Usage Note
Motel is a direct borrowing from American English and refers to roadside accommodation with easy vehicle access. It is less common in France than in North America — the French equivalent of a budget roadside stop tends to be a relais routier or budget hotel chain. The word is used mostly in American-context films and TV.
Examples
"Ils ont passé la nuit dans un motel au bord de la route."
Natural Translation
They spent the night in a motel by the road.
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
