French Prepositions for Places: À, En, Au, and Dans
Updated on 2024-12-05
Understanding Place Prepositions
French uses specific prepositions to indicate location and movement. The choice depends on the place's gender, whether it's a city, country, or type of location.
À - Basic Location
Used for cities and specific places
Cities
- "J'habite à Paris" (I live in Paris)
- Cities always use 'à', regardless of size
- "Elle va à Londres" (She's going to London)
- Movement toward cities also uses 'à'
Specific Places
- "Je suis à la banque" (I am at the bank)
- Used for specific establishments
- "Il travaille à l'hôpital" (He works at the hospital)
- Used with definite articles
En - Countries and Regions
Used with feminine countries and regions
Feminine Countries
- "J'habite en France" (I live in France)
- France is feminine, so uses 'en'
- "Elle voyage en Italie" (She travels to Italy)
- Works for both location and movement
Regions
- "Nous sommes en Bretagne" (We are in Brittany)
- French regions use 'en'
- "Ils vivent en Normandie" (They live in Normandy)
- Applies to most geographical regions
Au/Aux - Masculine Countries
Au (singular) and aux (plural) for masculine countries
Masculine Countries
- "Je vais au Portugal" (I'm going to Portugal)
- Portugal is masculine, uses 'au'
- "Ils sont aux États-Unis" (They are in the United States)
- Plural countries use 'aux'
Dans - Inside Places
Used to specify being inside something
Indoor Locations
- "Le livre est dans le sac" (The book is in the bag)
- Indicates something is inside
- "Elle est dans sa chambre" (She is in her room)
- Used for enclosed spaces
Common Patterns to Remember
Buildings and Places
- à l'école (at school)
- au restaurant (at the restaurant)
- à la maison (at home)
- au cinéma (at the movies)
Countries and Continents
- en Asie (in Asia)
- au Canada (in Canada)
- aux Pays-Bas (in the Netherlands)
- en Allemagne (in Germany)
Important Tips
- Check the gender of countries before choosing prepositions
- Cities always use 'à'
- Most feminine countries use 'en'
- Masculine countries use 'au'
- Plural countries use 'aux'
These rules are consistent but require attention to gender and type of location. Practice with places you commonly discuss.