In this workshop, you will practice asking how to get to a place in French and understanding basic directions. You will practice polite and neutral ways to ask, and you will learn to recognize left and straight ahead. You will also practice a short exchange between a visitor and a local. By the end, you should feel more confident asking for directions and following simple replies.
Asking for directions
There are several ways to ask for directions in French. A neutral way is «Comment aller au musée ?». This means 'How do I get to the museum?' The source note says to use 'au' for masculine singular places. For a more polite and formal way, use «Pourriez-vous m'indiquer le chemin pour aller à la gare ?». This means 'Could you show me the way to the train station?' The source note says this is useful with strangers or in professional settings. A simple and direct way is «Où est la banque, s'il vous plaît ?». This means 'Where is the bank, please?' The source note says 's'il vous plaît' makes it polite. You can start with 'Excusez-moi' to get attention politely. Then use one of these questions. Listen carefully to the reply.
Understanding directions
When someone gives you directions, listen for key words. «Tournez à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.» means 'Turn left, then continue straight ahead.' The source note says 'tout droit' means straight ahead. In the recorded dialogue, you will also hear «C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.», which means 'It's simple. Go straight ahead, then turn left at the second street.' Notice the order: first go straight, then turn left. In the same exchange, the visitor asks «D'accord. Et c'est loin ?» ('Okay. And is it far?') and the local answers «Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.», which means 'No, it's a five-minute walk.' This tells you the distance. Practice listening for the recorded words 'gauche' (left) and 'tout droit' (straight ahead).
A short exchange
Here is a short conversation from the recordings. A visitor asks «Excusez-moi, comment aller au musée du Louvre ?», which means 'Excuse me, how do I get to the Louvre Museum?' The local replies «C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.», giving directions. The visitor checks understanding with «D'accord. Et c'est loin ?», which means 'Okay. And is it far?' The local answers «Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.», meaning 'No, it's a five-minute walk.' Notice how the visitor first asks, then asks a follow-up question. You can use this exchange as a model when you ask for directions. Remember to listen for the key direction words and the distance.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Comment aller au musée ?
How do I get to the museum?
koh-mahn tah-lay oh mew-zay
Pourriez-vous m'indiquer le chemin pour aller à la gare ?
Could you show me the way to the train station?
poo-ree-ay voo man-dee-kay luh shuh-man poor ah-lay ah lah gahr
Où est la banque, s'il vous plaît ?
Where is the bank, please?
oo eh lah bahnk, seel voo pleh
Tournez à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.
Turn left, then continue straight ahead.
toor-nay ah gohsh, pwee kohn-tee-nway too drwah
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Excusez-moi, comment aller au musée du Louvre ?
Excuse me, how do I get to the Louvre Museum?C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.
It's simple. Go straight ahead, then turn left at the second street.D'accord. Et c'est loin ?
Okay. And is it far?Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.
No, it's a five-minute walk.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 directions
Imagine you are a visitor in a French city. You want to go to the museum. You stop a local on the street.
Your task: First, listen to «Comment aller au musée ?» and repeat it aloud. Then, imagine the local replies with «Tournez à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.». Practice saying the local's line aloud. Finally, switch roles: you are the local, and your partner asks «Comment aller au musée ?». You reply with «Tournez à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.». Then switch back and repeat.
Reply comprehension: Choose the correct direction
You hear a local give you directions. You need to understand which way to go.
Your task: Listen to «C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.». Then answer: Do you go straight first, or turn left first? After that, listen to «Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.». Does the local say it is far or close? Say your answers aloud.
Recall and roles: Practice the full exchange
You will now practice the full exchange from the recordings. One person is the visitor (A), the other is the local (B).
Your task: First, listen to the exchange: «Excusez-moi, comment aller au musée du Louvre ?», «C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.», «D'accord. Et c'est loin ?», «Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.». Then, without looking at the text, try to recall your lines. If you are A, say «Excusez-moi, comment aller au musée du Louvre ?» and «D'accord. Et c'est loin ?». If you are B, say «C'est simple. Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche à la deuxième rue.» and «Non, c'est à cinq minutes à pied.». Then switch roles and repeat.
Common questions
What is the difference between 'tournez à gauche' and 'à gauche'?
'Tournez à gauche' is an instruction: it means 'turn left'. In the recorded line «Tournez à gauche, puis continuez tout droit.», it is followed by 'puis continuez tout droit' ('then continue straight ahead'). The source does not show 'à gauche' alone as a separate location phrase, so focus on the recorded instruction.
How do I know if a place is masculine or feminine when asking for directions?
The source gives examples rather than a general rule. For masculine singular places, use 'au', as in «Comment aller au musée ?». For feminine nouns, use 'à la', as in «Pourriez-vous m'indiquer le chemin pour aller à la gare ?». If you are not sure, you can use 'Où est' as in «Où est la banque, s'il vous plaît ?», which asks for the location.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for directionsChecked September 2026
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