Finding the waiting room and checking in at a clinic | Learn French in English

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Use Finding the waiting room and checking in at a clinic to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Excusez-moi, où est la salle d'attente ?

ehk-skew-ZAY-MWAH, OO EH lah SAHL dah-TAHNT? Excuse me, where is the waiting room?

Passez devant l'accueil.

pah-SAY duh-VAHN lah-KUH-y. Go past the front desk.

Elle sera à votre gauche.

EHL suh-RAH ah VOHTR gohsh. It will be on your left.

Est-ce que je dois m'inscrire avant de m'asseoir ?

ess kuh zhuh DWAH mahn-SKREER ah-VAHN duh mah-SWAHR? Do I need to check in before I sit down?

Remplissez d'abord ce formulaire.

rahm-plee-SAY dah-BOR suh for-myoo-LAIR. Fill out this form first.

Puis donnez-le à l'accueil.

PWEE doh-NAY luh ah lah-KUH-y. Then hand it to the desk.

Est-ce que quelqu'un m'appellera quand ce sera mon tour ?

ess kuh kel-KUN ma-pehl-RAH kahn suh suh-RAH mohn TOOR? Will someone call me when it's my turn?

Une infirmière devrait bientôt vous appeler.

oon an-feer-MYAIR duh-VRAY BYAN-TOH voo-zah-PLAY. A nurse should call your name shortly.

Est-ce que je dois garder ma carte d'assurance à portée de main ?

ess kuh zhuh DWAH gar-DAY mah KART dah-SUR-AHNS ah por-TAY duh MAN? Should I keep my insurance card ready?

Gardez-la à portée de main si l'accueil en a encore besoin.

gar-DAY-lah ah por-TAY duh MAN see lah-KUH-y ahn-NAH ahn-KOR buh-ZWAN. Keep it handy in case the desk needs it again.

Word by Word

Excusez-moi “Excusez-moi” means “excuse me” and is used here to politely get someone’s attention. It is useful when starting a question with a receptionist or another person you do not know.

où “où” asks where something is located. In “où est la salle d'attente”, it introduces a question about a place. Use it with “où est” when asking where a person or thing is.

Est-ce que “Est-ce que” is the complete expression used to mark a yes-or-no question. “Est-ce” introduces the question structure, and “que” connects it to the rest of the sentence; together, “Est-ce que” turns “je dois m'inscrire” into a question.

la “la” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “salle” in “la salle d'attente”. It identifies a specific room known from the clinic context. It is used directly before the noun it determines.

salle “salle” means “room” in “la salle d'attente”. It names the place the visitor is trying to find. It can be reused in a phrase such as “la salle” followed by a description of the room.

d'attente “d'attente” adds the idea of waiting in “la salle d'attente”, giving the meaning “waiting room”. The form combines “de” with “attente” because the next word begins with a vowel. This expression is used for a room where people wait.

Passez “Passez” tells the visitor to go past or pass a location. In “Passez devant l'accueil”, it is a polite instruction about the route. It can be used with “devant” and the place someone should pass.

devant “devant” indicates the area in front of or past a place in “devant l'accueil”. It tells the visitor which location to pass on the way. The reusable pattern is “passer devant” followed by a place.

l'accueil “l'accueil” means the reception desk or reception area in this clinic. It is the place the visitor passes and later gives the form to. The “l'” form appears before the vowel at the beginning of “accueil”.

Elle “Elle” means “it” here and refers to the feminine noun “la salle d'attente”. It is the subject of “Elle sera à votre gauche”. Use “Elle” to refer back to this room without repeating the noun.

sera “sera” is the future form of “être” used to say that the waiting room will be on the visitor’s left. In “Elle sera à votre gauche”, it describes the room’s location. It is used with a location phrase such as “à votre gauche”.

