Which one should you use?
While voyage refers to the overall trip or the experience of traveling, the word trajet is used when you want to refer to the specific route or the distance traveled between two points. For a casual or spontaneous road trip, the informal word virée is more appropriate.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the noun voyage is voyages. Related to this noun is the verb voyager, which means to travel or to make a trip.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /vwa.jaʒ/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use voyage to describe a very short trip or a daily commute. In French, voyage usually implies a longer, more significant journey or a vacation.
When do people say it?
It is a standard and idiomatic custom to say Bon voyage ! to wish someone a good journey as they depart.
Did you know?
- The word viatique is a doublet of voyage, originally meaning money for a traveler's journey before becoming a term for the Eucharist given to the dying.
- While English uses 'trip' to mean both a vacation and a physical stumble, the French voyage is never used for falling, which is instead une chute.
- In French, the word voyage can be used in the phrase voyage au bout de la nuit, a reference to a famous novel by Louis-Ferdinand Céline that uses 'journey' as a metaphor for a descent into despair.
Examples in context
- Fais bon voyage !Have a safe journey.This sentence is useful for learning how to wish someone a safe journey using voyage.Tatoeba #1763116 by sacredceltic, translation #1750162 by Spamster
- Le voyage l'a épuisé.He was exhausted by the journey.This sentence shows how the word voyage can be the subject of a sentence.Tatoeba #3631698 by sacredceltic, translation #10589285 by sundown
- Le voyage a été long ?Long journey?This sentence uses voyage in a short question about the length of a journey.Tatoeba #8090762 by Micsmithel, translation #1152120 by cntrational
- Mon dernier voyage en France était très agréable.My last journey to France was very enjoyable.
- Le déplacement à Paris est nécessaire pour la réunion.The journey to Paris is necessary for the meeting.
- Notre excursion au château de Versailles était fascinante.Our journey to the Palace of Versailles was fascinating.
- On a décidé de faire une virée à la plage ce weekend.We decided to go on a beach trip this weekend.
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are talking about a recent vacation.
- LucasTon voyage au Japon était comment ?How was your trip to Japan?
- ManonC'était le voyage de ma vie !It was the trip of a lifetime!
- LucasTu as fait un long voyage en avion ?Did you have a long flight?
- ManonOui, le voyage a duré douze heures.Yes, the journey lasted twelve hours.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “journey” translations and entries voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
