Dialogue

French dialogue at the bowling alley: lane, shoes and players

Book a bowling lane in French: number of players, shoe sizes, how many games and the price. Read the full dialogue, then practise your part.

In short

At a French bowling alley you ask for une piste (a lane) for a number of joueurs (players) and parties (games). Staff will ask your pointure (shoe size): Vous faites du combien ?

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A player bowls beside a rack of balls and a pair of bowling shoes.
Ask for une piste and the shoes you need before playing. Illustration: Atelier
Your lines are hidden in practice mode. Say them aloud, then reveal to compare.
  1. Employé

    Bonsoir ! C'est pour combien de personnes ?

    English

    Good evening! How many people?

  2. You

    Bonsoir. Nous sommes quatre : deux adultes et deux enfants.

    Say there are four of you, two adults and two children.

    English

    Good evening. There are four of us: two adults and two children.

  3. Employé

    Vous voulez combien de parties ?

    English

    How many games do you want?

  4. You

    Deux parties, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?

    Ask for two games and the price.

    English

    Two games, please. How much is it?

  5. Employé

    Six euros la partie par personne, location de chaussures comprise.

    English

    Six euros per game per person, shoe hire included.

  6. You

    D'accord. Il y a des barrières pour les enfants ?

    Ask if there are bumpers for the children.

    English

    OK. Are there bumpers for the children?

  7. Employé

    Oui, je les mets sur la piste. Quelles pointures ?

    English

    Yes, I'll put them on the lane. What sizes?

  8. You

    Je fais du quarante-deux, ma femme du trente-huit, et les enfants du trente et du trente-trois.

    Give four shoe sizes: 42, 38, 30 and 33.

    English

    I'm a 42, my wife a 38, and the children a 30 and a 33.

  9. Employé

    Voilà. Vous êtes sur la piste neuf. Vous écrivez les prénoms sur l'écran.

    English

    Here you are. You're on lane nine. You type the first names on the screen.

  10. You

    On peut commander à boire à la piste ?

    Ask if you can order drinks at the lane.

    English

    Can we order drinks at the lane?

  11. Employé

    Non, c'est au bar, à côté de l'entrée.

    English

    No, it's at the bar, next to the entrance.

  12. You

    Très bien. On paie maintenant ou après ?

    Ask whether you pay now or afterwards.

    English

    Fine. Do we pay now or after?

  13. Employé

    Après, à la fin des parties. Bonne soirée !

    English

    After, at the end of the games. Have a good evening!

  14. You

    Merci !

    Say thanks.

    English

    Thanks!

Bowling words
FrenchEnglish
la pistelane
la partiegame
la pointureshoe size
la bouleball
les quilles (f.)pins
un strike / un sparea strike / a spare (same words)

For shoe and clothes sizes, French uses faire du + number: je fais du 42. Ask someone else with Vous faites du combien ? or Quelle est votre pointure ?

Question 1No account needed
How do you give your shoe size?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je fais du 42.. Faire du + size: je fais du 42.

Question 2No account needed
Une partie at the bowling alley is…

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

a game. Une partie is one game. A party is une fête.