
Hello everyone and welcome! Hi Léo, how are you?

Hi Emma! I am doing very well, thank you. And you?

Great! Have you ever taken a taxi in Bordeaux?

Haha, yes! Last week, in the rain.

In the rain? A real adventure in town!

That is true. With my suitcase, it was very practical.

Taking a taxi is sometimes very useful.

Exactly. When you are in a hurry, it is perfect.

Today, we are talking about a useful topic: taxis.

It is very classic in France.

We are learning six simple phrases.

Six very useful expressions.

The first phrase is: Taxi, s'il vous plaît.

The second phrase is: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

The third phrase is: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

The fourth phrase is: Combien coûte la course ?

The fifth phrase is: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

And the sixth phrase is: Je peux payer par carte ?

Six very practical phrases.

First of all, let us listen to a short story.

A concrete example to understand well.

Let us imagine a morning in Bordeaux together.

Let us take a concrete example: a morning in Bordeaux.

It is an example. We imagine the scene together.

Tuesday morning, Léo comes out of the train station with his suitcase.

The sky is gray and it is starting to rain.

He looks at his watch. His appointment is in twenty minutes.

The bus is late. He looks for a solution.

He sees the blue sign: the taxi stand.

The taxi stand is the place where cars wait.

A nice black car is waiting at the front of the line.

Léo walks towards the first car. The driver smiles.

Léo opens the door and sits on the back seat.

In France, people always get into the back of the taxi.

Léo says hello politely and gives his destination.

He gives the address: rue Sainte-Catherine, s'il vous plaît.

The driver replies kindly and starts the car.

On the dashboard, the small screen turns on.

That is the taximeter. The numbers are displayed clearly.

During the ride, the driver talks about caneles.

Caneles are traditional pastries from Bordeaux!

Léo looks at the buildings through the window.

The car turns and arrives in front of the cafe.

It is the right place. Léo points to the sidewalk.

He simply tells the driver: c'est ici, merci.

The taxi stops gently along the curb.

Léo takes out his card from his pocket.

The driver holds out the card reader without problem.

A beep confirms the payment quickly.

Léo takes his suitcase and steps onto the sidewalk.

He is on time, dry, everything is fine.

In the end, he understood: taking a taxi is very simple.

Let us now look at each phrase more closely.

Let us move on to the phrases of the day, one by one.

Let us discover together our phrase of the day: Taxi, s'il vous plaît.

To hail a car in the street, I say: Taxi, s'il vous plaît.

It means: you ask for a taxi politely.

At the taxi stand or leaving the train station.

It is very simple and direct.

In English, it is "Taxi, please".

We smile at the driver.

Let us move on to our second phrase: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

In front of the car, you ask: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

That is: you check if the taxi is available.

In France, it is very polite before getting in.

The driver answers yes with pleasure.

You can then get into the back calmly.

In English, it is "Hello, are you free?".

Our third phrase is essential: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

Once seated, I say: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

It means: you show your address on your phone.

Or on a small piece of paper.

For example for a museum.

The driver looks and understands right away.

This phrase tells the driver exactly where to go.

Let us move on to the fourth phrase: Combien coûte la course ?

During the trip or upon arrival: Combien coûte la course ?

That is: you ask for the total price of the trip.

La course is the official term for a taxi trip.

The driver looks at the meter and gives you the amount.

It is clear, official, and without surprises.

In English, it is "How much is the ride?".

Our fifth phrase is very practical: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

When I see my cafe: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

It means: you ask the driver to stop.

Near the sidewalk or in front of the door.

It is a polite and very clear request.

In English, it is "Stop here, please".

Finally, our sixth phrase: Je peux payer par carte ?

When paying, I ask: Je peux payer par carte ?

That is: you ask if you can use your payment card.

In France, all taxis accept credit cards.

The driver hands you the card reader without problem.

In English, it is "Can I pay by card?".

Shall we make a short list together to remember well?

With pleasure! One: Taxi, s'il vous plaît.

Two: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

Three: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

Four: Combien coûte la course ?

Five: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

Six: Je peux payer par carte ?

It is a very logical list.

Now, let us play a short dialogue together.

Let us do a realistic dialogue.

Taxi, s'il vous plaît ! Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

Hello ma'am! Yes, of course. Please get in!

Thank you. I get in the back with my bag.

Very good. Where would you like to go today?

À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît, Place de la Comédie.

Perfect! Off we go, on our way.

Is there some traffic this morning?

A little near the river, but it is moving.

Great! I have lunch with a friend at noon.

We are arriving soon. It is right after the traffic light.

Ah yes, perfect! Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

Here we are ma'am, we have arrived.

Thank you very much. Combien coûte la course ?

That is twelve euros on the meter, please.

Very well. Je peux payer par carte ?

Yes, of course! Here is the contactless card reader.

Thank you sir, have a nice day!

Thank you ma'am, and enjoy your meal!

That was a very natural dialogue, Léo!

Thank you Emma! It was very clear.

Now, let us test six practical situations.

Come on. You ask the questions, and I answer.

Situation number one: you are in a hurry on the street. What do you say?

I hail the taxi: Taxi, s'il vous plaît !

Very good! That is perfect to hail a taxi.

Situation number two: you arrive at a taxi. What do you ask?

Politely, I ask: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

Bravo! That is the ideal polite question before getting in.

Situation number three: you show your phone with the address. What do you say?

I say clearly: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

Perfect! The driver knows immediately where to go.

Situation number four: arriving, you want to know the price. What do you ask?

I ask the driver: Combien coûte la course ?

Exactly! That is the standard way to ask for the price.

Situation number five: you arrive in front of your cafe. What do you say?

I point to the sidewalk: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

Excellent! The driver knows exactly where to stop.

Situation number six: you want to pay with your card. What do you ask?

I ask with a smile: Je peux payer par carte ?

Magnificent! Six perfect answers, Léo.

Thank you Emma! Taking a taxi becomes really easy.

Let us do a quick review.

We take the six phrases again.

We now arrive at our quick review.

First phrase: Taxi, s'il vous plaît.

Second phrase: Bonjour, vous êtes libre ?

Third phrase: À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît.

Fourth phrase: Combien coûte la course ?

Fifth phrase: Arrêtez-vous ici, s'il vous plaît.

And sixth phrase: Je peux payer par carte ?

There are our six essential phrases for the taxi.

Here is now your speaking challenge of the day: your turn to speak!

Do you often take a taxi in town?

Write a sentence in the comments.

We read all your messages with great pleasure.

And next time in Bordeaux, think of the tasty caneles!

Haha, yes! A delicious canele after a taxi ride.

Thank you all for your listening and loyalty.

See you very soon for a new episode! Goodbye!

Goodbye and see you next time!