50 French words and phrases you need to learn if you’re driving in France
PUBLISHED: 10:32 26 January 2017 | UPDATED: 17:00 26 January 2017
Driving in Provence © drevojan, Thinkstock
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From road signs to car parts and petrol stations to breakdowns, here are 50 French words and phrases that are essential to learn if you’re driving in France
Getting to know your car
Voiture - Car
Pare-brise - Windscreen
Volant – Steering wheel
Clignotant – Indicator
Pneu - Tyre
Essuie-Glaces – Windscreen wipers
Coffre - Trunk
Caler – To stall
Faire marche arrière – To reverse
Se ranger – To pull over
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Navigating French roads
Autoroute - Motorway
Péage – Toll
Bande d’arrêt d’urgence – Hard shoulder
Petite aire de repos – Lay-by
Carrefour - Junction
Rond-point – Roundabout
Garer / Stationner – To park
Doubler / Dépasser – To overtake
Limite de vitesse – Speed limit
Bouchon / Embouteillage – Traffic jam
Carambolage – Pile-up
“Il y a un carambolage sur l’A9” – There’s a pile-up on the A9
Feu – Traffic light
“Cet automobiliste a grillé le feu” – This driver went through a red light
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At a petrol station
Station-service – Petrol / service station
Essence sans plomb – Unleaded
Gasoil – Diesel
Faire le plein – To fill up the tank
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Road signs
Panneau de signalisation – Road sign
Circulation – Traffic
Route barrée – Road closed
Ralentissez – Slow down
Arrêt – Stop
Cedez le passage – Give way
Priorité à gauche / à droit – Give way to traffic coming from the left/right
Sens-unique – One-way
Sens interdit – No entry
Passage piéton – Pedestrian crossing
Déviation - Diversion
Impasse – Dead-end / No through road
Radar de vitesse – Speed camera
Verglas – Risk of ice
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Useful phrases if you break down in France
“Ma voiture est en panne” – My car has broken down
“J’ai un pneu crevé / à plat” – I’ve got a flat tyre
“J’ai eu un accident” – I’ve had an accident
“Pouvez-vous envoyer une dépanneuse?” – Can you send a recovery vehicle?
“Pouvez-vous me remorquer jusqu’à un garage?” – Could you tow me to the repair garage?
“Le moteur surchauffe” – The engine is overheating
“La batterie est vide” – The battery is flat
“Il y a un problème de freins” – There’s a problem with the brakes
