French à or en? A practical guide to places, transport, and time
Learn when to use à or en in French for cities, countries, transport, and time. Includes de/au/aux, exceptions, and a dialogue with staff.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
French uses à and en in patterns that often do not match English. This lesson teaches the core rules for places, transport, and time, with exceptions and related forms like de, au, and aux. You will practice asking questions and giving answers accurately.
By the end, you can…
- choose between à and en for cities, countries, and regions.
- talk about transport and time using à, en, and related prepositions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Je vais à Paris.
I am going to Paris.
zhuh vay ah pah-REE
Use à with cities and specific places. Paris is a city, so à is correct.
Je vais en France.
I am going to France.
zhuh vay ahn FRAHNS
Use en with feminine countries and most countries ending in -e. France is feminine.
Je vais au Canada.
I am going to Canada.
zhuh vay oh kah-nah-DAH
Au works with masculine country names beginning with a consonant, such as Canada. Masculine countries beginning with a vowel generally use en, as in en Iran.
Je voyage en train.
I travel by train.
zhuh vwah-YAHZH ahn tran
Use en for most modes of transport, except à pied (on foot) and à vélo (by bike).
Le train part à huit heures.
The train leaves at eight o'clock.
luh tran par ah wee TUHR
Use à for clock times. For 'in the morning', say le matin; for 'in the afternoon', l'après-midi.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For destinations, use à + city, en + feminine country, au + masculine country beginning with a consonant, and aux + plural countries. Examples: Je vais à Lyon. Je vais en Italie. Je vais au Japon. Je vais aux États-Unis. For transport, use en + vehicle (en voiture, en bus, en avion), but à pied and à vélo. For time, use à + clock time (à midi, à 14h), but en + month and many seasons (en mai, en été), but au printemps.
When to use it
Use à for cities and precise locations: à la gare, à la maison. Use en for feminine countries and regions: en France, en Bretagne. Use au for masculine countries beginning with a consonant: au Portugal; before a vowel, use en, as in en Iran. Use aux for plural countries: aux Pays-Bas. For transport, en is the default, but à is used with pied and vélo. For time, à is for clock times, en for months and many seasons, with au printemps as an exception, and dans for 'in' a duration (dans deux heures).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je voudrais aller à la gare. C'est loin ?
Hello, I would like to go to the train station. Is it far?bohn-ZHOOR, zhuh voo-DREH ah-LAY ah lah gar. seh lwan?Non, c'est à dix minutes à pied. Vous y allez en bus ou à pied ?
No, it's ten minutes on foot. Are you going by bus or on foot?nohn, seh tah dee mee-NOOT ah pyay. voo zee ah-LAY ahn bewss oo ah pyay?Je vais y aller à pied. Et le train pour Lyon part à quelle heure ?
I will go on foot. And the train to Lyon leaves at what time?zhuh vay zee ah-LAY ah pyay. eh luh tran poor lee-OHN par ah kel UHR?Il part à quinze heures. Vous voyagez en première ou en seconde ?
It leaves at 3 PM. Are you traveling in first or second class?eel par ah kanz UHR. voo vwah-yah-ZHAY ahn pruh-MYAIR oo ahn suh-GOHND?A little context goes a long way
In France, train schedules use the 24-hour clock, so 'quinze heures' means 3 PM. When asking staff, 'à quelle heure' is standard. For countries, gender is not always predictable; check a dictionary. In Quebec, 'à pied' and 'en bus' are also used, but 'en auto' is common for 'by car' instead of 'en voiture'.
One thing to watch for
Using 'à' with feminine countries, e.g., 'Je vais à France.'
Try this instead: Use 'en' with feminine countries: 'Je vais en France.' Use 'au' for masculine countries: 'Je vais au Canada.' Masculine countries beginning with a vowel generally take en: en Iran. Plural names commonly take aux, as in aux États-Unis.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Complete: Je vais ___ Italie.
Show a sample answer
en
Italie is feminine, so use en. 'Je vais en Italie.'
2Complete: Nous voyageons ___ avion.
Show a sample answer
en
For transport, en is used with avion. 'Nous voyageons en avion.'
3Complete: Le film commence ___ 20 heures.
Show a sample answer
à
For clock times, use à. 'Le film commence à 20 heures.'
Remember: à for cities and clock times, en for feminine countries and transport, au for masculine countries, aux for plural countries. Exceptions include à pied and à vélo.
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