Those with little or no experience at driving in France can certainly have a challenge on their hands, especially whilst driving in busy city areas. Gaining knowledge of French road signs will help to lighten the load a little.
Although many road signs are universally recognised throughout Europe, the French have certain unique road signs. Certain road signs may only have French text so it’s beneficial to understand the basics.
Detailed below are common French road signs that you’re likely to see, along with their textual meaning in French and English. Listed also are key words and phrases that may be found on some French road signs.
A printable PDF version of the French road sign images along with their French and English meaning is available to print and take along with you on your trip to France as too are the phrases that may be located on certain signs.
French road signs and phrases
Though many of the road signs found in France can be recognised by their universal symbols, certain signs may contain text only. Below are French phrases found on road signs across France.
- À gauche / droite: To the left / right
- Aire de repos: Test stop
- Alcootest – Breath test / breathalyser
- Allumez vos feux: Turn on your headlights
- Attention au feu: Beware of traffic signal
- Attention travaux: Beware of road works
- Autre directions: Other directions
- Bande d’arrêt d’urgence: Emergency breakdown lane / hard shoulder
- Barrière de dégel: Trucks not allowed
- Cédez le passage: Give priority to the other road
- Centre commercial: Shopping
- Centre ville: Town centre
- Chambres d’hôtes: Bed and Breakfast
- Chaussée déformée: Bumpy road ahead
- Chaussée glissante: Slippery (Icy) road
- Col: Mountain passes
- Contrôle radar: Radar / speed trap
- Déviation: Diversion
- Essence sans plomb: Unleaded petrol
- Fermé: Closed
- Feu rouge: Red traffic light
- Feu vert: Green traffic light
- Fin de chantier: End of construction/road works
- Fin de voie vehicules lents: End of slow vehicle lane
- Haute tension: High voltage power line
- Gazole / Gasoil: Diesel fuel
- Gendarmerie: Police station
- Gîte: Simple bed and breakfast
- Gratuit: Free of charge
- Gravillons: Loose chippings
- Interdit aux piétons: No pedestrians
- Nids de poules: Potholes
- Ouvert: Open
- Parking gratuit: Free parking
- Parking payant: Parking must be paid for
- Passage à niveau: Level crossing
- Passage piétons: Pedestrian crossing
- Péage: Toll road
- Plage: Beach
- Priorité à droite: Give way to the vehicles from the right
- Priorité aux piétons: Give way to pedestrians
- Prochaine sortie: Next exit
- Ralentir/Ralentissez: Reduce speed
- Rappel: Remember
- Route barrée: Road closed
- Sauf en case d’urgence: No stopping
- Sens interdit: No entry
- Sens-unique: One-way
- Serrez à droite: Keep to the right
- Sortie: Exit
- Suivre: Follow
- Sortie: Exit
- Stationnement interdit: No parking
- Suivre: Follow (follow the signs for)
- Tout droit: Continue straight ahead
- Toutes directions: All directions
- Travaux: Roadworks
- Véhicules lents: Slow crawler lane
- Verglas: Ice
- Vitesse adaptée sécurité: Adapt your speed for safety
- Voie unique: One-lane road
- Voitures: Cars
- Vous n’avez pas la prioritié: You do not have the priority
- Z.I. or Zone Industriel: Out-of-town industrial area
Crossing white Lines
As with UK road laws, double white lines in France incur a fine if crossed. Continuous white lines must not be crossed as it is illegal in France. France often have harsher traffic laws than those in the UK where fines are typically high.
Print French road signs and phrases
You can download the Pdf version of the French road sign images and explanations and the French road sign phrases to print off and take along with you on your journey.
Very helpful. Thank you.