Getting around
Métro
Prochain arrêt.
Next stop.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Lyon
France
Lyon sits where the Rhône meets the Saône, with a Renaissance old town and a hilltop basilica.
How the language is used
French is the city language. Lyonnais bouchons and traboule passages give it words of its own.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- Mostly French
- A local word
- Pot — A pot, the local glass of wine.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Bouchon
Un pot, s'il vous plaît.
A pot, the local glass of wine.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Commerce
Bonjour.
Good morning.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Rue
Merci.
Thank you.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is the city language. Bouchon restaurants and traboule passages give it local words.
Around Croix-Rousse, Vieux Lyon, Presqu'île, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Lyon can run on four lines: “Prochain arrêt.”, “Un pot, s'il vous plaît.”, “Bonjour.”, and “Merci.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Shops and offices often stay with vous. Tu is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Lyon, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Pot. It means A pot, the local glass of wine..
Places you can see
- Vieux Lyon — Renaissance streets and covered traboules that cut between the Saône and the hill.
- Fourvière — A hilltop basilica above the old town, reached on foot or by funicular.
- Parc de la Tête d'Or — A large park by the Rhône, with a lake, lawns, and a botanical garden.
Food
Bouchon cooking: quenelles, sausage, and dishes written in Lyonnais French.
Getting around
Metro lines cross both rivers. A funicular climbs from the old town toward Fourvière.
Daily life
You see French on traboule doors and market boards. Here, bouchon means a small restaurant.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
