Carte Orange in French?
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Aug 2003
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Carte Orange in French?
I've searched for Carte Orange on the boards, and haven't been able to find a thread that tells the proper way to ask for the Carte Orange in French.
My French is minimal, so I'm just looking for the clearest way to ask for the Carte Orange for two people for a week. Can anyone help?
My French is minimal, so I'm just looking for the clearest way to ask for the Carte Orange for two people for a week. Can anyone help?
#2

Joined: Jan 2003
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Puis-j'avoir deux Cartes Orange, s'il vous plaît?,
or
Je voudrais deux Cartes Orange, s'il vous plaît.
Since it's a weekly card, I doubt you'll have to say "for a week" but if that's necessary, it's "pour une semaine."
or
Je voudrais deux Cartes Orange, s'il vous plaît.
Since it's a weekly card, I doubt you'll have to say "for a week" but if that's necessary, it's "pour une semaine."
#3
Joined: May 2003
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Just to add there there are both weekly and monthly carte orange and there are multiple zones. Zone 1 and 2 (Covers all of Paris) are the most common so you might not need to specify. So to add to StCirq's excellent phrases :
Puis-j'avoir deux Cartes Orange hebdomadaire (deux zone), s'il vous plaît?,
or
Je voudrais deux Cartes Orange hebdomadaire (deux zone), s'il vous plaît.
Puis-j'avoir deux Cartes Orange hebdomadaire (deux zone), s'il vous plaît?,
or
Je voudrais deux Cartes Orange hebdomadaire (deux zone), s'il vous plaît.
#6

Joined: Jan 2003
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If you say "deux semaines" you will confuse them. That means "two weeks," and I thought you wanted two passes, each for one week. Since I don't believe there is a 2-week pass, if you ask for two weeks, you'll probably be greeted with a torrent of rapid French asking you to explain yourself.
As for using English, I have heard a few reports from English speakers claiming when they asked in English, they were told the passes were only for French natives. I don't think that's true, but it seems a few people have encountered that reponse. Perhaps that's why this poster is interested in asking in French.
As for using English, I have heard a few reports from English speakers claiming when they asked in English, they were told the passes were only for French natives. I don't think that's true, but it seems a few people have encountered that reponse. Perhaps that's why this poster is interested in asking in French.
#7

Joined: Jan 2003
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I don't know -- I suspect if you don't know how to say this yourself, when you do repeat these phrases, they are going to know very well you don't know French, if that's your reasoning. I think you just want to be prepared. I also wouldn't ask for "deux semaines" but it isn't just weekly, so you do need to say that you want the weekly ticket, not monthly. IN fact, I've noticed that some folksks will still call the Carte Orange a monthly pass by default, because it used to be a long time ago.
As Morgan mentioned, you have to include the zones you want, also, which is important, so don't forget that. If you do forget, they'll probably ask you and you may not know what they are saying.
As Morgan mentioned, you have to include the zones you want, also, which is important, so don't forget that. If you do forget, they'll probably ask you and you may not know what they are saying.
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#8
Joined: May 2003
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I was standing in line at the metro waiting behind some english speakers. They seemed to think that the ticket window at the metro was a tourist office and were asking a long string of questions about opening times of museums etc. I could tell the ticket agent was tired of them and frankly I was tired of waiting for them to finish as well. When they got around to the real reason they were there, to buy a carte orange, the ticket agent replied "No only for French people". "Paris Visit for tourists". They explained that at the hotel they were told they could have them. She flatly replied no so they bought the Paris Visit card.
I then stepped up to the window and asked in my French with an English accent for a Carte Orange and was immediately given one. So there are definately agents who refuse to give one to tourists.
I then stepped up to the window and asked in my French with an English accent for a Carte Orange and was immediately given one. So there are definately agents who refuse to give one to tourists.
#11
Joined: Jan 2003
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Ira has given great advice. We tried our (lame) French when we purchased our Carte Orange and every time we bought train tickets, as back up we also had things written down in French. We never had a problem and were always treated nicely. Keep it basic and of course be polite.
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ssander
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Apr 26th, 2009 03:56 AM




