French word

au

Pronunciation

IPA/o/

Meaning

  • prepositionto the

Example

Je vais au cinéma.

I am going to the cinema.

Illustration for au (to the)

More examples

Ce soir, nous dînons au restaurant.

This evening, we are dining at the restaurant.

Core concept

A route ending at, or a position inside, a singular masculine destination.

Common phrases

  • aller au cinéma

    go to the movies

  • aller au restaurant

    go to the restaurant

  • être au courant

    be informed

Similar words

à: Indicates where someone is or is going.
chez: Refers to someone's home, shop, or workplace as a location.
dans: Marks a position inside a thing or building.
en: Marks being in a place, country, or object named by a feminine noun.

Definition in French

Contraction de « à » et « le », employée pour indiquer la localisation ou la direction vers un lieu masculin singulier.

Word origin

Au is the contraction of à, from Latin ad, and the singular masculine article le, with Old French forms such as al preceding the modern form.

Usage tips

  • The verb sets the context: être au cinéma describes being there, while aller au cinéma describes going there.

Other meanings

  • at thepreposition

Word lists with this word