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The current weather in Vancouver…

  • Writer: Flight Attendant Phrases
    Flight Attendant Phrases
  • May 30, 2019
  • 2 min read

English: The current weather in Vancouver…

French: La météo actuelle à Vancouver…


A very common announcement that you need to translate is a weather announcement. What’s the current weather at the destination? Or, what’s the weather going to be like when you arrive at your destination?


Météo (f)=Weather


Instead of “météo”, you’ll also hear “temps” (m) used to mean “weather”. And yes, “temps” is also one of the words in French for “time”, as in “le temps de vol” “the flight time”.


Actuel(le)=Current, present, right now


Notice that even though the French word “actuel” looks like the English word “actual”, their meanings nowadays are not the same.


“Le temps actuel” is the formal way that airlines probably want you to say this, but “actuel” is not a very common word used by our French Canadian colleagues and passengers. It’s also not a word that’s very useful in other flight attendant contexts. In our Canadian French for Flight Attendants audio course, you’ll notice we teach a different way to say “current weather”, using words that are more functional in other flight attendant contexts.

Want to learn to speak the French you need to work as a flight attendant? Learn even more with Canadian French for Flight Attendants.


Seoul May 2019. Séoul mai 2019. (As mentioned in an earlier post, notice that "Séoul" is pronounced differently in French.) I just got back from a last-minute trip to Seoul, South Korea. It was my first time there. Pictured below: the airplane landing at Seoul's Incheon airport (ICN), and the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, close to where I was staying.


During the climb, during the descent

  • Writer: Flight Attendant Phrases
    Flight Attendant Phrases
  • May 21, 2019
  • 1 min read

English: During the climb, during the descent

French: Pendant la montée, pendant la descente.


Your pilots might specify that they’re expecting turbulence during the initial climb, right after take off, or perhaps during descent, right before landing. This is typical as it tends to be more turbulent at lower altitudes.


Pendant=During

La montée (f)=The climb, the ascent

La descente (f)=The descent

Nous prévoyons des turbulences (légères) pendant la montée/pendant la descente.


“Montée” and “Descente” derive from the verbs “Monter” and “Descendre” meaning “to go up/to climb” and “to go down/to descend” respectively. These are the technical words that your airline will likely want you to use.


You’ll find that our Canadian French for Flight Attendants audio course opts for a different way to translate this, using words that you will already have learned, instead of introducing new ones “montée” “descente”.

Want to learn to speak the French you need to work as a flight attendant? Learn even more with Canadian French for Flight Attendants.

Taipei 101 up close and at nighttime.


Blog posts will return in about a week and a half to two weeks. I’m going on an impromptu trip. Pics to come! See you soon. À bientôt.

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Some (light) turbulence near Winnipeg

  • Writer: Flight Attendant Phrases
    Flight Attendant Phrases
  • May 17, 2019
  • 2 min read

English: Some (light) turbulence near Winnipeg

French: Des turbulences (légères) près de Winnipeg


Instead of a smooth flight, your pilots might announce that they’re expecting some turbulence.


Turbulence (f)=Turbulence

Léger (m)/légère (f)=light (not heavy)


“Turbulence” in English is used in the singular, but in French, you’ll usually see “Turbulences” in the plural.


Your pilots may specify “light turbulence” or “a few (light) bumps”. French has a word for “bumps” as well, but we recommend keeping it simple and translating both as “light turbulence” “turbulences légères”.


The captain might specify where during the flight you’ll expect turbulence, when you fly over or fly near a certain area or city, for example. Keeping the translation simple, you can just translate that you’re expecting turbulence “near” or “close to” a city. In French, we say “close from” “près de”.


Près de Winnipeg=Close to Winnipeg

Près de Groenland=Close to Greenland

Nous prévoyons des turbulences légères près de Winnipeg.


As a side note, “Léger” is also a relatively common French-Canadian family name. Throughout our Canadian French for Flight Attendants audio course, we use many French first and last names, allowing you to hear them and learn how to pronounce them correctly. Being able to pronounce your passengers’ names correctly will help show dedication, professionalism, and respect.

Want to learn to speak the French you need to work as a flight attendant? Learn even more with Canadian French for Flight Attendants.


Flight attendant souvenirs. Souvenirs d'un agent de bord. Taipei, Taiwan 2014. Taipei 101, also known as Taipei World Financial Center, is one of the most recognized structures in the city and one of the tallest buildings in the world.

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