flight Audio dialogues
Dialogue at Cotonou airport in Fon
Landing in Benin without speaking Fon is possible — but slipping a few words to the immigration officer or the taxi driver changes everything. Here is a complete dialogue at Cotonou airport.
Arrival and passport control
As soon as you step off the plane at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin Airport, you go through passport control. Here are the typical exchanges in Fon:
Baggage claim
Once through passport control, head for the baggage carousel. Useful phrases:
Exit and taxi to Cotonou
At the exit, taxi drivers will approach you. Bargaining is often done in French or Fon. Use these phrases so you don’t come across as a lost “yovó”:
Taxi tip
ALWAYS negotiate before getting in. A Cotonou-airport fare of 5000-8000 FCFA is standard. Anything more is the “yovó price” — the price reserved for foreigners who don’t speak the language.
First steps in Benin
A few well-placed phrases at the airport transform your welcome: you go from anonymous foreigner to respectful visitor. And people notice right away — you’ll see it in the smiles you get back.
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- Getting started in Fon: the 4-step method — tones, first words, resources
- The Fon video course: see the program — 79 lessons with a native speaker from Cotonou, taught in French
- What is your Fon level? — the free 15-question test