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à
/a/
to, at, in
Je vais à Paris demain.
I'm going to Paris tomorrow.
general
Indicates direction or destination, similar to 'to' in English.
Elle va à l'école.
She goes to school.
Often used with verbs of movement like 'aller' (to go).
general
Indicates location, similar to 'at' or 'in' in English.
Il est à la maison.
He is at home.
Used with definite articles (le, la, les) or possessive pronouns.
general
Used with certain verbs to indicate a state or condition.
Je pense à toi.
I'm thinking of you.
Common with verbs like 'penser' (to think) and 's'intéresser' (to be interested in).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Direction vs. Location
Remember that 'à' is used for both direction (like 'to') and location (like 'at' or 'in'), depending on the verb and context.
Gold Rule
Verbs of Movement
With verbs like 'aller' (to go), 'à' indicates direction. With verbs like 'être' (to be), it indicates location.
Word Origin
From Old French 'a', from Latin 'ad' (to, toward).
Usage Notes
The preposition 'à' is highly versatile and its meaning depends on the context and the verb it follows. It can indicate direction, location, or a relationship between two things.
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais