Learning how to express common words in French is a fun way to begin understanding the language. One of the most useful words you will encounter is “at.” It’s simple but plays a big role in daily conversations. From talking about where you are to describing locations, “at” is a word you’ll use often.
In this article, we’ll explore how to say “at” in French. We will cover its pronunciation, alternative words, and phrases to express the same idea. You will also find examples, responses, and a short exercise to help you practice using “at” like a natural French speaker. Let’s dive in and make this learning easy and enjoyable!
Ways to Say “At” in French
When learning French, mastering the use of “at” is essential since it helps describe places, times, and events. The word “at” in French can translate to several terms depending on the context. Below are some common ways to say “at,” with examples to make your learning easier.
1. À
Pronunciation: ah
Meaning: Used to indicate a specific location, time, or direction.
In a Sentence:
- Je suis à l’école. (I am at school.)
- Nous serons à la réunion à midi. (We will be at the meeting at noon.)
2. Chez
Pronunciation: shay
Meaning: At someone’s house or a specific establishment.
In a Sentence:
- Je suis chez moi. (I am at home.)
- Ils sont chez le médecin. (They are at the doctor’s office.)
3. Sur
Pronunciation: soor
Meaning: On or at a surface.
In a Sentence:
- Le livre est sur la table. (The book is on the table.)
- Elle est sur le balcon. (She is on the balcony.)
4. Dans
Pronunciation: dahn
Meaning: In or at an enclosed space.
In a Sentence:
- Il est dans sa chambre. (He is in his room.)
- Nous sommes dans le parc. (We are at the park.)
5. Au
Pronunciation: oh
Meaning: A contraction of “à + le,” used with masculine nouns.
In a Sentence:
- Il est au marché. (He is at the market.)
- Nous sommes au restaurant. (We are at the restaurant.)
6. Aux
Pronunciation: oh
Meaning: A contraction of “à + les,” used with plural nouns.
In a Sentence:
- Elle est aux États-Unis. (She is in the United States.)
- Ils sont aux archives. (They are at the archives.)
7. Devant
Pronunciation: duh-vahn
Meaning: At the front of or in front of.
In a Sentence:
- Il est devant la porte. (He is at the door.)
- Je suis devant le cinéma. (I am in front of the cinema.)
8. Derrière
Pronunciation: deh-ree-air
Meaning: At the back of or behind.
In a Sentence:
- Le chat est derrière la maison. (The cat is behind the house.)
- Ils se tiennent derrière l’arbre. (They are standing behind the tree.)
9. Près de
Pronunciation: pray duh
Meaning: Near or at a close distance to.
In a Sentence:
- La boulangerie est près de l’école. (The bakery is near the school.)
- Nous habitons près de la rivière. (We live near the river.)
10. À côté de
Pronunciation: ah koh-tay duh
Meaning: Next to or beside.
In a Sentence:
- La voiture est à côté de la maison. (The car is next to the house.)
- Elle est à côté de son frère. (She is beside her brother.)
11. En face de
Pronunciation: ahn fahs duh
Meaning: Opposite or across from.
In a Sentence:
- Le café est en face de l’église. (The café is opposite the church.)
- Ils sont en face du magasin. (They are across from the shop.)
12. Sur le côté
Pronunciation: soor luh koh-tay
Meaning: On the side or at the side.
In a Sentence:
- La chaise est sur le côté. (The chair is on the side.)
- Le sac est sur le côté de la table. (The bag is on the side of the table.)
13. Au-dessus de
Pronunciation: oh duh-soo duh
Meaning: Above or at a higher position than.
In a Sentence:
- L’avion est au-dessus de la ville. (The plane is above the city.)
- La lampe est au-dessus du lit. (The lamp is above the bed.)
14. Au-dessous de
Pronunciation: oh duh-soo duh
Meaning: Below or at a lower position than.
In a Sentence:
- Le tableau est au-dessous de la fenêtre. (The painting is below the window.)
- Il est au-dessous du pont. (He is below the bridge.)
15. En haut
Pronunciation: ahn oh
Meaning: At the top.
In a Sentence:
- La chambre est en haut de l’escalier. (The room is at the top of the stairs.)
- Il y a une vue magnifique en haut de la colline. (There is a beautiful view at the top of the hill.)
16. En bas
Pronunciation: ahn bah
Meaning: At the bottom.
In a Sentence:
- La cuisine est en bas. (The kitchen is at the bottom.)
- Il y a un jardin en bas de l’immeuble. (There is a garden at the bottom of the building.)
17. À l’intérieur
Pronunciation: ah lahn-tear-ee-uhr
Meaning: Inside or at the interior of.
In a Sentence:
- Elle est à l’intérieur de la maison. (She is inside the house.)
