Travel & Place Vocabulary in French

Explore the world with Travel & Place Vocabulary in French. Learn essential words for destinations, accommodation, sightseeing, transportation, and travel experiences to communicate clearly and confidently throughout your journeys in French-speaking countries.

Traveling becomes easier when you can describe places, transport, and essential situations in French. GuruLango supports your learning journey with Spaced Repetition, helping you absorb vocabulary naturally and remember it longer.

Below is a preview of Travel & Place in French, selected from GuruLango’s 5000-word learning program.

1. Airport

A compact set of key airport expressions used during travel.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

l’aéroport

leɔʁopɔʁ

airport

le vol

lə vɔl

flight

l’embarquement

lɑ̃baʁkamɑ̃

boarding

la porte d’embarquement

la pɔʁt dɑ̃baʁkamɑ̃

boarding gate

le passeport

lə paspɔʁ

passport

la carte d’embarquement

la kaʁt dɑ̃baʁkamɑ̃

boarding pass

la valise

la valiz

suitcase

le bagage cabine

lə baɡaʒ kɑbin

carry-on

le contrôle de sécurité

lə kɔ̃tʁol də sekyʁite

security check

la douane

la dwan

customs

l’arrivée

laʁive

arrival

2. Train Station

Common French vocabulary used at railway stations.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la gare

la ɡaʁ

train station

le billet

lə bije

ticket

le quai

lə kɛ

platform

le train direct

lə tʁɛ̃ diʁɛkt

direct train

le TGV

lə te ʒe ve

high-speed train

la voie

la vwa

track

le contrôleur

lə kɔ̃tʁolœʁ

ticket inspector

l’horaire

lɔʁaʁ

schedule

la correspondance

la kɔʁɛspɔ̃dɑ̃s

connection

monter dans le train

mɔ̃te dɑ̃ lə tʁɛ̃

get on the train

descendre du train

desɑ̃dʁ dy tʁɛ̃

get off the train

3. Accommodation

Vocabulary commonly used when booking or staying at a hotel.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

l’hôtel

lotɛl

hotel

la réservation

la ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃

reservation

la chambre

la ʃɑ̃bʁ

room

lit double

li dubl

double bed

lit simple

li sɛ̃pl

single bed

l’accueil

lakœj

reception

le réceptionniste

lə ʁesɛpsjɔnist

receptionist

la clé

la kle

key

le wifi

lə wifi

wifi

la facture

la faktyʁ

invoice

le petit déjeuner

lə pəti deʒœne

breakfast

4. Tourist Destination

Terms for describing common tourist spots.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

le musée

lə myze

museum

le parc

lə paʁk

park

le centre-ville

lə sɑ̃tʁ vil

downtown

la plage

la plaʒ

beach

le château

lə ʃato

castle

le monument

lə mɔnɔmɑ̃

monument

le quartier historique

lə kaʁtje istoʁik

historic district

la cathédrale

la katedʁal

cathedral

le marché

lə maʁʃe

market

le port

lə pɔʁ

harbor

la montagne

la mɔ̃taɲ

mountain

5. Worldwide Tourist Attraction

Words describing famous international destinations.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la Tour Eiffel

la tuʁ ɛfɛl

Eiffel Tower

le Grand Canyon

lə ɡʁɑ̃ kanjɔ̃

Grand Canyon

le Taj Mahal

lə taʒ mahal

Taj Mahal

la Muraille de Chine

la myʁaj də ʃin

Great Wall of China

le Machu Picchu

lə matʃu pitʃu

Machu Picchu

la Statue de la Liberté

la staty də la libeʁte

Statue of Liberty

le Colisée

lə kɔlize

Colosseum

le Mont Fuji

lə mɔ̃ fuʒi

Mount Fuji

la pyramide de Gizeh

la piʁamid də ɡize

Giza Pyramid

le désert du Sahara

lə dezɛʁ dy saʁa

Sahara Desert

6. Travel Activity 

Common verbs and nouns related to travel experiences.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

voyager

vwajaʒe

to travel

explorer

ɛksplɔʁe

to explore

visiter

vizite

to visit

réserver

ʁezɛʁve

to book

marcher

maʁʃe

to walk

prendre des photos

pʁɑ̃dʁ de foto

to take pictures

se reposer

sə ʁəpoze

to rest

découvrir

dekuvʁiʁ

to discover

profiter

pʁɔfite

to enjoy

faire du shopping

fɛʁ dy ʃɔpiŋ

to shop

louer une voiture

lwe yn vwatyʁ

to rent a car

7. Travel Essential

Key travel equipment or necessities.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

le bagage

lə baɡaʒ

luggage

le sac à dos

lə sak a do

backpack

le passeport

lə paspɔʁ

passport

la trousse de toilette

la tʁus də twa.lɛt

toiletries kit

la carte

la kaʁt

map

le guide

lə ɡid

guidebook

la bouteille d’eau

la butɛj do

water bottle

le chargeur

lə ʃaʁʒœʁ

charger

les vêtements

le vɛtmɑ̃

clothes

la caméra

la kamera

camera

8. Travel Emergency

Useful terms when facing unexpected travel issues.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

l’urgence

lyʁʒɑ̃s

emergency

l’hôpital

lopital

hospital

le médecin

lə medsɛ̃

doctor

la police

la pɔlis

police

appeler

apəle

to call

perdre

pɛʁdʁ

to lose

voler

vɔle

to steal

le problème

lə pʁɔblɛm

problem

besoin d’aide

bəzwɛ̃ dɛd

need help

le numéro d’urgence

lə nymeʁo dyʁʒɑ̃s

emergency number

9. Country

Basic country vocabulary for traveling.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

la France

la fʁɑ̃s

France

le Japon

lə ʒapɔ̃

Japan

la Chine

la ʃin

China

les États-Unis

le zeta zyni

United States

le Canada

lə kanada

Canada

l’Italie

litali

Italy

l’Espagne

lespaɲ

Spain

l’Australie

lostʁali

Australia

l’Allemagne

lalmaɲ

Germany

le Vietnam

lə vjɛtnam

Vietnam

10. Nationality

Common words to express nationality.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

français(e)

fʁɑ̃sɛ

French

japonais(e)

ʒapɔnɛ

Japanese

chinois(e)

ʃinwaz

Chinese

américain(e)

ameʁikɛ̃

American

canadien(ne)

kanadjɛ̃

Canadian

italien(ne)

italjɛn

Italian

espagnol(e)

ɛspaɲɔl

Spanish

australien(ne)

ostʁaljɛn

Australian

allemand(e)

almɑ̃d

German

vietnamien(ne)

vjɛtnamjɛn

Vietnamese

11. Capital

Vocabulary for major capitals around the world.

French Vocabulary

IPA (French)

English Meaning

Paris

paʁi

Paris

Tokyo

tokjo

Tokyo

Pékin

pekɛ̃

Beijing

Washington

waʃiŋtɔn

Washington

Ottawa

ɔtawa

Ottawa

Rome

ʁom

Rome

Madrid

madʁid

Madrid

Canberra

kɑ̃bɛʁa

Canberra

Berlin

bɛʁlɛ̃

Berlin

Hanoï

anɔi

Hanoi

These travel-related French expressions help you navigate airports, book hotels, explore cities, and handle emergencies with confidence. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition system, you’ll memorize these essential terms naturally and use them fluently during your trips.

Continue learning with GuruLango to travel smoother and speak French with ease anywhere you go!