France - a few key vehicle phrases
Posted: 18 Jul 2012, 08:00
The worst thing if you have broken down in another country is trying to remember your schoolboy/girl French and then trying to find the right words for parts of your vehicle, which you were never taught at school. Trust me I have experienced this a few times. So here are a few to write down so if you are stuck you can at least point at the correct phrase, even if you cannot say it:
Pouvey-vous reparer ma voiture? - Can you fix my car?
Pour quand sera-t-elle? - How soon?
Quelque chose ne va pas - dans le moteur - Something is wrong with my engine
" " " " " - dans l'embrayage " " " " " clutch
- la boite de vitesses gearbox
- aux frains brakes
- a la direction steering
- la suspension suspension
- l'arbre de transmission drive shaft
- les phares headlights
- le radiateur radiator
- pompe a eau water pump
- tubulare radiator hose
I obviously haven't covered everything but this covers the basics. You can google the other bits like spark plugs, rotor arm, throttle cable etc.
I have said this before but it is worth repeating. If you break down on an autoroute (motorway) your breakdown service is not allowed to deal with you there. You have to call the the local police using the roadside telephone. They will want to know (in French - you are unlikely to speak to somebody who speaks English) that you are broken down, your vehicle type and registration number and I think the reference number of the telehone box and probably which direction you are going eg direction Paris. If they cannot fix your vehicle there you will be taken off the motorway to the breakdown driver's garage. You can then call your own service. Normally your breakdon service will talk to the garage and either ask them if they can repair your vehicle or make other arrangements (most companies like the AA cover the cost of labour but not the cost of parts). So just in case it is worth knowing the following phrase before making that call:
Ma voiture est en panne (pronounced 'pan') - my vehicle is broken down.
I have had loads of experiences of French garages over the years, all of them good which I cannot say about most garages over here. Of course with a well maitained van you are unlikely to have a breakdown but it is less stressful if you know how to deal with it. Trust me I learnt the hard way. Bon voyage and give us a wave!
Patrick
Pouvey-vous reparer ma voiture? - Can you fix my car?
Pour quand sera-t-elle? - How soon?
Quelque chose ne va pas - dans le moteur - Something is wrong with my engine
" " " " " - dans l'embrayage " " " " " clutch
- la boite de vitesses gearbox
- aux frains brakes
- a la direction steering
- la suspension suspension
- l'arbre de transmission drive shaft
- les phares headlights
- le radiateur radiator
- pompe a eau water pump
- tubulare radiator hose
I obviously haven't covered everything but this covers the basics. You can google the other bits like spark plugs, rotor arm, throttle cable etc.
I have said this before but it is worth repeating. If you break down on an autoroute (motorway) your breakdown service is not allowed to deal with you there. You have to call the the local police using the roadside telephone. They will want to know (in French - you are unlikely to speak to somebody who speaks English) that you are broken down, your vehicle type and registration number and I think the reference number of the telehone box and probably which direction you are going eg direction Paris. If they cannot fix your vehicle there you will be taken off the motorway to the breakdown driver's garage. You can then call your own service. Normally your breakdon service will talk to the garage and either ask them if they can repair your vehicle or make other arrangements (most companies like the AA cover the cost of labour but not the cost of parts). So just in case it is worth knowing the following phrase before making that call:
Ma voiture est en panne (pronounced 'pan') - my vehicle is broken down.
I have had loads of experiences of French garages over the years, all of them good which I cannot say about most garages over here. Of course with a well maitained van you are unlikely to have a breakdown but it is less stressful if you know how to deal with it. Trust me I learnt the hard way. Bon voyage and give us a wave!
Patrick
