French · Travel & Getting Around
"Map" in French: carte
la carte
Note: city map: le plan
Map in French is often la carte. A city street map is frequently le plan (plan de la ville). Carte also means menu or card — context decides.
Hike prep
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How to pronounce carte
Say it
KART
/kaʁt/
Carte is KART with a clear final t. Soft French r. Article la is lah.
"Map" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la carte | the map / the menu / the card Geography sense with context. | Geography sense with context. |
| la carte routière | the road map Driving. | Driving. |
| le plan | the city map / plan Street grid of a town. | Street grid of a town. |
| sur la carte | on the map Pointing. | Pointing. |
How to use carte in real life
- 1Hike prep
Tu as la carte du sentier ?
Do you have the trail map?
La carte.
- 2Car trip
Regarde la carte : on a raté la sortie.
Look at the map: we missed the exit.
Sur/look at la carte.
- 3Tourist office
Je peux prendre une carte de la région ?
Can I take a map of the region?
Une carte.
Mistakes English speakers make with carte
Incorrect: Le map.
Correct: La carte. / Le plan.
Use carte or plan, not English map.
Incorrect: La carte for a metro schematic only.
Correct: Le plan du métro is common for transit maps.
City grids often prefer plan; carte still works for regions.
Good to know
Ask for un plan de la ville at a tourist office. Carte on a restaurant table means the menu — another reason context matters.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Lost on a road trip
ChatPal
Passe-moi la carte un instant.
Pass me the map for a second.
You
La carte dit qu'on est trop au nord.
The map says we're too far north.
ChatPal
On fait demi-tour au rond-point.
We'll turn around at the roundabout.
You
OK. J'allume le GPS aussi.
OK. I'll turn on GPS too.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Map" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Map" in French
How do you say map in French?
La carte; city maps are often le plan.
Carte or plan?
Plan for city streets; carte for regions and roads.
Doesn't carte mean menu?
Yes — restaurants use carte for the menu.
How do you pronounce carte?
KART.
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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