Letâs start by studying how to translate plane in French, and then weâll study the French plane vocabulary.
This free French lesson â like many on French Todayâs blog â features audio recordings. Click on the link next to the headphones to hear the French pronunciation.
1 â How do you say Plane in French ?
The French word for plane is âun avionâ. Note the strong liaison with the âaâ [un navion]. The liaison will carry on the plural âdes avionsâ [dĂ© zavion].
With a French definite article, plane in French takes an elision : lâavion. The plural is âles avionsâ with the liaison [lĂ© zavion]
2 â Onboard the Plane in French
- la classe Ă©conomique â economy class
- la classe affaires â business class
- la rangĂ©e â row
- le siĂšge â seat
- le hublot â window
- lâallĂ©e (f) â aisle
- le siĂšge du milieu â middle seat
- les bagages Ă main â carry-on bags
- la cabine â cabin
- le casier Ă bagages â overhead compartment
- le ventilateur â air vent
- la liseuse â reading light
- la tablette â table tray
- lâaccoudoir â armrest
- le dossier â back of the seat
- le bouton â button
- la sortie de secours â emergency exit
- la ceinture de sĂ©curitĂ© â safety belt
- les Ă©couteurs â headphones
- le moniteur â screen
- lâoreiller â pillow
- la couverture â blanket
- le menu â menu
Practice your French plane vocabulary in the context of a fun bilingual plane story recorded at 2 speeds: enunciated French and modern French in chapter 4 of Ă Moi Paris L4, part my French intermediate audiobook method.

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.
3 â How do you say the plane crew in French?
The plane crew in French is âlâĂ©quipageâ. Itâs a masculine word.
Here is a list of the plane crew in French:
- le/la pilote â pilot
- le/la copilote â co-pilote
- lâhĂŽtesse de lâair (f) â flight attendant
- le steward (m) â flight attendant
- le/la chef de cabine â Chief flight attendant
4 â Describing A Plane in French
- le cockpit â cockpit
- le rĂ©acteur â engine
- le fuselage â fuselage
- lâaile â wing
- la queue â tail
- le nez â nose (of the plane)
- le train dâatterrissage â landing gear
- lâhĂ©lice â propeller
5- How To Describe Problems on a Plane in French?
Here are some useful phrases and terms to describe problems on a plane: note that I used a modern spoken French pronunciation.
- Le compartiment Ă baggage est plein.
The overhead compartment is full. - Je ne suis pas assise à cÎté de mon mari.
Iâm not seated next to my husband - Excusez-moi ; je pense que câest mon siĂšge.
Sorry, I believe this is my seat - Vous voulez bien changer de siĂšge avec moi.
Would you mind switching seat with me? - Mon moniteur ne marche pas.
My screen doesnât work. - Mon siĂšge est cassĂ©.
My seat is broken. - Je nâarrive pas Ă ouvrir la tablette.
I canât open the table tray. - Je pourrais avoir une autre couverture ? Jâai froid !
May I have another blanket? Iâm cold ! - Tu veux bien arrĂȘter de bouger et de donner des coups de pied dans mon siĂšge ? Ăa me dĂ©range beaucoup et jâessaie de dormir.
Please stop moving and kicking my seat! Itâs really uncomfortable for me and Iâm trying to sleep. - Vous pouvez descendre le rideau du hublot ?
Could you lower the window screen? - On décolle bientÎt ?
Are we taking off soon? - Quand est-ce quâon arrive ?
When do we get there? - Jâai peur quand il y a des turbulences.
Iâm scared when there are turbulence. - Whoa ! Lâatterrissage Ă©tait un peu brutal, non ?
Wow! The landing was a bit hard, no?
As youâre in a plane, you may want to start a conversation with the person sitting next to you: here are my French conversation starters.
If you enjoy learning French language and culture in context, check out French Todayâs downloadable French audiobooks: French Todayâs bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on todayâs modern glided French pronunciation.
6 â Safety in Flight Instruction in French
This bilingual video is full of useful French plane vocabulary and sentences, and itâs really fun to watch.
Air France really did a good job with that one, donât you think?
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