If you’re planning a getaway with young kids, involving them at various stages of the process will not only get them excited about their upcoming trip, but can make them appreciate the trip even more. It is also the perfect opportunity to learn and practice French vacation vocabulary.
What’s vacation in French?
Vacation in French is les vacances (feminine).
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Packing
Let’s face it; packing is no fun… unless you’re a three-year-old! My mom recently gifted my daughter, Surya, her own carry-on suitcase, and she was so excited to pack for our trip to Mexico.
To pack – faire ses valises
We talked about what she would need, and she happily put the essentials in her suitcase. Mommy took care of the rest.
Related: French summer vocabulary: clothing and seasonal items
Swimsuit – un maillot de bain
T-shirt – un tee-shirt
Shorts – un short
Sandals – des sandales (feminine)
Sunglasses – des lunettes de soleil (feminine)
Floaters – des flotteurs (masculine)
Sunscreen – un écran solaire
Hat – un chapeau
At the airport
Surya was curious about all the procedures and rules of the airport. While she could not participate much, she got to practice hearing and using French airport vocabulary.
Here is a great book about airplanes for little ones.
Airplane: un avion
Airport: un aéroport
Passport: un passeport
Boarding pass: une carte d’embarquement
Boarding gate: une porte d’embarquement
In the plane
My daughter had great fun putting on her seatbelt and waiting for the plane to take off! During the rest of the journey, I’m glad we brought her Amazon tablet to keep her entertained.
Takeoff – le décollage
Seatbelt – la ceinture de sécurité
Tray table – la tablette
Landing – l’atterrissage (masculine)
At the hotel
Once at your hotel, you can assign a specific drawer to your child, and they can put their things away.
To unpack – défaire ses valises
To put things away – ranger
Hotel – un hôtel
Pool – une piscine
Beach – une plage
Beach towel – une serviette de plage
