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.
Marseille
France
Marseille opens onto the Mediterranean, a port city older than the French spoken on its quays.
How the language is used
French is the language of the city hall, the port signs, and the cafés. The accent is southern, and the port adds other languages around it.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- Arabic
- A local word
- Pastis — A pastis, please.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
Café
Un pastis, s'il vous plaît.
A pastis, please.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
Port
Bonjour.
Good morning.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
Commerce
C'est combien ?
How much is it?
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is the language of the city hall, the port, and the café. The accent is southern.
In Le Panier, Vieux-Port, Noailles, you also hear Arabic.
A first day in Marseille can run on four lines: “Prochain arrêt.”, “Un pastis, s'il vous plaît.”, “Bonjour.”, and “C'est combien ?”. 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 Marseille, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Pastis. It means A pastis, please..
Places you can see
- Vieux-Port — The old harbour, ringed by quays, with a small ferry crossing from side to side.
- Notre-Dame de la Garde — A hilltop basilica and sailor’s lookout above the port.
- Le Panier — The oldest quarter, a slope of narrow streets just north of the harbour.
Food
Bouillabaisse, pastis, and navette biscuits belong to the city’s own recipes.
Getting around
Metro and buses cover the city, and a small ferry links the two sides of the old port.
Daily life
You hear southern French vowels. Talk around the port is not a single accent.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
