Uncover Le Mystère of French Prepositions

Prepositions are tough, and they can let you feel frustrated because it never seems to make sense which one to use, you just have to learn them by heart… Overwhelming!

Well, not always! Sometimes there are beautiful logics and rules behind them. Today I want to make prepositions a little easier for you.

I was supposed to send you this from my vacation in Peru (that I am literally just coming back from) but believe it or not the Machu Picchu Internet did not want to cooperate. So I apologize you receive this now instead of last Thursday, I did try! Besides, what best way to start your week than with wonderfully beautiful French prepositions?!!

Today I decided to explain to you how to talk about your vacation destination in honor of my wonderful week in Peru! Vous êtes prêts?

English is easy, you always use the same preposition. What do I mean?

Here are 4 examples. You say:

I’m going TO Paris

I’m going TO France

I’m going TO Canada

I’m going TO the Caribbean

It’s always TO. So easy.

In French each of these four sentences would have a different preposition. Why? Let me tell you.

I’m going TO Paris = Je vais à Paris

Always use the preposition “à” for a city. All the cities in the world!

I’m going TO France = Je vais en France

Always use the preposition “en” for a feminine country.

Other examples of feminine countries: la Chine, l’Italie, la Colombie, la Russie, la Norvège, l’Espagne, and lots more!

I’m going TO Canada = Je vais au Canada

Always use the preposition “au” for a masculine country.

Other examples of masculine countries: le Pérou (ha ha!), le Mexique, le Portugal, le Maroc, le Viêt-Nam, le Danemark, and lots more!

I’m going TO the Caribbean’s = Je vais aux Caraïbes

Always use the preposition “aux” for a plural country.

Other examples of masculine countries: les Philippines, les États-Unis, les Seychelles, les Pays-Bas, les Antilles

It’s a fair amount of choice but there’s a logic behind it. It becomes a little more complicated for either singular feminine or masculine countries such as LA FRANCE and LE CANADA because you just have to know the gender. Generally a country that ends with the letter e is feminine. This should help!

You can do it! Vacation time woohoo!

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