COLORS - FRENCH VOCABULARY TESTING GUIDE

 45 cards | 10 sub-topics | all 4 skills tested

PUBLIC PLACES & BUILDINGS - FRENCH VOCABULARY TESTING GUIDE

 79 cards | 7 sub-topics | all 4 skills tested

INTRODUCTION

This section covers the French words and vocabulary used to describe public places and buildings

The most iconic place in France today is the Eiffel Tower. But did you know Mr. Gustave Eiffel, the architect behind this structure, received sharp criticisms before, during and after its construction? For example, renowned French writer Paul Verlaine called the Eiffel Tower "this belfry skeleton", while François Coppée vilified the tower as "incomplete, confused and deformed". I wonder how they would feel today, mdr/lol. 

Although I cover some iconic French sites, this vocabulary section is intended to cover mainly public places found in most cities and towns around the world, including the City hall, hospital, primary school, and so on.

So check out the following French French places and buildings words and vocabulary and see how many of them you already know.

1. EDUCATIONAL SITES

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ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary nursery la crèche

1. une crèche

Nursery; Day-care center

La liste d'attente pour la crèche est longue./ The waiting list for the day-care center is long.

french vocabulary la maternelle kindergarten

2. la maternelle

Kindergarten

Le petit Alex est à la maternelle./ Little Alex is in kindergarten.

french vocabulary primary school école primaire

3. l'école primaire (f.)

Primary/Elementary school

L'école primaire est loin d'ici./ The primary school is far from here.

french vocabulary junior high school collège

4. le collège

Junior high school

Christine va maintenant au collège./ Christine now goes to junior high school.

le lycée senior high school french vocabulary

5. le lycée

Senior high school

Ce lycée est grand./This senior high school is big.

french university université

6. l'université (f.)

University

Je fais du droit à l' université./ I'm studying law at the university.

french vocabulary campus la fac

7. la fac

University

Je dois me rendre à la fac ce matin./ I must head to university this morning.

french graduate school école de 3ème cycle

8. école supérieure de 3è cycle

Graduate school

Il y a moins d'étudiants à l'école supérieure de 3ème cycle./ There are less students in graduate school

french graduate school école de 3ème cycle

9. la Grande École

Grande Ecole

Tom a été admis dans une Grande École./ Tom got accepted into a Grande Ecole.

french vocabulary campus la fac

10. un campus

Campus

Ce campus est vaste./ This campus is vast.

french vocabulary campus la fac

11. une résidence universitaire

Campus dormitory

J'ai une chambre en résidence universitaire./ I have a room in residence hall.

2. RELIGIOUS SITES

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ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary cathedral la cathédrale

12. une cathédrale

Cathedral

Cette cathédrale est magnifique./ This cathedral is magnificent.

french vocabulary synagogue

13.

une synagogue

Synagogue

Amir va à la synagogue tous les samedis./ Amir goes to the synagogue every Saturday.

french vocabulary temple

14.

un temple

Temple

Ce temple sera renové./ This temple will be renovated.

french vocabulary church l'église

15.

une église

Church

C'est une nouvelle église./ It is a new church.

french vocabulary shrine un sanctuaire

16.

un sanctuaire

Shrine

Ce sanctuaire est un lieu de pélerinage./ This shrine is a pilgrimage site.

french vocabulary notre dame de paris

17. Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Paris est une cathédrale célèbre./ The Notre-Dame is a famous cathedral.

french mosque la mosquée

18. une mosquée

Mosque

La mosquée est pleine le jour du Ramadan./ The mosque is full on Ramadan day.

3. TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION SITES

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ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary la gare train station

19. une gare

Train station

Un train entre en gare./ A train is pulling into the station.

french vocabulary bus station gare routière

20. une gare routière

Bus station; Bus terminal

La gare routière est bondée de touristes./ The bus station is filled with tourists.

french vocabulary un quai platform

21. un quai

Platform

Les passagers attendent sur le quai./ The passengers are waiting on the platform.

french vocabulary l'aéroport airport

22. un aéroport

Airport

Mon avion atterrira à l'aéroport de Narita./ My plane will land at Narita airport.

french vocabulary bus stop

23.

un arrêt de bus

Bus stop

L'arrêt de bus est au coin de la rue./ The bus stop is at the street corner.

french metro station subway stop

24.

une station

Subway/Underground stop

Une station de métro./ A subway station.

french vocabulary port

25. un port

Port; Harbor

Le bateau entre au port./ The ship pulls into port.

