14/07/2026
π«π· Joyeux Bastille Day! Did you know your driving lessons are more French than you think? π«π·π
Today, 14th July, France celebrates Bastille Day - and here in Peterborough, we have a very special connection to France! Our city has been twinned with Bourges, France π«π· since 1957, and we even have a Bourges Boulevard running right through the city centre!
And if you look closely at the photoβ¦ even my teaching car is French - a Renault Clio! ππ«π· Two French connections in one shot! π
But the French connection doesnβt stop thereβ¦ so many of the words we use every day when driving actually come straight from France! π«π·
π Garage - straight from French, garage (to shelter or store). Where your car lives!
π Bonnet - from French bonnet, a type of hat. Pop it open and youβll see why!
π¨ββοΈ Chauffeur - from chauffer, meaning to heat or drive. Originally the person who stoked the engine!
ποΈ CoupΓ© - a French word for a car with a fixed roof and sloping rear. Still used today for sporty two-door cars.
β½οΈ Carburettor - from the French carburateur. The part that mixes air and fuel.
π£οΈ Camber - from the French cambrΓ©, meaning curved. That slight curve on the road surface that helps drainage.
β οΈ Chevron - the V-shaped road markings warning of sharp bends. Pure French!
π Depot - from French dΓ©pΓ΄t, where vehicles are stored or maintained.
ποΈ Terrain - as in all-terrain vehicle. Straight from the French for land or ground.
πΊοΈ En route - still used in fully French form! βWeβre en route to the test centre!β π
ποΈ Cul-de-sac - literally French for βbottom of the bag.β A dead end road - and a three-point turn opportunity!
π³ Boulevard - a wide tree-lined road. And yes, we have one right here named after our French twin town!
πππ Queue - we British love a good queue, and the word is entirely French!
π§ Detour - straight from the French for a change of direction. Weβve all been on one!
π¦Route - from the French route, meaning road or way. We use it every day when planning a journey!
So next time you're driving along Bourges Boulevard, or stopped at the louvre traffic lights near the train station (those are the ones with the angled slats that control exactly which drivers can see the signal, and yes, louvre is French too! π«π·), you're surrounded by French connections without even realising it. Peterborough has more links to France than you might think, and many of them are hiding in plain sight! π«π·ππ¦
How many of these French driving words did you already know? And can you think of any others? Drop them in the comments! ππ«π·
Ready to start your driving journey in Peterborough? Book your lessons today at ipassedwithjames.co.uk