métro

metro, subway

noun meh-TROH Less Common

Origin: Short for 'chemin de fer métropolitain' (metropolitan railway)

Usage Note

Métro is short for métropolitain and refers specifically to underground rapid transit. The iconic Paris Métro is a cultural landmark, and prendre le métro ('to take the metro') is a daily phrase for millions. Métro, boulot, dodo is a well-known French expression meaning the monotonous daily grind.

Examples

"Je prends le métro pour aller au travail."

Natural Translation

I take the metro to go to work.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 1 to 100: Count With Confidence

French numbers 1 to 100 in one complete chart, with pronunciation, the et-un rule, hyphens, and the four-twenties system explained so you can count anywhere.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French False Friends: 25 Faux Amis to Avoid

French false friends look like English words but mean something else: actuellement is not actually, sensible means sensitive. Here are 25 faux amis to avoid.

June 3, 2026 5 min read