Here are the main transport words you need to know:

• un vélo – bicycle
• une moto – motorcycle
• un bus – bus
• une voiture – car
• un avion – airplane
• un bateau – boat
• le train – train
• un tricycle à moteur – motor tricycle

Tanzanian Transport Words

In Tanzania, we also use local words in French conversations:

• un daladala – minibus (public transport)
• un bajaji – three-wheeled vehicle
• un bodaboda – motorcycle taxi

When you want to ask someone how they go somewhere, use this question:

Comment vas-tu à... ? – How do you go to...?

Examples:

• Comment vas-tu à l'école? (How do you go to school?)
• Comment vas-tu à la plage? (How do you go to the beach?)

When answering, you need the correct preposition. In French, we use "à" or "en" with transport means:

Using "à" (at/on)

• à pied – on foot / walking
• à vélo – by bicycle
• à moto – by motorcycle

Using "en" (in/by)

• en bus – by bus
• en voiture – by car
• en train – by train
• en avion – by airplane
• en bateau – by boat

Look at this dialogue from the textbook:

Lion: Comment vas-tu à la plage? Lièvre: J'y vais à vélo. Et toi? Lion: En bus, c'est plus rapide!

From this dialogue, we can understand:

• Lion goes to the beach à vélo (by bicycle)
• Lièvre goes en bus (by bus)
• The bus is faster (plus rapide)

When you listen to a text about transport, ask yourself:

1. Who is speaking? (Qui parle?)
2. Where are they going? (Où vont-ils?)
3. What transport do they use? (Quel moyen de transport utilisent-ils?)
4. Why do they prefer that transport? (Pourquoi préfèrent-ils ce moyen de transport?)

Example from the Textbook

From the text about Amani:

Amani habite à Mbeya. Chaque matin, il va à l'école en daladala.

The answer to "Comment Amani va-t-il à l'école?" is en daladala.

Questions and Answers About Transport

Talking About Transport Preferences

• Je préfère... – I prefer...
• J'aime... – I like...
• Parce que... – Because...

When you listen to French about transport:

1. Listen for the place names – Where is the person going?
2. Listen for transport words – What means of transport is mentioned?
3. Listen for reasons – Why do they choose that transport?
4. Listen for numbers – How many? How far?

To understand information about means of transport in French:

1. Learn the vocabulary for different transport types
2. Know when to use "à" or "en" before the transport word
3. Listen for the place someone is going to
4. Listen for why they choose that transport
5. Practice answering questions about transport

In Tanzania, you will often hear people talk about how they travel to school, to the market, or to visit family. For example, when you go to the Mabibo market in Dar es Salaam with your mother, you might hear someone say: "Je prends le daladala pour aller au marché" (I take the daladala to go to the market). Understanding these phrases helps you communicate when traveling around Tanzania and also when you meet French-speaking tourists visiting our country.