4. SERVICES

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FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary city hall la mairie

26.

la mairie

City Hall, Town Hall

La mairie n'ouvre pas les samedi et dimanche./ City hall isn't open on Saturdays and Sundays.

french vocabulary hotel

27.

un hotel

Hotel

Une chambre d'hôtel./A hotel room.

french vocabulary police commissariat de police

28.

un commissariat de police

Police station

Les policiers travaillent au commissariat de police./ Police agents work at the police station.

french vocabulary banque bank

29. une banque

Bank

Je travaille dans cette banque./ I work in this bank.

french vocabulary post office la poste

30.

une poste

Post office

Je vais retirer un colis à la poste./ I am going to collect a package at the post office.

french-bibliothèque library vocabulary

31. une bibliothèque

Caramel

J'ai emprunté des livres à la bibliothèque./ I borrowed some books at the library.

fernch vocabulary hospital hôpital

32. un hôpital

Hospital

Les infirmiers de cet hôpital sont en grève./ The nurses of this hospital are on strike.

french vocabulary clinic clinique

33.

une clinique

Clinic

Ce docteur possède une clinique privée./ This doctor owns a private clinic.

french pharmacy pharmacie drugstore vocabulary

34.

une pharmacie

Drugstore; Pharmacy

On achète les médicaments à la pharmacie./ Meds are bought at the pharmacy.

french vocabulary gas station essence

35. une station essence

Gas station

Zut! La station essence est fermée./ Shoot, the gas station is closed.

5. COMMERCIAL SITES

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FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary restaurant

36. un restaurant

Restaurant

Le service dans ce restaurant est terrible./ The service is this restaurant is terrible.

french vocabulary fast food restaurant

37.

un fast-food

Fast-food restaurant

Et si on allait au fast-food maintenant?/ Want to go to a fast-food restaurant now?

french vocabulary store boutique

38. une boutique

Shop; Store

Il y a une petite boutique au coin de la rue./ There's a small shop at the street corner.

french magasin larger store

39. un magasin

Larger store

Ce magasin est ouvert 24 heures sur 24./ This (larger) store is open 24/7.

fernch supermarket supermarché

40. un supermarché

Supermarket

Elle travaille dans un supermarché./ She works in a supermarket.

french magasin larger store

41. un marché

Market

Il y a un marché en plein air dans ce quartier./ There's an open-air market in this neighborhood.

french vocabulary centre commercial shopping mall

42. un centre commercial

Shopping mall

Ce centre commercial est situé en zone résidentielle./ This shopping mall is located in a residential area.

french vocabulary flower shop fleuriste

43. chez le fleuriste

Flower shop

J'achète des tulipes chez le fleuriste. / I buy some tulips at the flower shop.

french vocabulary coffee shop café

44. un café

Coffee shop

Je t'invite au café./ I invite you to the coffee shop.

french vocabulary café tabac

45. un café-tabac

Café and tobacconist

Tu peux acheter des cigarettes dans ce café-tabac./ You can buy cigarettes in this café-tobacconist.

french vocabulary grocery shop épicerie

46. une épicerie

Grocery store

L'épicerie sera fermée demain./ The grocery store will be closed tomorrow.

french vocabulary boucher butcher's

47. chez le boucher

Butcher's

Il y a de la viande de boeuf chez le boucher./ There's some beef at the butcher's.

french vocabulary bakery boulangerie

48. une boulangerie

Bakery

Les pains dans cette boulangerie sont croustillants./ The breads in this bakery are crusty.

french vocabulary cake shop pâtisserie

49. une pâtisserie

Cake shop

J'ai commandé un gâteau à la pâtisserie./ I ordered a cake at the bakery.

french vocabulary salon de coiffure hairdressing

50. un salon de coiffure

Hairdressing salon

As-tu déjà essayé ce salon de coiffure?/ Have you already tried this hairdressing salon?

french vocabulary barbershop le coiffeur

51. chez le coiffeur

Barbershop

J'irai chez le coiffeur demain./ I'll go to the barbershop tomorrow.

fernch vocabulary marchand de vin wine shop

52. chez le marchand de vin

Liquor store

Achète une bouteille de cognac chez le marchand de vin s'il-te-plaît./ Please buy a bottle of cognac at the liquor store

french vocabulary librairie bookstore

53. une librairie

Bookstore

Ce livre est maintant disponible en librairie./ This book is now avaible at the bookstore.

french vocabulary factory usine

54. une usine

Factory

Cette usine vient de fermer pour de bon./ This factory just shut off permanently.

french vocabulary fishmonger poissonnier

55. un poissonnier

Fishmonger; Fish dealer

Tu trouveras du thon chez le poissonnier./ You'll find some tuna at the fishmonger.

