Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| stationner en créneau | |
| stationner en parallèle | Canada |
This phrase describes the action of parking a vehicle in line with other vehicles.
What does it mean word for word?
The component en créneau literally means "in a slot" or "in a bay", which refers to the specific space between two cars where you are parking.
Which one should you use?
While stationner en créneau is the standard formal way to express the action, you may also encounter faire un créneau in casual conversation, which functions as a noun phrase meaning "to do a slot/bay".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canada, it is common to use stationner en parallèle. In France, the expression faire un créneau is commonly used to describe the action of performing a parallel park.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb stationner is provided here in its infinitive form. When used in a sentence, it conjugates like a regular '-er' verb, such as je stationne or tu stationnes.
Did you know?
- The term créneau is the same word used to describe the battlements or 'merlons' on top of a castle wall. It describes the rectangular gaps left between the stone teeth of a fortification.
- The term créneau is also used in French to describe a 'time slot' in a schedule. This uses the same logic of fitting something into a narrow available gap.
- The word stationner is a more formal way to speak than simply saying se garer. While 'se garer' is the everyday term for parking, 'stationner' is the preferred term for official driving manuals and signage.
Examples in context
- Je vais stationner en créneau derrière la voiture bleue.I am going to parallel park behind the blue car.
- Je dois stationner en créneau pour la première fois.I have to parallel park for the first time.
- Il est difficile de stationner en créneau ici.It is difficult to parallel park here.
- Tu peux stationner en créneau dans cette rue.You can parallel park in this street.
Example conversation
Chloé is teaching Nathan how to park his car.
- ChloéNathan, tu dois stationner en créneau dans cette place.Nathan, you have to parallel park in this spot.
- NathanC'est compliqué, je ne réussis pas.It's complicated, I'm not succeeding.
- ChloéNe t'inquiète pas, essaie encore une fois.Don't worry, try once more.
- NathanD'accord, je vais essayer de stationner en créneau.Okay, I will try to parallel park.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “parallel park” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