- Les fleurs sont à l’intérieur du vase. (The flowers are inside the vase.)
18. À l’extérieur
Pronunciation: ah lehks-tear-ee-uhr
Meaning: Outside or at the exterior of.
In a Sentence:
- Il est à l’extérieur de la salle. (He is outside the room.)
- Nous attendons à l’extérieur du bâtiment. (We are waiting outside the building.)
19. En plein air
Pronunciation: ahn plehn air
Meaning: Outdoors or at the open air.
In a Sentence:
- Ils mangent en plein air. (They are eating outdoors.)
- Nous aimons jouer en plein air. (We love playing outdoors.)
20. Sur place
Pronunciation: soor plahs
Meaning: On-site or at the place.
In a Sentence:
- Les billets sont disponibles sur place. (Tickets are available on-site.)
- Il faut attendre sur place. (You need to wait at the place.)
21. Au bord de
Pronunciation: oh bord duh
Meaning: At the edge of or by.
In a Sentence:
- Il est assis au bord de la rivière. (He is sitting by the river.)
- Nous sommes au bord de la plage. (We are at the edge of the beach.)
22. Entre
Pronunciation: ahn-truh
Meaning: Between or among.
In a Sentence:
- Il est entre les deux bâtiments. (He is between the two buildings.)
- La chaise est entre la table et le mur. (The chair is between the table and the wall.)
23. Au centre de
Pronunciation: oh san-truh duh
Meaning: At the center of or in the middle of.
In a Sentence:
- La fontaine est au centre de la place. (The fountain is at the center of the square.)
- Ils habitent au centre de la ville. (They live in the center of the city.)
24. Vers
Pronunciation: vehr
Meaning: Toward or at a direction.
In a Sentence:
- Elle court vers la maison. (She is running toward the house.)
- Nous allons vers la montagne. (We are heading toward the mountain.)
25. Contre
Pronunciation: kohn-truh
Meaning: Against or at a surface.
In a Sentence:
- Il est appuyé contre le mur. (He is leaning against the wall.)
- Le vélo est contre l’arbre. (The bike is against the tree.)
26. À la porte
Pronunciation: ah lah port
Meaning: At the door.
In a Sentence:
- Il y a quelqu’un à la porte. (There is someone at the door.)
- Je t’attends à la porte. (I’m waiting for you at the door.)
27. À l’entrée de
Pronunciation: ah lah(n)-tray duh
Meaning: At the entrance of.
In a Sentence:
- Nous sommes à l’entrée du musée. (We are at the entrance of the museum.)
- Il y a un guide à l’entrée de la grotte. (There is a guide at the entrance of the cave.)
Other Ways to Say “At” in French
Here are some alternative expressions for “at” in French. Each one is tailored to specific situations, helping you use the right word for the right context.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Près de | pray duh | Near or close to | La pharmacie est près de l’école. (The pharmacy is near the school.) |
| À proximité de | ah prok-see-mee-tay duh | Close by or nearby | Il y a une boulangerie à proximité de chez moi. (There is a bakery near my house.) |
| Autour de | oh-toor duh | Around | Les enfants jouent autour de la maison. (The children are playing around the house.) |
| Sur place | soor plahs | On-site | Vous pouvez acheter vos billets sur place. (You can buy your tickets on-site.) |
| En face de | ahn fahs duh | Opposite or across from | L’hôtel est en face de la gare. (The hotel is opposite the train station.) |
| À côté de | ah koh-tay duh | Beside or next to | Le parc est à côté de l’école. (The park is next to the school.) |
| Au bord de | oh bord duh | At the edge of | Nous sommes au bord de la mer. (We are at the edge of the sea.) |
| Dans les environs de | dahn lay ahn-vee-rohn duh | In the vicinity of | Il habite dans les environs de Paris. (He lives in the vicinity of Paris.) |
| À l’angle de | ah lahng-luh duh | At the corner of | La boulangerie est à l’angle de la rue. (The bakery is at the corner of the street.) |
| Vers | vehr | Toward | Elle marche vers la maison. (She is walking toward the house.) |
| À destination de | ah des-tee-nah-see-ohn duh | Headed for or at the destination of | Ce train est à destination de Lyon. (This train is headed for Lyon.) |
| À partir de | ah par-teer duh | Starting from or at a starting point | Les ventes commencent à partir de demain. (Sales start from tomorrow.) |
Responses to “At” in French
When someone uses “at” in a French conversation, your response might depend on the context, whether it’s confirming, asking for clarification, or expressing agreement. Below are several ways you can respond naturally and appropriately.
