This fictional ticket-window dialogue uses a carnet of ten tickets and a sixteen-euro price as practice examples; ticket products and fares depend on the transport network. This workshop helps you speak at a ticket window with confidence. You will practice polite requests, ask how much something costs, and listen for a simple question about zones. Each native example is a short line you can repeat aloud. You can play both roles: the customer and the staff member. Listen, repeat, then try the tasks. The goal is not perfect grammar but clear, polite speech that a station agent can understand.
Polite requests at the ticket window
Start with a simple, polite request. The line «Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.» means 'A ticket, please.' It is short, useful, and polite. If you want to be specific about the metro, use «Un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'A metro ticket, please.' Notice the polite ending 's'il vous plaît' in both lines. When you want a book of ten tickets, use «Je voudrais un carnet, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'I would like a book of ten tickets, please.' In this dialogue, 'carnet' refers to a pack of ten tickets. Practice each line slowly, then at a natural speed. Keep your voice calm and friendly.
Asking the price and hearing a question
After your request, you often need to ask the price. The line «C'est combien ?» means 'How much is it?' Use it right after the staff member confirms your request. In a real exchange, the staff member may ask you a question. The line «Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?» means 'A single ticket or a book of ten?' Listen for the two choices: 'un ticket simple' and 'un carnet'. Later, the staff member may ask about your destination. The line «C'est seize euros. Vous allez dans quelle zone ?» includes 'Vous allez dans quelle zone ?', which means 'Which zone are you going to?' You do not need to invent an answer here; just recognize the question and the price. The line «C'est seize euros. Vous allez dans quelle zone ?» also gives a price: 'C'est seize euros', meaning 'It's sixteen euros.'
Putting the exchange together
Now combine the lines into a short conversation. A customer begins with «Bonjour, un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'Hello, a metro ticket, please.' The staff member replies with «Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?», offering a single ticket or a carnet. The customer chooses with «Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?», which means 'A book of ten, please. How much is it?' The staff member answers with «C'est seize euros. Vous allez dans quelle zone ?», giving the price and asking about zones. Practice both roles. First, read the customer lines aloud. Then, read the staff lines aloud. Finally, cover the text and try to recall each line from memory. This builds fluency for a real ticket counter.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.
A ticket, please.
uh(n) tee-KEH, seel voo PLEH
Un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.
A metro ticket, please.
uh(n) tee-KEH poor luh may-TROH, seel voo PLEH
Je voudrais un carnet, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a book of ten tickets, please.
zhuh voo-DREH uh(n) kar-NEH, seel voo PLEH
C'est combien ?
How much is it?
seh kohm-BYEH(n)
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, a metro ticket, please.Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?
A single ticket or a book of ten?Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?
A book of ten, please. How much is it?C'est seize euros. Vous allez dans quelle zone ?
It's sixteen euros. Which zone are you going to?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: request a ticket
You are at a metro station ticket window. You want one metro ticket. The staff member is ready to help.
Your task: Say your request aloud using the polite line «Un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.». Then ask the price using «C'est combien ?». Repeat both lines twice.
Reply comprehension: single or carnet?
You hear the staff member ask a question. You need to understand the two choices and respond.
Your task: Listen to «Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?», which offers a single ticket or the pack used in this scene. Choose one and say the matching recorded answer: «Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.» for one ticket, or «Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?» for the pack and a price question.
Recall with correct roles
You will now recall the full exchange. One person is the customer (A) and one is the staff member (B). You can play both roles.
Your task: Cover the text. Recall the customer's first line from «Bonjour, un ticket pour le métro, s'il vous plaît.». Then recall the staff member's question from «Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?». Next, recall the customer's reply and price question from «Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?». Finally, recall the staff member's answer from «C'est seize euros. Vous allez dans quelle zone ?».
Common questions
What is the difference between 'un ticket' and 'un carnet'?
'Un ticket' is one single ticket. In this recorded scene, 'un carnet' is a book or pack of ten tickets; this does not describe every transport network’s current products. The line «Je voudrais un carnet, s'il vous plaît.» means 'I would like a book of ten tickets, please.' The staff member in «Un ticket simple ou un carnet ?» asks 'A single ticket or a book of ten?' so you can choose.
How do I ask the price politely?
Use «C'est combien ?», which means 'How much is it?' You can say it right after your request. In the full exchange, the customer uses it in «Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?»: 'Un carnet, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?' This means 'A book of ten, please. How much is it?'
Sources and further reading
- french: buy a ticket for the metroChecked September 2026
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