In this practice page you will use two beginner French skills: asking where a pharmacy is and understanding or asking about its opening and closing times. You will hear short recorded lines, learn what each one means in English, and then use them in three short speaking tasks. Speak the lines out loud, slowly at first, then at a natural speed. If a line feels long, say it in two parts, then join them. The goal is not to be perfect, but to become comfortable asking a simple question and understanding a simple answer.
Asking where the pharmacy is
Start with the most direct question. The recorded line «Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» means "Where is the nearest pharmacy?" The word for pharmacy is feminine, so the question uses la. A slightly softer option is «Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?», which means "Is there a pharmacy near here?" Use this when you do not need the closest one, just one nearby. Both questions are polite and work in a shop, on the street, or at a reception desk. Practise saying each line slowly, then repeat it with a natural rhythm. Keep your voice calm and friendly. When you ask a stranger, it is common to begin with an excuse-me phrase, as in the recorded exchange «Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?», which means "Excuse me, where is the nearest pharmacy?" Notice that the question from «Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» appears inside this longer line. That is a useful pattern: a short polite opening, then your question.
Understanding the answer
When someone answers, listen for two things: a place and a direction. The recorded reply «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.» means "There is a pharmacy on the corner of the street, on the right." Here, on the right describes a location, not an instruction to turn right. The pharmacy is on the right side. If you hear a turn instruction, it would sound different, but in this recording it is simply a position. After you hear the location, you may want to ask about closing time. The recorded question «Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?» means "Thank you. What time does it close?" The answer «Elle ferme à dix-neuf heures.» means "It closes at 7 PM." Listen for the number and the word for hours. In this recording, the time is dix-neuf heures, which is 7 PM in the 24-hour clock. You do not need to calculate anything; just recognise the sound and match it to the meaning.
Asking about opening and closing times
You can also ask about times directly. The recorded question «À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?» means "What time do you open?" and «À quelle heure fermez-vous ?» means "What time do you close?" Both use the formal vous form, which is a safe choice with staff or someone you do not know. Use «À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?» when you want to know when a place starts its day, and «À quelle heure fermez-vous ?» when you want to know when it stops. In the recorded exchange, the question about closing uses a slightly different form, «Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?», because it refers to the pharmacy as "it" rather than "you." Both are useful. Practise «À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?» and «À quelle heure fermez-vous ?» as complete questions, then try «Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?» as a follow-up after someone tells you where the pharmacy is. This gives you a small, practical conversation: ask for the place, then ask for the time.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
oo eh la far-ma-see la ploo prosh
Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?
Is there a pharmacy near here?
ee a-teel ewn far-ma-see pre dee-see
À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?
What time do you open?
ah kel ur oo-vray-voo
À quelle heure fermez-vous ?
What time do you close?
ah kel ur fair-may-voo
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?
Excuse me, where is the nearest pharmacy?Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.
There is a pharmacy on the corner of the street, on the right.Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?
Thank you. What time does it close?Elle ferme à dix-neuf heures.
It closes at 7 PM.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 and answer
You are on a street and need a pharmacy. Play both roles. First, you are the person asking. Then, you are the person answering. Use the recorded lines as your model.
Your task: Say the question from «Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» out loud. Then say the answer from «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.» out loud. After that, say the follow-up question from «Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?» and the answer from «Elle ferme à dix-neuf heures.». Repeat the whole exchange twice: once slowly, once at a natural speed.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
You will hear or read an answer and decide what it means. This checks whether you understand the reply, not just the question.
Your task: Look at the recorded answer «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.». Does it mean (a) the pharmacy is on the right side of the street, or (b) you should turn right to find it? Say your choice out loud. Then look at «Elle ferme à dix-neuf heures.». Does it mean the pharmacy closes at 7 PM or opens at 7 PM? Say your choice out loud.
Recall and role swap
Now practise without looking at the lines. You will recall the questions and answers from memory, then swap roles.
Your task: First, say the question for asking where the nearest pharmacy is. Use «Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» as your model. Then say the question for asking if there is a pharmacy near here. Use «Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?» as your model. Next, say the question for asking what time a place opens and what time it closes. Use «À quelle heure ouvrez-vous ?» and «À quelle heure fermez-vous ?» as your models. Finally, say the full exchange from «Excusez-moi, où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?», «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.», «Merci. À quelle heure ferme-t-elle ?», and «Elle ferme à dix-neuf heures.» without reading.
Common questions
What is the difference between asking about a pharmacy with «Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» and with «Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?»?
«Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» asks for the nearest pharmacy, so it is more specific. «Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?» asks if there is a pharmacy near here, so it is more general. Use «Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?» when you want the closest one. Use «Y a-t-il une pharmacie près d'ici ?» when any nearby pharmacy is fine.
In «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.», does on the right mean I should turn right?
No. In «Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue, à droite.», on the right describes where the pharmacy is located: on the right side of the street. It is a position, not an instruction to turn. If someone wanted you to turn right, they would use a different kind of instruction.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for a pharmacyChecked September 2026
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