French Phrase
Repère les sorties de secours et les alarmes.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction telling someone to identify or point out the emergency exits and the alarm devices in a building. It uses the imperative form of the verb *repérer* (to locate, to spot) and links two safety elements with the conjunction *et*.
When to use
You would use this phrase during a safety briefing, a fire drill, or when giving a tour of a public venue (airport, theater, school) in French. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, though the tone can be softened with *s'il te plaît* or *s'il vous plaît* if needed.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Repèrelessortiesdesecoursetlesalarmes.
Imperative (Repère)
Repère is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *repérer*. The final *‑s* is kept because the verb is followed by a direct object pronoun (here the noun phrase *les sorties…*).
Definite article (les)
Les is the plural definite article used before both *sorties* and *alarmes*.
Noun (sorties de secours)
*Sorties* means “exits”. The complement *de secours* specifies that they are emergency exits.
Preposition (de)
*De* links the noun *sorties* with the noun *secours* to form a compound noun.
Conjunction (et)
*Et* simply joins the two safety elements: exits and alarms.
Noun (alarmes)
*Alarmes* refers to the audible or visual alarm devices.
🗨In Conversation
Repère les sorties de secours et les alarmes, s'il te plaît.
Please locate the emergency exits and the alarms.
D'accord, je les note tout de suite.
Okay, I’ll note them right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Repère les sortie de secours et les alarmes.
The noun *sortie* must be plural (*sorties*) to match the plural article *les*.
Repère les sorties du secours et les alarmes.
The correct preposition is *de* (of), not *du* (de le).
Repère les sorties de secours et alarme.
Both nouns need the plural article *les*; *alarme* should be *les alarmes*.
↔Alternatives
Identifie les issues de secours et les alarmes.
Identify the emergency exits and the alarms.
Trouve les sorties d'urgence et les alarmes.
Find the emergency exits and the alarms.
Localise les sorties de secours ainsi que les alarmes.
Locate the emergency exits as well as the alarms.
Cultural Tip
In France, emergency signage follows strict EU standards: green exit signs with a white running figure, and red alarm symbols with a bell or flashing light. When giving instructions in a professional setting, it’s polite to add *s'il vous plaît* (formal) or *s'il te plaît* (informal). Also, French workplaces often require a brief safety walk‑through before an event, so this phrase is a staple in corporate French training.