French word

y

Pronunciation

IPA/i/

Meaning

  • pronounthere

Example

Tu y vas ?

Are you going there?

Illustration for y (there)

More examples

Il y a un problème.

There is a problem.

Core concept

A small pointer marks a place or points back to a non-person thing introduced with à.

Common phrases

  • il y a

    there is

  • y aller

    go there

  • y penser

    think about it

Similar words

en: From that particular place or point.
le: The previously mentioned thing as a direct object.
lui: To one person, whether male or female.

Definition in French

Petit pronom adverbial exprimant «là» ou «à cela», souvent utilisé pour remplacer «à + nom» pour une chose ou une idée, et n'étant pas employé pour une personne.

Word origin

French y comes from Latin ibi through Old French i, with the later spelling y and its pronoun-like use developing in French.

Usage tips

  • Y replaces à plus a thing or idea, but not à plus a person, which normally requires a stressed pronoun.

Other meanings

  • about itpronoun

Word lists with this word