à

/a/
prepositionBeginner
formal

Indicates location or destination, equivalent to 'at' or 'in' in English.

Je vais à Paris.

I am going to Paris.

Elle habite à Lyon.

She lives in Lyon.

💡

Used to indicate a place or location where an action occurs or where someone is located.

formal

Used to indicate a time or deadline, equivalent to 'by' in English.

Rendez-vous à 10h.

Appointment at 10 AM.

Le projet doit être terminé à vendredi.

The project must be completed by Friday.

💡

Often used with specific times or dates to indicate a deadline or scheduled time.

formal

Used to indicate a price or cost, equivalent to 'at' in English.

Ce livre coûte 20 euros à la librairie.

This book costs 20 euros at the bookstore.

Le billet est à 50 euros.

The ticket is at 50 euros.

💡

Used to specify the price of an item or service.

Collocations

à la maisonat homeà l'écoleat schoolà piedon foot

Synonyms

Related Phrases

à condition quephrase
on the condition that
à moins quephrase
unless
à partphrase
apart

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

'À' is often used with the definite article 'le' or 'la' to form contractions like 'au' (à + le) and 'à la' (à + la).

Gold Rule

Contractions

Remember that 'à' contracts with the definite article to form 'au' (à + le) and 'à la' (à + la).

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'a', from Latin 'ad' meaning 'to' or 'toward'.

📝Usage Notes

The preposition 'à' is highly versatile and can indicate location, time, or price depending on context. It is one of the most common prepositions in French.

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais