Welcome back!

In this lesson, you’re going to learn something incredibly useful: how to ask for and understand directions in French.

Yes, Google Maps exists. But imagine you’re in France, and you ask a local for help. Not only will you get where you need to go, you’ll also make a little social connection. That’s what this is all about: feeling confident in real life.

Let’s get started.

The Podcast

1. Key Words for Directions

These are the building blocks. Listen carefully and repeat after me.

• à gauche → to the left

• à droite → to the right

• tout droit → straight ahead

• au fond → in the back

• près de / à côté de / pas loin de → near

• loin de → far from

• au coin de → at the corner of

• en face de → across from / facing

• derrière → behind

👉 Tip: Notice that we say derrière and not derrière de. The de is not necessary. Just remember “derrière” for “behind.”

Repeat each phrase out loud two or three times. The more you practice, the more natural it will sound.

2. Asking for Directions

Now let’s learn how to politely ask someone where something is. These are simple but powerful sentences you can use anywhere.

• Excusez-moi, où est… ?
  (Excuse me, where is…?)

• Excusez-moi, je cherche…
  (Excuse me, I’m looking for…)

• Comment aller à… ?
  (How do I get to…?)

• C’est loin ?
  (Is it far?)

👉 Practice with these examples:

• Excusez-moi, où est la gare ?
  (Excuse me, where is the train station?)

• Excusez-moi, je cherche un distributeur.
  (Excuse me, I’m looking for an ATM.)

Repeat after me a few times. Try to imagine yourself actually asking someone on the street.

3. Understanding Directions

Of course, if you ask, you also need to understand the reply. Let’s go through the most common answers you might hear.

• Tournez à droite. → Turn right.

• Tournez à gauche. → Turn left.

• Allez tout droit. / Continuez. → Go straight ahead.

• Faites demi-tour. → Turn around.

• C’est près d’ici. → It’s near here.

• C’est loin. → It’s far.

👉 Practice tip: Repeat each one, then visualize it. Imagine yourself walking straight, turning left, or turning right. This helps your brain connect the words with the action.

4. Mini Dialogue

Let’s put this into action with a short dialogue.

— Excusez-moi, comment aller au musée ?
(Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?)

— Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche au feu. Le musée est en face du parc.
(Go straight, then turn left at the traffic light. The museum is across from the park.)

— Merci beaucoup !
(Thank you very much!)

— De rien, bonne visite !
(You’re welcome, have a good visit!)

— C’est gentil !
(Thanks, that’s nice!)

👉 Repeat the dialogue out loud. Try switching roles: first ask for directions, then give the directions.

5. Practice Tips

Here are some simple ways to practice after this lesson:

1. Walk around your neighborhood and imagine asking for directions to a café, bakery, or shop.

2. Say the key phrases out loud, especially à gauche, à droite, and tout droit.

3. Use a map and describe directions in French. For example: La poste est à droite du café.

The more you use these words, the more automatic they’ll become.

🎯 What You Can Do Now

After this lesson, you can:

• Ask someone for directions politely.

• Understand simple instructions.

• Move around a city in French with much more confidence.

What’s Next

Bravo for finishing this lesson! You’ve just unlocked one of the most practical skills you’ll need in daily life.

In the next lesson, we’ll add another piece to your toolkit: health basics. You’ll learn how to explain common problems and understand key words if you need to visit a pharmacy or doctor.

Keep practicing, and remember: every word you speak gets you closer to confidence.

Bon, on continue comme ça ? Allez, tu peux le faire !