à “à” marks the location in “à votre gauche”, meaning on the visitor’s left. It connects the location phrase to “sera”. The pattern “être à ...” can describe where something is.

votre “votre” means “your” in “à votre gauche”. It identifies the left side belonging to the person being addressed. It appears directly before the noun “gauche” in this expression.

gauche “gauche” means “left” in “à votre gauche”. It gives the direction where the waiting room will be found. The expression “à votre gauche” is used when giving directions.

je “je” means “I” and identifies the visitor as the subject of “je dois m'inscrire”. It is used when the speaker asks about their own need or action. It normally appears before the verb phrase.

dois “dois” expresses must or need to in “je dois m'inscrire”. It is followed here by the infinitive “m'inscrire” to name the required action. This pattern can be reused as “je dois” followed by an action.

m'inscrire “m'inscrire” means to check in or register myself at the clinic. The “m'” refers back to the speaker, and “inscrire” names the registration action. It follows “je dois” in “je dois m'inscrire” and can be used when asking whether registration is required.

avant “avant” means before and introduces the action that must happen earlier in “avant de m'asseoir”. It sets the order between checking in and sitting down. The pattern here is “avant de” followed by an infinitive.

m'asseoir “m'asseoir” means to sit down in “avant de m'asseoir”. The “m'” refers to the speaker, so the action is sitting oneself down. It is used after “avant de” when describing an action that should wait.

Remplissez “Remplissez” tells the visitor to fill out something. In “Remplissez d'abord ce formulaire”, it is a polite instruction to complete the form. It is used directly with the object being completed.

d'abord “d'abord” means first and shows that filling out the form is the first step. It comes before the next instruction, “Puis donnez-le à l'accueil”. It is useful for ordering actions.

ce “ce” means this in “ce formulaire” and points to the particular form being given to the visitor. It appears directly before “formulaire”. The pattern “ce” plus a noun identifies a specific item near the conversation.

formulaire “formulaire” means form in “ce formulaire”. It is the document the visitor must complete and then give to reception. It is used after a determiner such as “ce”.

Puis “Puis” means then and introduces the action that follows filling out the form. In “Puis donnez-le à l'accueil”, it makes the order of the instructions clear. It is useful for linking consecutive actions.

donnez-le “donnez-le” means hand it over or give it, with “le” referring to “ce formulaire”. The form combines the instruction to give with the object pronoun for the document. In “donnez-le à l'accueil”, the recipient follows “à”.

quelqu'un “quelqu'un” means someone and is the person who may call the visitor. In “Est-ce que quelqu'un m'appellera”, it functions as the unspecified caller. It is useful when the person is unknown or not important to identify.

m'appellera “m'appellera” means will call me in “quelqu'un m'appellera”. The “m'” refers to the visitor, and “appellera” expresses the future call. It is used when asking whether someone will contact the speaker.

quand “quand” means when and introduces the time of the call in “quand ce sera mon tour”. It connects the expected call with the moment the visitor’s turn arrives. It is used before a clause describing the relevant time.

mon “mon” means my in “mon tour”. It identifies the turn as belonging to the speaker. It appears directly before the noun whose turn is being discussed.

tour “tour” means turn in “ce sera mon tour”. The expression refers to the moment when the visitor is next to be seen. “Mon tour” is a reusable way to talk about one’s turn.

Une “Une” means a or one before “infirmière” in “Une infirmière”. It introduces one nurse without identifying a particular nurse beforehand. It is used directly before the noun.

infirmière “infirmière” means nurse and is the person expected to call the visitor. In “Une infirmière devrait bientôt vous appeler”, it is the subject of the expected action. It can be used after “une” when referring to a nurse.

devrait “devrait” expresses what is expected or should happen in “Une infirmière devrait bientôt vous appeler”. It makes the statement less definite than a direct promise. It is followed here by the infinitive phrase “vous appeler”.

bientôt “bientôt” means soon or shortly and says that the nurse’s call is expected in a short time. In “devrait bientôt vous appeler”, it modifies the timing of the call. It is useful for referring to an event expected in the near future.

vous “vous” means you and refers to the visitor receiving the call in “vous appeler”. It is the person affected by the action. In this clinic conversation, it suits a formal address to one visitor or an address to several people.

