Looking up...
à bord
/a bɔʁ/
on board
Tous les passagers sont à bord.
All passengers are on board.
neutral
on or onto a ship, plane, or other vehicle
Le capitaine a ordonné à l'équipage de se préparer à l'appareillage une fois que tout le monde était à bord.
The captain ordered the crew to prepare for departure once everyone was on board.
Les passagers doivent être à bord 30 minutes avant le décollage.
Passengers must be on board 30 minutes before takeoff.
Commonly used in transportation contexts (ships, planes, trains). Can also refer to being part of a team or group.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Avoid using 'à bord' for land vehicles like cars or buses unless in a figurative sense. Use 'dans la voiture' or 'dans le bus' instead.
Gold Rule
Transport Context
Use 'à bord' for ships, planes, and trains. For cars or buses, use 'dans' (e.g., 'dans la voiture').
Word Origin
From Old French 'a' (to) + 'bord' (ship's side, edge). Originally referred to the side of a ship, later extended to mean 'on board'.
Usage Notes
Used literally for vehicles. Can also metaphorically refer to joining a group or project (e.g., 'Il est à bord du projet depuis le début').
Word Breakdown
à
to/at
prepositionbord
ship's side/edge/board
nounDictionnaire Français-Anglais