How to Say 'Do You Have a Map of the City?' in French: Asking at the Tourist Office
Learn to ask for a city map in French, understand the reply, and read basic map vocabulary. Includes polite phrases, pronunciation, and a practice dialogue for the tourist office.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you arrive in a French-speaking town, one of the first useful things you can do is ask for a map at the tourist office, called l'office de tourisme or le syndicat d'initiative in some places. In this lesson, you will learn the exact question to ask: Avez-vous un plan de la ville ? You will also learn how to understand the answer, whether the person says yes, no, or gives you a different kind of map. We will focus on the word plan, which means a city map, not a plan in the English sense. You will practice polite forms, pronunciation, and a short dialogue so you can get your map and start exploring.
By the end, you can…
- ask politely if a map of the city is available.
- understand and respond to a yes/no answer about a map.
- recognize key words on a French city map, such as rue, place, and plan.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?
Do you have a map of the city?
ah-vay VOO uh(n) plah(n) duh lah veel
Standard polite question. Use vous with strangers. The word plan means a city map; une carte means a larger regional or road map.
Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a map of the city, please.
zhuh voo-DREH uh(n) plah(n) duh lah veel, seel voo pleh
Softer and very polite. Je voudrais is more polite than je veux. Add s'il vous plaît at the end.
Est-ce que vous avez un plan ?
Do you have a map?
ess-kuh voo-zah-VAY uh(n) plah(n)
Another common way to ask a yes/no question. Est-ce que is neutral and easy to use.
Oui, voilà. / Non, désolé(e).
Yes, here you are. / No, sorry.
wee, vwah-LAH / no(n), day-zoh-LAY
Typical answers. Voilà means 'here you are' when handing something over. Désolé is masculine, désolée is feminine.
C'est gratuit ?
Is it free?
say grah-TWEE
Ask this if you want to know whether the map costs money. Many tourist office maps are free, but some detailed ones are not.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for something politely in French, use Avez-vous + un/une + noun ? or Je voudrais + un/une + noun, s'il vous plaît. For example: Avez-vous un plan de la ville ? (Do you have a city map?) and Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît. (I would like a city map, please.) The word un is masculine, and plan is masculine. If you need a different kind of map, change the noun: une carte (a map for roads or regions), un guide (a guidebook). Remember that plan is a false friend: it does not mean 'plan' in the English sense here; it means a map of a town or city.
When to use it
Use Avez-vous un plan de la ville ? when you are at the tourist office counter and want a city map. Use Je voudrais un plan... when you want to be extra polite or when you are asking for something specific. If you are asking a friend or someone you know well, you can use the informal tu form: Tu as un plan de la ville ? (Do you have a city map?) But at the tourist office, always use vous. If the person answers Non, désolé, you can ask for an alternative: Avez-vous une carte de la région ? (Do you have a map of the region?) or Où puis-je trouver un plan ? (Where can I find a map?)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?
Hello, do you have a map of the city?bohn-ZHOOR, ah-vay VOO uh(n) plah(n) duh lah veelOui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.
Yes, of course. Here you are. It's free.wee, bya(n) SOOR. vwah-LAH. say grah-TWEEMerci. Est-ce qu'il y a un plan du métro aussi ?
Thank you. Is there a subway map too?mair-SEE. ess-keel ee ah uh(n) plah(n) doo may-TROH oh-SEEOui, le voici. Bonne visite !
Yes, here it is. Enjoy your visit!wee, luh vwah-SEE. bun vee-ZEETA little context goes a long way
In France, the tourist office is usually called l'office de tourisme. In some towns, especially smaller ones, you may see syndicat d'initiative, an older term. Staff are generally polite and used to helping visitors, but it is customary to start with Bonjour before asking a question. In Quebec, the Office des congrès et du tourisme may be the term, and you might hear bienvenue to mean 'you're welcome' after merci. In Belgium and Switzerland, office du tourisme is common. Always use vous with staff unless invited to use tu.
One thing to watch for
Using carte when you mean a city map, as in Avez-vous une carte de la ville ?
Try this instead: In French, une carte usually means a map for a larger area, like a road map or a country map, or a menu. For a city map, use un plan: Avez-vous un plan de la ville ? If you ask for une carte de la ville, you might get a road map or be misunderstood. Use plan for town and city maps.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask 'Do you have a map of the city?' using vous?
Show a sample answer
Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?
This uses the inversion question form with vous. You can also say Est-ce que vous avez un plan de la ville ? or Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît. All are correct and polite.
2What does plan mean in the phrase un plan de la ville?
Show a sample answer
A map of the city.
Plan is a false friend. In this context it means a city map, not a plan or scheme. Une carte would be a map for a larger area or a menu.
3You are at the tourist office and the person says Non, désolé. What is one polite follow-up question you can ask?
Show a sample answer
Avez-vous une carte de la région ?
This asks for a map of the region. You could also ask Où puis-je trouver un plan ? (Where can I find a map?) Both are polite and keep the conversation going.
At the tourist office, start with Bonjour, then ask Avez-vous un plan de la ville ? Use plan for a city map, not carte. Add s'il vous plaît for extra politeness, and listen for Oui, voilà or Non, désolé.
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