1. Oui, je suis à l’heure.
Pronunciation: wee, zhuh swee ah luhr
Meaning: Yes, I’m on time.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu es à l’heure pour la réunion? (Are you on time for the meeting?)
- Person 2: Oui, je suis à l’heure. (Yes, I’m on time.)
2. Je suis déjà là.
Pronunciation: zhuh swee day-zhah lah
Meaning: I’m already there.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Es-tu arrivé à l’école? (Have you arrived at school?)
- Person 2: Je suis déjà là. (I’m already there.)
3. Je t’attends à la porte.
Pronunciation: zhuh tah-tahn ah lah port
Meaning: I’m waiting for you at the door.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Où es-tu? (Where are you?)
- Person 2: Je t’attends à la porte. (I’m waiting for you at the door.)
4. À quelle heure?
Pronunciation: ah kel uhr
Meaning: At what time?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Nous allons au cinéma ce soir. (We’re going to the cinema tonight.)
- Person 2: À quelle heure? (At what time?)
5. D’accord, à bientôt.
Pronunciation: dah-kor, ah bee-an-toh
Meaning: Okay, see you soon.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je suis à la bibliothèque maintenant. (I’m at the library now.)
- Person 2: D’accord, à bientôt. (Okay, see you soon.)
6. Je passerai chez toi.
Pronunciation: zhuh pah-suh-ray shay twah
Meaning: I’ll stop by your place.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Es-tu chez toi cet après-midi? (Are you at home this afternoon?)
- Person 2: Oui, je passerai chez toi. (Yes, I’ll stop by your place.)
7. Je serai là dans une heure.
Pronunciation: zhuh suh-ray lah dahn zun uhr
Meaning: I’ll be there in an hour.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu arrives bientôt? (Are you arriving soon?)
- Person 2: Je serai là dans une heure. (I’ll be there in an hour.)
8. Non, pas encore.
Pronunciation: nohn, pah ahn-kor
Meaning: No, not yet.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Es-tu déjà à l’aéroport? (Are you already at the airport?)
- Person 2: Non, pas encore. (No, not yet.)
9. C’est tout près.
Pronunciation: say too pray
Meaning: It’s very close.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Est-ce que le café est loin? (Is the café far?)
- Person 2: Non, c’est tout près. (No, it’s very close.)
10. Oui, j’y serai.
Pronunciation: wee, zhee suh-ray
Meaning: Yes, I’ll be there.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu seras à la réunion demain? (Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?)
- Person 2: Oui, j’y serai. (Yes, I’ll be there.)
11. À quel endroit exactement?
Pronunciation: ah kel ahn-dwrah eg-zakt-mahn
Meaning: At which exact location?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je te vois au parc. (I’ll see you at the park.)
- Person 2: À quel endroit exactement? (At which exact location?)
12. D’accord, je comprends.
Pronunciation: dah-kor, zhuh kohm-prah(n)
Meaning: Okay, I understand.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Le rendez-vous est à 10 heures, à l’entrée. (The meeting is at 10 o’clock, at the entrance.)
- Person 2: D’accord, je comprends. (Okay, I understand.)
Exercise to Practice Using “At” in French
Below are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises designed to help you practice using “at” in French. Each sentence reflects real-life situations, and the answer key is provided afterward.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Je t’attends ______ la porte. (I’m waiting for you at the door.)
- Nous sommes ______ l’école pour la réunion. (We are at the school for the meeting.)
- Les enfants jouent ______ la maison. (The children are playing around the house.)
- Il est déjà ______ chez moi. (He is already at my house.)
- La pharmacie est ______ côté de la banque. (The pharmacy is next to the bank.)
- Elle marche ______ le parc pour se détendre. (She is walking at the park to relax.)
- Nous sommes ______ l’entrée du musée. (We are at the entrance of the museum.)
- La fontaine est ______ centre de la place. (The fountain is at the center of the square.)
- Il y a une chaise ______ côté de la table. (There is a chair at the side of the table.)
- Nous attendons ______ plein air. (We are waiting outdoors.)
- L’avion vole ______-dessus de la ville. (The plane is flying above the city.)
- Je suis assis ______ bord de la rivière. (I’m sitting at the edge of the river.)
Answer Key
- à
- à
- autour de
- chez
- à
- vers
- à l’entrée de
- au
- sur le
- en
- au
- au
Conclusion
Learning how to say “at” in French opens the door to clear and accurate communication in everyday conversations. Whether you’re describing locations, times, or directions, mastering these terms helps you express yourself naturally and confidently.
By practicing the different ways to say “at” and using the provided exercises, you’ll become more comfortable incorporating these phrases into your French vocabulary. Keep practicing, and soon, using “at” in French will feel effortless. With dedication, you’ll navigate French conversations like a pro!