Buying train tickets in French (A1) — counters, machines, seats
Buying train tickets in French becomes easy with a clear model. In this A1 guide, you’ll learn counter phrases, ticket-machine steps, seat types, and simple payment lines. Every short French sentence includes IPA and an English translation so you can travel smoothly on regional trains and TGV services across France.
1) At the counter (guichet): one clean sentence
Say destination, date/time, one-way or return, class, and seat/reservation if needed. Finish with s’il vous plaît.
🇫🇷 FR — Je voudrais un aller simple pour Lyon demain matin, s’il vous plaît. /ʒə vudʁɛ ɛ̃ nale sɛ̃pl puʁ ljɔ̃ dəmɛ̃ matɛ̃ sil vu plɛ/
🇺🇸 EN — I’d like a one-way ticket to Lyon tomorrow morning, please.
🇫🇷 FR — Un aller-retour pour Bordeaux ce week-end, en seconde, avec réservation. /ɛ̃ nale ʁetuʁ puʁ bɔʁdo sə wikɛnd ɑ̃ səɡɔ̃d avɛk ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — A return to Bordeaux this weekend, second class, with a reservation.
Official network info is available on SNCF here. For basic travel terms, the French public service portal offers guides here.
2) Ticket machines (borne): step-by-step French
Most machines have English, but trying French builds confidence. Look for these buttons.
🇫🇷 FR — Aller simple / Aller-retour
🇺🇸 EN — One-way / Return
🇫🇷 FR — Départ · Arrivée
🇺🇸 EN — Departure · Arrival
🇫🇷 FR — Heure · Date
🇺🇸 EN — Time · Date
🇫🇷 FR — Réduction (carte) · Tarif normal
🇺🇸 EN — Discount (railcard) · Standard fare
🇫🇷 FR — Paiement par carte, s’il vous plaît. /pɛmɑ̃ paʁ kaʁt/
🇺🇸 EN — Card payment, please.
3) Seats & coaches: what to ask for
🇫🇷 FR — Une place côté fenêtre, s’il vous plaît. /yn plas kote fənɛtʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — A window seat, please.
🇫🇷 FR — Une place côté couloir, s’il vous plaît. /kutwaʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — An aisle seat, please.
🇫🇷 FR — En première / en seconde. /ɑ̃ pʁəmjɛʁ · ɑ̃ səɡɔ̃d/
🇺🇸 EN — First class / second class.
🇫🇷 FR — Avec réservation / sans réservation. /avɛk · sɑ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — With reservation / without reservation.
4) Platform & validation
🇫🇷 FR — Le train pour Lyon part de quelle voie ? /lə tʁɛ̃ puʁ ljɔ̃ paʁ də kɛl vwa/
🇺🇸 EN — Which platform does the train to Lyon leave from?
🇫🇷 FR — Je dois composter ce billet ? /ʒə dwa kɔ̃pɔste sə bijɛ/
🇺🇸 EN — Do I need to validate this ticket?
Tip: Traditional stamping (composter) is rare on long-distance e-tickets, but you may still validate certain regional paper tickets.
5) Problems & changes
🇫🇷 FR — Le train est-il en retard ? /ʁətaʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — Is the train delayed?
🇫🇷 FR — Puis-je échanger ce billet ? /pɥi ʒe ʃɑ̃ʒe sə bijɛ/
🇺🇸 EN — Can I exchange this ticket?
🇫🇷 FR — Un remboursement est-il possible ? /ʁɑ̃buʁsəmɑ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — Is a refund possible?
Pronunciation keys (fast wins)
- Nasal vowels: In train /tʁɛ̃/, let air flow through the nose—don’t add a hard “n”.
- French R: Keep it short and in the throat (not rolled).
- Linking: “aller-retour” → hear the soft liaison /ʁ/ between words.
Study glossary (FR → IPA → EN)
| FR | IPA | EN |
|---|---|---|
| Guichet | /giʃɛ/ | Ticket counter |
| Borne | /bɔʁn/ | Ticket machine |
| Aller simple / Aller-retour | /ale sɛ̃pl · ale ʁetuʁ/ | One-way / Return |
| Première / Seconde | /pʁəmjɛʁ · səɡɔ̃d/ | First / Second class |
| Réservation | /ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃/ | Seat reservation |
| Réduction | /ʁedyksjɔ̃/ | Discount/Railcard |
| Voie | /vwa/ | Platform/Track |
| Composter | /kɔ̃pɔste/ | Validate/stamp |
| Retard | /ʁətaʁ/ | Delay |
| Échanger | /eʃɑ̃ʒe/ | Exchange |
| Remboursement | /ʁɑ̃buʁsəmɑ̃/ | Refund |
| Carte bancaire | /kaʁt bɑ̃kɛʁ/ | Bank card |
