A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Do you have a city map" in French
Ask for a city map in French with this polite and common phrase. Perfect for tourists.
Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?
ah-vay-VOO uhn plahn duh lah VEELneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Head to the tourist office or ask at your hotel reception. You can also use it when you see a kiosk that might sell maps.
Alternatives
- Est-ce que vous avez un plan de la ville ?Slightly more formal, but perfectly fine.
- Tu as un plan de la ville ?Use only if you're already on familiar terms with the person.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'plan'
The 'n' at the end of 'plan' is nasal; don't pronounce it like the English word 'plan'.
Silent 's' in 'vous'
The 's' in 'vous' is silent; it's pronounced 'voo', not 'voos'.
A small cultural note
While 'plan de la ville' is standard, some places might use 'carte de la ville' or simply 'carte'. Don't hesitate to try this phrase first.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to ask for a map in French?
You can ask 'Avez-vous un plan de la ville ?' which means 'Do you have a city map?'. This is a polite and standard way to ask.
Is 'plan de la ville' the only way to say city map?
It's the most common and widely understood term. You might occasionally hear 'carte de la ville', but 'plan' is generally preferred for street maps.
What if I'm talking to a friend?
If you know the person well and use 'tu' with them, you can say 'Tu as un plan de la ville ?'. Otherwise, stick to the 'vous' form.
