In this workshop you will practice a short, useful exchange in French: asking whether a city map is available and understanding the answer. You will hear polite questions, a friendly reply, and a follow-up about a subway map. The recordings give you ready-made lines, so you can focus on rhythm, polite tone, and clear pronunciation. You will speak both roles: first as the person asking, then as the person answering. This is active practice, not a grammar lecture. Say every line out loud, even quietly. If a line feels long, pause the audio and repeat it in two parts. The goal is to feel comfortable asking for a map and to recognize common answers when you hear them.
Asking politely for a map
Start with a polite question. The line «Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» means 'Do you have a map of the city?' The word plan here means a city map, not a drawing or a plan of action. Une carte means a larger regional or road map. Use vous with strangers, which is the safe polite choice. A softer and very polite option is «Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'I would like a map of the city, please.' The phrase je voudrais is gentler than je veux, and s'il vous plaît at the end adds courtesy. Another easy question is «Est-ce que vous avez un plan ?», meaning 'Do you have a map?' The opening est-ce que makes a yes/no question and is neutral in tone. Practice each line slowly, then at a natural speed. Keep the final sound of plan light and nasal, and do not pronounce the final t in est-ce que.
Understanding the answer
When you ask, you may hear a short answer. The line «Oui, voilà. / Non, désolé(e).» gives two common replies: 'Yes, here you are. / No, sorry.' The word voilà is used when someone hands you something, like a map. The word désolé means 'sorry' when said by a man, and désolée when said by a woman. Listen for oui or non first; that tells you the main answer. In a longer exchange, «Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» means 'Hello, do you have a map of the city?' and «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.» answers, 'Yes, of course. Here you are. It's free.' The phrase bien sûr means 'of course,' and c'est gratuit means 'it's free.' You do not need to repeat every word to understand; focus on oui, voilà, and gratuit. Then «Merci. Est-ce qu'il y a un plan du métro aussi ?» asks, 'Thank you. Is there a subway map too?' and «Oui, le voici. Bonne visite !» replies, 'Yes, here it is. Enjoy your visit!' The phrase le voici means 'here it is,' and bonne visite means 'enjoy your visit.'
Speaking both roles
A good way to practice is to play both sides of the conversation. First, be the customer. Say «Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» out loud, then listen to «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.». Next, be the staff member. Listen to «Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» again, then say «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.» yourself. Continue with «Merci. Est-ce qu'il y a un plan du métro aussi ?» and «Oui, le voici. Bonne visite !» in the same way. This helps you hear the polite rhythm and answer without translating in your head. Keep your voice calm and friendly. When you say voilà, it can be short and clear. When you say bonne visite, link the words smoothly. If you make a mistake, simply say the line again. Short, repeated practice is more useful than one long session. You can also cover the text and try to remember the line from the audio alone.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
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
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
Est-ce que vous avez un plan ?
Do you have a map?
ess-kuh voo-zah-VAY uh(n) plah(n)
Oui, voilà. / Non, désolé(e).
Yes, here you are. / No, sorry.
wee, vwah-LAH / no(n), day-zoh-LAY
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?
Hello, do you have a map of the city?Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.
Yes, of course. Here you are. It's free.Merci. Est-ce qu'il y a un plan du métro aussi ?
Thank you. Is there a subway map too?Oui, le voici. Bonne visite !
Yes, here it is. Enjoy your visit!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask for a map
Imagine you are a visitor at a tourist office. You want a city map. The staff member is ready to help.
Your task: Say the polite question «Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» out loud. Then listen to speaker B's reply «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.». After that, say the softer request «Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît.» and listen again. Repeat each line twice, using the pronunciation guide and copying the rhythm you hear.
Reply comprehension: yes, no, or extra information
You will hear short answers to a map question. Your job is to notice the main meaning: yes, no, or extra information.
Your task: Listen to «Oui, voilà. / Non, désolé(e).» and decide: is the first alternative a yes or a no? Then listen to speaker B's reply «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.» and find the words for 'of course' and 'it's free.' Finally, listen to speaker B's reply «Oui, le voici. Bonne visite !» and notice the phrase for 'here it is.' Say each answer out loud after the audio.
Recall with correct roles
Now you will remember the lines without looking, and keep the roles clear: customer asks, staff answers.
Your task: Cover the text. As the customer, say «Bonjour, avez-vous un plan de la ville ?» from memory. Then as the staff member, say «Oui, bien sûr. Voilà. C'est gratuit.». Next, as the customer, say «Merci. Est-ce qu'il y a un plan du métro aussi ?». Finally, as the staff member, say «Oui, le voici. Bonne visite !». If you forget a line, listen once, then try again.
Common questions
What is the difference between un plan and une carte?
In these recordings, un plan means a city map, the kind you use to find streets in town. Une carte is usually a larger map, like a road map or a country map, or a menu. For a tourist office in a city, un plan de la ville is the natural choice.
Should I say je voudrais or est-ce que vous avez?
Both are polite and useful. «Je voudrais un plan de la ville, s'il vous plaît.» with je voudrais sounds softer and very polite. «Est-ce que vous avez un plan ?» with est-ce que vous avez is a neutral yes/no question and is easy to say. You can use either one; choose the one you can pronounce comfortably and clearly.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for a mapChecked September 2026
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