French Phrase
Ce panneau veut dire 'sortie'.
Meaning
Literally, 'This sign means "exit".' It tells the listener that the sign they are looking at indicates the way out of a building or area.
When to use
Use this sentence when you point out a sign that tells people where the exit is—e.g., in a mall, airport, theater, or any public place with directional signage.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cepanneauveutdire'sortie'
Ce (demonstrative adjective)
Used before a masculine singular noun to mean 'this' or 'that'.
panneau (noun)
A masculine noun meaning 'sign' or 'board'.
veut dire (verb phrase)
Literally 'wants to say', the idiomatic way to say 'means' (vouloir + infinitive dire).
Quotes around sortie
The word being defined is placed in quotation marks to show it is the literal text on the sign.
🗨In Conversation
Ce panneau veut dire 'sortie' ?
Does this sign mean 'exit'?
Oui, c’est la sortie de secours.
Yes, it’s the emergency exit.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est panneau veut dire 'sortie'.
Use 'Ce panneau' (demonstrative adjective) not 'c'est' which means 'it is'.
Ce panneau veut dire sortie.
The word being defined should be in quotes; otherwise the sentence sounds incomplete.
Ce panneau dire 'sortie'.
While understandable, the idiomatic phrase is 'veut dire' not just 'dire'.
↔Alternatives
Ce panneau indique 'sortie'.
This sign indicates 'exit'.
Ce panneau signifie 'sortie'.
This sign signifies 'exit'.
Ce panneau montre la sortie.
This sign shows the exit.
Cultural Tip
In French public spaces, the word 'sortie' is the standard label for an exit sign, often accompanied by a green arrow. For emergency exits you’ll see 'sortie de secours' or a red 'EXIT' sign. The phrase 'Ce panneau veut dire…' is informal; in formal announcements you might hear 'Ce panneau indique…'.