Climbing Basics
Learn Before You Go
Essential commands, knot steps, gear reference, and the French phrases you need at the crag.
Climbing Commands
On belay?
On belay?
Belay on.
Belay on.
Climbing?
Climbing?
Climb on.
Climb on.
Slack!
Slack!
Take!
Take!
Watch me!
Watch me!
Falling!
Falling!
Off belay.
Off belay.
Safe.
Safe.
Rock!
Rock!
Lower me.
Lower me.
Figure-Eight Follow-Through
The standard tie-in knot for sport and multi-pitch climbing.
Thread the rope through both loops of your harness.
Make a loop — leaving about 60 cm of rope free.
Pass the free end through the loop once.
Pass it through the loop a second time — forming a figure eight.
Retrace the eight through both harness loops exactly.
Dress the knot — all strands parallel, no twists.
Leave a tail of at least 10 cm below the knot.
Partner check: trace the knot — if it looks wrong, redo it.
Gear Reference
Harness
Worn around hips and legs — connects you to the rope.
Carabiner
A metal loop with a spring gate for connecting equipment.
Rope
Dynamic rope — absorbs the shock of a fall.
Belay Device
Controls rope friction for belaying and rappelling.
Quickdraw
Two carabiners connected by a sling — clips rope to bolts.
Chalk Bag
Holds chalk to dry sweaty hands for better grip.
Climbing Shoes
Tight-fitting shoes with sticky rubber soles for friction on rock.
Helmet
Protects your head from rockfall and impact.
French Phrases at the Crag
Climbers in France generally speak English at international crags, but local guide services and campsite staff may not. These phrases help.
Where is the crag?
Where is the crag?
How long is the approach?
How long is the approach?
Is this route bolted?
Is this route bolted?
Can I rent gear here?
Can I rent gear here?
Where can I buy chalk?
Where can I buy chalk?
Is there a local guide available?
Is there a local guide available?
What is the grade of this route?
What is the grade of this route?
Are the bolts safe?
Are the bolts safe?
Is there shade in the afternoon?
Is there shade in the afternoon?
We need to descend before dark.
We need to descend before dark.
Language Training
Want to go deeper on French?
LinguaLens has a climbing-specific French module with spaced repetition, listening drills, and crag vocabulary.
Try LinguaLens →