6. SPORTS & RECREATIONAL SITES

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FRENCH

ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary night club

56. une boîte de nuit

Nightclub

On va danser en boîte de nuit ce soir./We're dancing at the club tonight.

french vocabulary bar

57. un bar

Bar

Il passe tout son temps dans les bars./ He spends all his time in bars.

french vocabulary parc park

58. un parc

Park

Je me promène dans ce parc tous les jours./ I take a walk in this park every day.

french vocabulary garden jardin

59. un jardin

Garden

Il y a un jardin public tout près./ There is a public garden quite near.

french vocabulary Disneyland paris

60. Disneyland Paris

Disneyland

Nous irons à Disneyland Paris la semaine prochaine./ My scar now has a cafe-au-lait couleur.

french vocabulary zoo

61. un zoo

Zoo

Est-ce qu'il y a un panda dans ce zoo?/ Is there any panda in this zoo?

french vocabulary aquarium

62. un aquarium

Aquarium

Nous avons visité l'aquarium de la municipalité./ We visit the town's aquarium.

french vocabulary botanical garden jardin botanique

63. un jardin botanique

Botanical garden

J'aime me promener dans ce jardin botanique./ I enjoy taking walks in this botanical garden.

fernch vocabulary museum musee

64. un musée

Museum

Ce musée possède des tableaux célèbres./ This museum owns famous paintings.

french vocabulary opera

65. un opéra

Opera

Mes parents vont aller à l'opéra ce soir./ My parents are going to the opera tonight.

french vocabulary cinema movie theater

66. un cinéma

Movie theater; Cinema

Le cinéma du quartier passe de vieux films./ The neighborhood's movie theater shows old movies.

french vocabulary stadium stade

67. un stade

Stadium

Le stade est plein à craquer./ The stadium is full to breaking point.

french vocabulary gymnasium gymnase

68. un gymnase

Gymnasium

Il passe beaucoup de temps au gymnase./ He spends a lot of time in the gymnasium.

french public square place vocabulary

69. une place

Plaza; Public square

Nous nous sommes réunis sur la place./ We gathered in the plaza.

french-café-au-lait-color-vocabulary-list

70. une piscine

Swimming pool

Je veux aller à la piscine ce weekend./ I want to go to the pool this weekend.

french beach plage vocabulary

71. une plage

Beach

Ils passeront l'après-midi à la plage./ They'll spend the afternoon at the beach.

7. BUILDINGS & LOCATION-RELATED FRENCH WORDS

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ENGLISH

SENTENCE EXAMPLES TO PRACTICE

french vocabulary building bâtiment

72. un bâtiment

Building

C'est un bâtiment ancien./ This is an old building.

french vocabulary multi-story building immeuble

73. un immeuble

(Multi-story) building

Il y a une poste dans ce grand immeuble./ There is a post office in this tall building.

french vocabulary skyscraper gratte-ciel

74. un gratte-ciel

Skyscraper

L'Empire State Building est un gratte-ciel./ The Empire State Building is a skyscraper.

french vocabulary location lieu

75. un lieu

Location

C'est le lieu de l'évènement./ This is the place of the event.

french vocabulary location lieu

76. un endroit

Location

Ce n'est pas le bon endroit./ It's not the right place.

french vocabulary address adresse

77. une adresse

Address

Voilà mon adresse./ Here's my address.

french vocabulary location lieu

78. une zone, un coin

Area

Je ne suis pas de ce coin./ I'm not from this area.

french vocabulary quartier neighborhood

79. un quartier

neighborhood

Habites-tu dans ce quartier?/ Do you live in this neighborhood?

The above are the words commonly used for French buildings and places. I will add in more words related to French buildings and places in the future. In the meantime, if you have ever been to France, why don't you share with us in the comment your experience about an epic place you've visited? Or maybe you've been in another French-speaking country (Senegal, Canada, French Guyana, etc.)...I'd love to hear your stories, too.


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