A platform changed at the last minute in French

1. 1
   quai/ke/

   platformnoun

   The raised edge along the tracks, where you wait and board.
2. 2
   voie/vwa/iAlso said vwɑ.

   tracknoun

   A path laid out for passing or travelling along.
3. 3
   changement/ʃɑ̃ʒmɑ̃/

   changenoun

   Going from one state to another.
4. 4

   correspondanceconnection

5. 5

   panneausign

6. 6

   souterrainunderpass

7. 7

   annoncerto announce

8. 8

   courirto run

9. 9

   raterto miss

10. 10

    prochainnext

The sentences3 of 10

1. Pardon, notre train part de quel quai maintenant ?

   Excuse me, which platform does our train leave from now?

2. Notre train ne part plus de cette voie.

   Our train no longer leaves from this track.

3. Vous avez vu le changement de quai sur le panneau ?

   Did you see the platform change on the board?

Pronunciation

• quai/ke/

  'ai' here is said /e/, like a closed é.

• voie/vwa/

  Said like "voix": the final e is not pronounced.

Good to know

quai

In France, the platform for a train is often shown shortly before departure, sometimes about twenty minutes ahead. It can also change at the last moment, so keep watching the board.

voie

Stations number their tracks, and the boards show the track or the platform depending on the station. Check the number displayed before you board.

composter

With some paper tickets, you have to validate them in a yellow machine on the platform before boarding. Tickets on your phone usually don't need it.

annonce

Platform changes are announced over the loudspeaker and on the boards. Announcements go fast, so the board is the safest source.

Questions

How do I ask which platform my train leaves from in French?

You can say "Pardon, notre train part de quel quai maintenant ?" It uses quai, the raised edge beside the tracks where you wait and board.