French · Travel & Getting Around
"Bus" in French: bus
le bus
Note: long-distance: le car
Bus in French is le bus, masculine. Say en bus for by bus. Un arrêt de bus is a bus stop. Long-distance coaches are often le car.
Asking directions
Le bus 21 va jusqu'au musée ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bus
Say it
bus
/bys/
Bus sounds close to English "boos" with a French u (like "ü" in some accents) or a short "u"—in France often like English bus with a tighter vowel. Keep it one syllable.
"Bus" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le bus | bus (city) Urban buses. | Urban buses. |
| en bus | by bus Mode of transport. | Mode of transport. |
| l'arrêt de bus | bus stop Where you wait. | Where you wait. |
| le car | coach / long-distance bus Intercity coaches. | Intercity coaches. |
How to use bus in real life
- 1Asking directions
Le bus 21 va jusqu'au musée ?
Does bus 21 go to the museum?
Bus + number is common.
- 2Morning commute
Je vais au travail en bus.
I go to work by bus.
En bus for the mode.
- 3At the stop
L'arrêt de bus est juste là.
The bus stop is right there.
Arrêt de bus = bus stop.
Mistakes English speakers make with bus
Incorrect: Je prends le car pour la ligne 8 en ville.
Correct: Je prends le bus pour la ligne 8.
City routes are bus; car is usually the coach.
Incorrect: La bus est en retard.
Correct: Le bus est en retard.
Bus is masculine.
Good to know
In cities you validate tickets or tap a pass when you board. Intercity FlixBus-style services are often called cars. Asking le prochain bus ? (the next bus?) is useful at stops.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding the right city bus
ChatPal
Quel bus va au stade ?
Which bus goes to the stadium?
You
Le bus 12, je crois.
Bus 12, I think.
ChatPal
Parfait. On attend le bus ici ?
Perfect. Do we wait for the bus here?
You
Oui, c'est le bon arrêt de bus.
Yes, this is the right bus stop.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Bus" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Bus" in French
Bus or car—what's the difference?
Bus is usually city transit; car is often a coach for longer trips.
How do I say by bus?
En bus.
What is a bus stop?
Un arrêt de bus.
Is bus masculine?
Yes: le bus, un bus.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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