo-minute stop (next stop)
une voietrain track
un quaiplatform
une voituretrain carriage, car, coach
la voiture buffet/ voiture-barbuffet car
la voiture-restaurantrestaurant car, dining car
Une correspondanceconnection (as in connecting line, transfer line)
mes bagagesmy luggage
ma valisemy suitcase
un chariotbaggage cart/ trolley
porte-bagagesluggage rack
SNCFthe French national railway company
RERRER, suburban train system in Paris
les guichetsthe ticket counters
Un abonnementa subscription, a pass
Un contrôlea check point
Un contrôleura subway agent
Un kiosque à journauxa newspaper stand/ kiosk
Une ligne de métroa subway line
Un terminusthe last stop
Souterrainunderground
une ramea subway train
Un couloira corridor
Des escaliersstairs
Des escaliers roulantsescalators
Un plan de métroa subway map
Un siège a seat
Un strapontina folding seat
Les railsrails
la queueLine
un voyageurpassenger (m)
une voyageusepassenger (f)
descendre du trainto get off the train
monter en voitureto get on the train
changer de trainto change trains
deboutstanding
assisseated
Une place (assise)a seat
Une place duo 2 seats next to each other
le contrôleurtrain conductor
à l’heureOn time
un retardDelay
la circulationtraffic
à bordon board
un arrêtA stop
SortieExit
Où est la sortie, s'il vous plaît?Where's the exit, please?
Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.one ticket, please.
Un carnet, s'il vous plaît.A pack of metro tickets, please
Comment aller à la station X, s'il vous plaît?How do I get to X station?
Passage InterditDo not enter; forbidden passageway
Attention Danger de MortCaution: danger of death (signage for dangerous equipment)
En TravauxUnder construction/repair
La correspondance n'est pas assuréeLine transfer not available due to repairs/ temporary shutdown/ emergencies
"En cas d'affluence, ne pas utiliser les strapontins!" In case of crowded conditions, please do not use the fold-down seats (signs inside metro cars)
Places prioritairesReserved seats (seats designated for the elderly, pregnant women, passengers with young children or disabled passengers.)

Now here’s an example dialogue:

Une vente par téléphone

Le vendeur: Donc, M. Dupont, je comprends que vous voulez un billet de Paris à Lyon le vendredi matin, n’est-ce pas?

M. Dupont : Non. En fait, je voudrais partir vendredi matin de Lille à Paris, en TGV. Ensuite je vais partir le soir de Paris à Lyon, aussi en TGV.

Le vendeur: Je comprends, Monsieur. Vous voulez partir de Lille vers quelle heure ?

M. Dupont: J’ai un rendez-vous à Paris à dix heures…

Le vendeur: Dans ce cas, Monsieur, je vais réserver pour vous le train départ de huit heures à Lille, arrive à Paris à la gare du Nord à neuf heures. Est-ce que cela vous ira?

M.Dupont : Parfait. Et puis je voudrais partir de Paris vers seize heures.

Le vendeur: D’accord, c’est fait. Vous prenez le train à la gare de Lyon à seize heures et vous arrivez à Lyon à dix-huit heures.

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Buying by telephone

The salesman: So, Mr. Dupont, I understand that you want a ticket from Paris to Lyon Friday morning, right?

M. Dupont: No. Actually I want to travel Friday morning from Lille tu Paris, by TGV. After, I will go from Paris to Lyon in the evening, also by TGV.

The salesman: I understand, Sir. At which time do you want to depart at Lille?

M.Dupont: I have a meeting at ten in Paris.

The salesman: In that case, Sir, I will reserve for you the train at eight o’clock at Lille, it will arrive at 9AM at Paris, the “Gare du Nord” train station. Is that ok for you.

M. Dupont: Perfect! And I want to leave Paris at around 4PM.

The salesman: Ok, it’s booked. You will take the train at the “Gare de Lyon” at 4PM and you will arrive to Lyon at 6PM.


Are you feeling more confident having conversation about the train station in French now that you've read this article?

Want to listen to this dialogue and other sample conversations? 

Enroll now in the Complete Intermediate French Course. The full lesson may be found there.  

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About the author 

Frederic Bibard is the founder of Talk in French, a company that helps french learners to practice and improve their french. Macaron addict. Jacques Audiard fan. You can contact him on Instagram

  • J’ai une petite question…dans le dialoque, la deuxième question du vendeur, est-ce que “quelque heure” devrait lire “quelle heure” ?

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