L’Alliance’s Official Paris 2024 Olympics French Tip Sheet

Whether you’re watching the Summer Olympic Games from the comfort of your couch or the stadium stands in Paris, they’re sure to be an immersive language experience. Between the announcers, participants, fellow audience members, and local Parisians, the host city’s native French will fly faster than the event’s track stars—and with our help, you won’t need to go for the gold in order to keep up. No matter how you’re viewing the Games, we’ve created the ultimate Paris 2024 Olympics field guide, which is chock full of handy English-to-French translations for popular sporting events, words and phrases, and cultural rules. On your mark, get set, parler! 

For Armchair Observers…

Sure, you can turn on subtitles—but this is the perfect opportunity to channel some competitive spirit and challenge yourself! Thanks to these two lists of popular French terms that you’ll see and hear during the broadcast, you’ll be calling plays en français in no time.

Select Summer Olympic Sports

• Archery: tir à l’arc
• Athletics: athlétisme (often shortened to athlé)
• Beach volleyball: Volleyball de plage (or beach volley)
• Diving: Plongeon
• Equestrian: Sports équestres (or équitation)
• Fencing: Escrime
• Marathon swimming: Natation marathon (or natation en eau libre)
• Rowing: Aviron
• Sailing: Voile
• Shooting: Tir
• Sport climbing: Escalade sportive
• Swimming: Natation

Olympic Expressions

• Olympic Games: Les Jeux (pronounced les-gee-o) Olympiques
• Olympic torch relay: Relais de la flamme olympique
• Olympic cauldron: La vasque olympique
• Flagbearer: Porte-drapeau
• Opening ceremony: Cérémonie d’ouverture
• Closing ceremony: Cérémonie de clôture
• Gold, silver, bronze medal: Médaille d’or, d’argent, et de bronze
• Olympic record: Record olympique
• World record: Record du monde

For In-Person Spectators… 

From the crowds in the 35 Paris 2024 Olympics venues throughout the city to the streets, shops, hotels, restaurants, and Métro, you’ll want to be well-versed in the most practical French proclamations and precedents. Keep these two lists on hand, refer to them often, and you may just be mistaken for a local.

Cultural Norms

• Say “Paris” without pronouncing the “s” (Pah-ree).
• Say bonjour first, always.
• Say au revoir (goodbye) before you exit a place of business.
• Don’t stop on the sidewalk; step off it to pause, or keep moving.
• Stay to the right while ascending and descending the Métro stairs and escalators.
• Eye contact is customary in France—it’s not considered flirting.
• Conversely, smiling is not standard—it isn’t personal.
• Avoid substitutions at restaurants, they’re frowned upon.
• Push yourself to speak a little French, it will go a long way. 

Helpful Words and Phrases

• See you later: À bientôt or À plus
• Thank you: Merci
• You’re welcome: De rien
• Please: S’il vous plaît
• How do I get to the entrance/exit?: Où est l’entrée/la sortie?
• How do I get to my seat?: Comment puis-je trouver ma place?
• What’s the quickest way to get to the Stade de France?: Quel est le meilleur moyen de rejoindre le Stade de France?
• Wheelchair access: Accès pour les chaises roulantes
• Where can I find the food stand?: Où puis-je acheter à manger?
• Where can I find the drinks stand?: Où est la buvette?
• What’s the best bakery close to the stadium? What’s the best French restaurant close to the stadium?: Quelle est la meilleure boulangerie aux environs du stade? Quel est le meilleur restaurant français aux environs du state?
• Can we swap pins?: On échange des pins?
• Can you tell me where the toilets are?: Pouvez-vous m’indiquer les toilettes?
• Can you please call the emergency services?: Appelez les urgences s’il vous plaît!
• Can you call a doctor, please?: Appelez un docteur s’il vous plaît!
• Can I have a beer, please?: Une bière s’ils vous plait!
• Can I have a coffee, please?: Un café s’il vous plait!
• Can I get another round, please?: La même s’il vous plait!
• Where is XXX street?: Où est la rue XXX?
• Can you tell me where the nearest metro station is?: Où est la station de metro la plus proche?

Feeling inspired to take your French language practice to medal-winning levels after the Paris 2024 Olympics flame is put out? L’Alliance New York offers both online and in-person French classes for every age and ability. 

Categories: Recommendations, Learn French, Travel