French word

à

Pronunciation

IPA/a/

Meaning

  • prepositionat

Example

Il est assis à la table.

He is sitting at the table.

Illustration for à (at)

More examples

Je vais à l'école.

I am going to school.

Core concept

A link placing an action or thing at a point or toward a destination or recipient.

Common phrases

  • aller à l'école

    go to school

  • être à la maison

    be at home

  • parler à quelqu'un

    talk to someone

Similar words

en: Indicates being within a place or area.
dans: Indicates being inside an object or space.
sur: Indicates contact with the top or outer surface of something.
chez: Indicates being at someone's home, workplace, or business.

Definition in French

Indique la position ou la direction vers un lieu, ainsi que le destinataire ou le complément indirect d'une action.

Word origin

French inherited à from Latin ad through Old French a; the later grave accent helped keep it distinct in writing from the verb form a.

Usage tips

  • The preposition is pronounced like the letter a, and the accent must remain in writing because unaccented a is a different French word.

Other meanings

  • topreposition

Opposites

  • defrompreposition

Word lists with this word