appeler “appeler” means call in “vous appeler”. It is the infinitive that follows “devrait” and names the nurse’s expected action. It can be used with a person as the object, as in “vous appeler”.

garder “garder” means keep or hold on to in “je dois garder ma carte d'assurance”. It names the action the visitor may need to perform with the insurance card. It follows “je dois” when expressing the need to keep something ready.

ma “ma” means my in “ma carte d'assurance”. It identifies the insurance card as belonging to the speaker. It appears directly before “carte”.

carte “carte” means card in “ma carte d'assurance”. It names the document the visitor is asked to keep ready. It is followed by “d'assurance” to specify the type of card.

d'assurance “d'assurance” specifies that the card is for insurance in “ma carte d'assurance”. The form combines “de” with “assurance” because the next word begins with a vowel. It is used after “carte” to identify the card’s purpose.

à portée de main “à portée de main” means within reach or handy, and the whole expression says that the card should be easy to access. In the expression, “à” marks a position, “portée” gives the idea of reach, “de” links that idea to “main”, and “main” means hand. This phrase is useful for saying that something should be kept ready to use.

Gardez-la “Gardez-la” means keep it, referring to the insurance card. “Gardez” gives the instruction to keep something, and “la” refers back to the feminine noun “carte”. In “Gardez-la à portée de main”, it tells the visitor to keep the card handy.

si “si” means if and introduces the condition “si l'accueil en a encore besoin”. It explains the reason for keeping the card within reach. It is used before a clause describing a possible condition.

en “en” refers to the insurance card in “l'accueil en a encore besoin”, so the reception desk needs it again. It avoids repeating the noun after the expression “avoir besoin”. With “besoin”, it represents the item that is needed.

a “a” is the form of “avoir” used in “en a encore besoin”. Together with “besoin”, “a besoin” expresses that the reception desk needs something. The reusable construction is “avoir besoin de” followed by the thing that is needed.

encore “encore” means again here and indicates that the reception desk may need the card one more time. In “en a encore besoin”, it modifies the possible need. It is useful when an action or need is repeated.

besoin “besoin” means need in “en a encore besoin”. It appears in the construction “avoir besoin de”, which expresses needing something; here, “en” stands for the card. This construction is reusable with a different object when describing what someone needs.

Grammar Points

avant de + infinitif

Avant de m'inscrire, je dois m'asseoir.

ah-VAHN duh mahn-SKREER, zhuh DWAH mah-SWAHR.

Before checking in, I have to sit down.

Use avant de before an infinitive to express an action that happens earlier.

Impératif affirmatif + pronom objet : verbe-pronom

Gardez-la à portée de main.

gar-DAY-lah ah por-TAY duh MAN.

Keep it within reach.

In the affirmative imperative, the object pronoun follows the verb and is joined with a hyphen: gardez-la.

French Vocabulary

accueil noun

ah-KUH-y reception desk

devant l'accueil

avant de prep

ah-VAHN duh before

avant de m'asseoir

devant prep

duh-VAHN in front of; past

devant l'accueil

devoir verb

duh-VWAHR to have to; must dois

Est-ce que je dois m'inscrire

être verb

EH-truh to be sera

Elle sera à votre gauche

Excusez-moi phrase

ehk-skew-ZAY-MWAH Excuse me

Excusez-moi, où est la salle d'attente ?

gauche noun

GOHSH left

à votre gauche

où adv

OO where

où est la salle d'attente

passer verb

pah-SAY to go past Passez

Passez devant l'accueil

s'asseoir verb

ah-SWAHR to sit down m'asseoir

avant de m'asseoir

s'inscrire verb

sahn-SKREER to check in; to register m'inscrire

je dois m'inscrire

salle d'attente noun

SAHL dah-TAHNT waiting room

la salle d'attente

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Go past the front desk.

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Passez devant l'accueil.

It will be on your left.

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Elle sera à votre gauche.

Fill out this form first.

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Remplissez d'abord ce formulaire.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

in front of; past

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devant

reception desk

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accueil

left

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gauche

to go past

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Passez