In the run up to the Tour de France – and in appreciation of French cycling in general – we’ve created a comprehensive phrasebook of French cycling terms.
This will come in handy next time you’re riding in that beautiful country!
We’re even offering a printable version that you can fold up and put in your jersey.
The most important
| one espresso, please! |
– |
un espresso s’il vous plaît |
| one beer, please! |
– |
une bière s’il vous plaît! |
| thank you! |
– |
Merci |
| what’s the wifi password |
– |
quel est le mot de passe wifi? |
| where is a toilet? |
– |
où sont les toilettes |
Bike parts
| Frame |
– |
le cadre |
| Fork |
– |
la fourche |
| Wheel |
– |
la roue |
| Front wheel |
– |
la roue avant |
| Rear wheel |
– |
la roue arrière |
| Suspension |
– |
la suspension |
| Hub |
– |
le moyeu |
| spoke |
– |
le rayon |
| Rim |
– |
la jante |
| bearing |
– |
le roulement |
| quick release mechanism |
– |
la mécanisme à serrage rapide |
| tyre |
– |
le pneu |
| inner tube |
– |
la chambre à air |
| valve |
– |
la valve |
| flat tyre |
– |
la crevaison |
| puncture |
– |
le trou |
| mudguard |
– |
le garde-boue |
| front light |
– |
le phare |
| rear light |
– |
le feu arrière |
| reflector |
– |
le catadioptre |
| bell |
– |
la sonnette |
| crank |
– |
la manivelle |
| pedal |
– |
la pédale |
| handlebars |
– |
le guidon |
| saddle |
– |
la selle |
| seat post |
– |
la tige de selle |
| chain |
– |
la chaîne |
| master link |
– |
le maillon de chaîne |
| chainring |
– |
le plateau |
| sprocket |
– |
le pignon |
| brake |
– |
le frein |
| brake pad |
– |
le patin de frein |
| brake disc |
– |
le disque de frein |
| brake cable |
– |
la câble de frein |
| gear lever |
– |
le changement de vitesses |
| hub gear |
– |
le changement de vitesses dans le moyeu |
| derailleur gears |
– |
le changement de vitesses à dérailleur |
| derailleur |
– |
le dérailleur |
| gear cable |
– |
le câble de changement de vitesses |
| bolt |
– |
le boulon |
| nut |
– |
l’écrou |
Accessories
| bike lock |
– |
l’antivol |
| puncture repair kit |
– |
la trousse de réparation |
| bicycle pump |
– |
la pompe |
| helmet |
– |
le casque |
| tools |
– |
l’outillage |
| bicycle oil |
– |
l’huile de chaîne |
| hi-vis |
– |
le gilet fluorescent |
On tour
| bicycle shop |
– |
le vélociste |
| cycle route map |
– |
la carte d’itinéraires cyclables |
| cycling trousers |
– |
lae pantalon cycliste |
| bicycle computer |
– |
l’ordinateur de vélo |
Phrases
| broken |
– |
cassé |
| to repair |
– |
réparer |
| is this road good for cycling |
– |
cette route est-elle cyclable? |
| is this road very hilly |
– |
le relief de cette route est-il très accidenté? |
| excuse me where is the nearest cafe |
– |
excusez-moi, où est le café |
| left |
– |
à gauche |
| right |
– |
à droite |
| straight on |
– |
tout droit |
Types of bike
| ladies’ bike |
– |
le vélo de dame |
| mens’ bike |
– |
le vélo d’homme |
| racing bike |
– |
le vélo de course |
| mountain bike |
– |
le vélo tout terrain |
Infrastructure
| cycle track |
– |
la piste cyclable séparée |
| cycle lane |
– |
la bande cyclable |
| cycle parking |
– |
le parking vélo |
The usual disclaimers here: if we got anything wrong, let us know!
And if we missed out any vital terms, let us know that as well!
Now we bid you ‘adieu’.