faire la queue
/fɛʁ la kø/
The English phrase 'line up' is translated into French as faire la queue.
Meaning: get into a line (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is literally composed of the verb faire (to do/make) and la queue (the tail/queue).
Which one should you use?
While faire la queue means to stand in a line (waiting for service), se mettre en ligne is used more for physically arranging objects or people in a straight line.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, Canada, 'line up' may be expressed as Faire une file or Faire la file.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous action of currently standing in a line, you use the present tense: Je fais la queue.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛʁ la kø/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, la queue can be a slang term for a person's backside. This makes the phrase faire la queue potentially ambiguous or humorous in very informal settings.
- The term queue shares a common ancestor with the musical term 'coda', which refers to a concluding passage in a piece of music.
- In a professional or formal setting, instead of faire la queue, you might see a sign asking people to patienter, which means 'to be patient'.
Examples in context
- Les élèves doivent faire la queue devant la salle de classe.The students must line up in front of the classroom.
- Je vous demande de former une file devant le guichet.I ask you to form a line in front of the counter.
- Les soldats doivent se mettre en rang devant le capitaine.The soldiers must line up in front of the captain.
- Les enfants, formez une rangée pour marcher dans la cour.Kids, line up to walk in the yard.
- Nous devons faire une file d'attente pour acheter les billets.We need to line up to buy the tickets.
- On fait une file pour entrer dans le cinéma.We line up to enter the movie theater.
- Il faut faire la queue pour le pain.You have to line up for the bread.
- Les clients doivent faire la queue ici.The customers must line up here.
- Nous allons faire la queue devant le cinéma.We are going to line up in front of the cinema.
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are standing in front of a busy bakery.
- HugoEmma, nous devons faire la queue.Emma, we have to line up.
- EmmaD'accord, l'attente semble longue.Okay, the wait seems long.
- HugoMais le pain est très bon.But the bread is very good.
- EmmaTu as raison, pressons-nous !You are right, let's hurry!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “line up” translations and entries faire la queue, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, la, queue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
