French · Travel & Getting Around
"Is this seat taken?" in French: Cette place est libre ?
Cette place est libre ?
Is this seat taken in French is Cette place est libre ? Literally is this seat free. A yes means you can sit; non, elle est prise means taken.
Train carriage
Pardon — cette place est libre ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce Cette place est libre ?
Say it
set plahss eh LEE-bruh
/sɛt plas ɛ libr/
Cette: set. Place: plahss. Est: eh. Libre: LEE-bruh. Rising polite question.
"Is this seat taken?" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Cette place est libre ? | Is this seat free / taken? Default ask. | Default ask. |
| c'est libre ? | is it free? Shorter while pointing. | Shorter while pointing. |
| cette place est prise | this seat is taken Negative answer pattern. | Negative answer pattern. |
| je peux m'asseoir ici ? | may I sit here? Softer alternative. | Softer alternative. |
How to use Cette place est libre ? in real life
- 1Train carriage
Pardon — cette place est libre ?
Excuse me—is this seat free?
Full phrase.
- 2Crowded café
Cette place est libre ? On peut partager la table ?
Is this seat free? Can we share the table?
Follow-up.
- 3Cinema
Désolé, cette place est libre ou réservée ?
Sorry, is this seat free or reserved?
Extra option.
Mistakes English speakers make with Cette place est libre ?
Incorrect: Cette place est taken ?
Correct: Cette place est libre ?
Ask with libre, not English taken.
Incorrect: Ce place est libre ?
Correct: Cette place est libre ?
Place is feminine: cette.
Good to know
On French trains, reserved seats show numbers; still ask Cette place est libre ? for unreserved cars and cafés. Sharing tables is more common in busy lunch spots than in some Anglo cultures.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Finding seats on a regional train
ChatPal
Cette place est libre ?
Is this seat free?
You
Je demande à côté : cette place est libre ?
I'll ask next door: is this seat free?
ChatPal
Oui, on peut s'asseoir.
Yes, we can sit.
You
Parfait, j'ai mon billet.
Perfect, I have my ticket.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Is this seat taken?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Is this seat taken?" in French
How do you ask if a seat is taken in French?
Cette place est libre ?
What does libre mean here?
Free / available.
How do you say it's taken?
Elle est prise / cette place est prise.
How do you pronounce libre?
LEE-bruh.
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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