Excusez-moi, je cherche le métro Saint-Michel.
IPA/ɛkskyze mwa ʒə ʃɛʁʃ lə metro sɛ̃ miʃɛl/
Assimil · French
ContentsCourse 05
Je cherche le métro
I'm looking for the metro
A street-direction exchange that introduces asking for help, saying you are not from here, and following simple walking directions in French.
22 minA passer-by asks for the Saint-Michel metro station and receives a quick set of directions.
Dialogue
Désolée, madame, je ne suis pas d'ici.
IPA/dezɔle madam ʒə nə sɥi pa disi/
Mais attendez une minute, j'ai un plan de la ville.
IPA/mɛ atɑ̃de yn minyt ʒe œ̃ plɑ̃ də la vil/
Voilà : traversez le boulevard et tournez à gauche à la fontaine.
IPA/vwala tʁavɛʁse lə bulvaʁ e tuʁne a ɡoʃ a la fɔ̃tɛn/
Merci beaucoup pour votre aide !
IPA/mɛʁsi boku puʁ vɔ.tʁ‿ɛd/
Vocabulary
je cherche
I am looking for / I am trying to find
le métro
the metro / the subway
d'ici
from here / from around here
un plan
a map
la ville
the city / the town
voilà
here is / there is
traverser
to cross
tourner à gauche
to turn left
une fontaine
a fountain
de l'aide
help
Exercises
Exercise 1
Translate from audio.
Prompt 1
Excuse me, I'm looking for the metro [station].
Hint: Start with `Excusez-moi`, then use `je cherche le métro`.
Prompt 2
I'm sorry, I'm not from here.
Hint: Use `Désolé` and finish with `d'ici`.
Prompt 3
Thanks very much for your help.
Hint: Keep `Merci beaucoup` and use `de votre aide` exactly as in the book.
Prompt 4
I don't have a map.
Hint: Use the negative frame around `ai` before `de plan`.
Prompt 5
Wait a minute, please.
Hint: Use the polite imperative `Attendez` and close with `s'il vous plaît`.
Exercise 2
Fill in the missing words.
Prompt 1
Cross the boulevard and turn left at the fountain.
le boulevard et
à gauche à
fontaine.
Hint: Use the two command forms from the directions sentence, then add `la` before `fontaine`.
Prompt 2
Wait two minutes, please.
deux minutes,
.
Hint: Start with the imperative `Attendez`, then add the usual polite ending.
Prompt 3
Are you looking for the metro [station]?
Vous
métro ?
Hint: Use the same `chercher` phrase from the dialogue.
Prompt 4
Here's a city map.
un
de la
.
Hint: Start with `Voilà`, then add `plan` and `ville`.
Prompt 5
Sorry, I'm an hour late. (if the person speaking is a man)
,
heure de
.
Hint: Use the masculine apology, then add `j'ai une` before `heure de retard`.
After the lesson
The Saint-Michel district of Paris is synonymous with the Quartier latin, or Latin Quarter, so called because it is home to the Sorbonne University, where classes were originally taught in Latin. The Place Saint-Michel is a central meeting point, dominated by a nineteenth-century monumental fountain. Leading off it is the Boulevard Saint-Michel, famed for its bookstores and cafes.