A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Turn left" in French
Learn to say 'turn left' in French for navigating streets and giving directions in France.
Tournez à gauche
toor-NAY ah GOHSHneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to tell someone to make a left turn, like when giving directions to your hotel or asking a taxi driver for a route.
Alternatives
- Prenez à gaucheSlightly more common when giving directions on foot or by bike.
- Tourne à gaucheUse this when speaking to one person you know well (using 'tu').
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 't' in 'tournez'
The 't' at the end of 'tournez' is silent; it's not 'tour-NET'.
Mispronouncing 'gauche'
The 'g' is hard like in 'go', and the 'au' sounds like 'o' in 'go'; avoid a 'sh' sound.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How do I say turn right in French?
To say 'turn right', you would say 'Tournez à droite'. Remember to pronounce the 'oi' sound like 'wah'.
What's the difference between 'tournez' and 'prenez'?
'Tournez' literally means 'turn', while 'prenez' means 'take'. Both are used for directions, but 'prenez' can feel slightly more natural when instructing someone to take a specific street.
Is there a casual way to say turn left?
Yes, if you are speaking to someone you know well and would use 'tu' with, you can say 'Tourne à gauche'.
