Dialogue
Buying a train ticket in French: a ticket-counter dialogue
Practise a 20-line French dialogue to buy a return ticket, choose departure times and a window seat, and use a discount card. A2 with translations.
- A2
- 20 lines
- Practice mode
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In short
At the counter, say Je voudrais un aller-retour pour…, then give both travel dates. Ask for a window seat with une place près de la fenêtre and show your discount card before paying. This dialogue takes you through the full exchange.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
You are buying a return ticket to Lille: outward on Saturday morning, back on Sunday evening. You want second class and a window seat. In practice mode, say each reply from its English cue before revealing the French.
- Agente
Bonjour ! Qu’est-ce que je peux faire pour vous ?
English
Hello! How can I help you?
- You
Bonjour, je voudrais un aller-retour pour Lille, s’il vous plaît.
Hello, I’d like a return ticket to Lille, please.
English
Hello, I’d like a return ticket to Lille, please.
- Agente
Vous souhaitez partir et revenir quand ?
English
When would you like to leave and come back?
- You
Je voudrais partir samedi matin et rentrer dimanche soir.
I’d like to leave on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening.
English
I’d like to leave on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening.
- Agente
Il y a un train direct samedi à neuf heures vingt. Il arrive à onze heures dix.
English
There is a direct train on Saturday at twenty past nine. It arrives at ten past eleven.
- You
C’est très bien. Pour le retour, est-ce qu’il y a un départ après dix-huit heures ?
That’s very good. For the return journey, is there a departure after six in the evening?
English
That’s very good. For the return journey, is there a departure after six in the evening?
- Agente
Oui, à dix-huit heures quarante, avec une arrivée à vingt heures trente.
English
Yes, at twenty to seven, arriving at half past eight.
- You
Je prends celui-là. Est-ce qu’il reste une place près de la fenêtre ?
I’ll take that one. Is there a window seat left?
English
I’ll take that one. Is there a window seat left?
- Agente
Oui. Vous voyagez en seconde classe ?
English
Yes. Are you travelling second class?
- You
Oui, et j’ai une carte de réduction.
Yes, and I have a discount card.
English
Yes, and I have a discount card.
- Agente
Pourriez-vous me montrer votre carte, s’il vous plaît ?
English
Could you show me your card, please?
- You
La voici. La réduction s’applique aux deux trajets ?
Here it is. Does the discount apply to both journeys?
English
Here it is. Does the discount apply to both journeys?
- Agente
Oui, pour ces deux trains. Le total est de cinquante-quatre euros.
English
Yes, for these two trains. The total is fifty-four euros.
- You
Très bien. Je peux payer par carte ?
Very good. Can I pay by card?
English
Very good. Can I pay by card?
- Agente
Bien sûr. Je récapitule : départ samedi à neuf heures vingt, retour dimanche à dix-huit heures quarante.
English
Of course. To recap: outward departure on Saturday at twenty past nine, return on Sunday at twenty to seven.
- You
C’est bien ça. J’ai une place près de la fenêtre pour les deux trajets ?
That’s right. Do I have a window seat for both journeys?
English
That’s right. Do I have a window seat for both journeys?
- Agente
Oui : voiture trois, place quarante-deux à l’aller ; voiture deux, place dix-huit au retour.
English
Yes: carriage three, seat forty-two on the outward journey; carriage two, seat eighteen on the return.
- You
Vous pouvez me montrer ces numéros sur les billets ?
Can you show me these numbers on the tickets?
English
Can you show me these numbers on the tickets?
- Agente
Ils sont ici, sous la date. Voici vos billets. Bon voyage !
English
They are here, under the date. Here are your tickets. Have a good journey!
- You
Merci beaucoup. Au revoir !
Thank you very much. Goodbye!
English
Thank you very much. Goodbye!
Keep the two journeys separate
| Detail | Outward journey | Return journey |
|---|---|---|
| Day | Saturday | Sunday |
| Departure | 09:20 | 18:40 |
| Arrival | 11:10 | 20:30 |
| Seat | Carriage 3, seat 42 | Carriage 2, seat 18 |
À l’aller means on the outward journey; au retour means on the way back. Une carte de réduction is a discount card, while payer par carte means paying by bank card. The agent’s je récapitule introduces a summary: it is your chance to check both days and departure times.