At in French
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In French, the word "at" is typically translated as à. However, the usage of à can vary depending on the context, and sometimes other prepositions or constructions are used to convey the meaning of "at" in French. Let's explore the different ways to express this concept in the language of love.
Using à in French
À is the most common translation for "at" in French. It's used in various situations, including:
Indicating location:
- I'm at home - Je suis à la maison
- She works at the bank - Elle travaille à la banque
Specifying time:
- The meeting is at 3 PM - La réunion est à 15 heures
- We'll arrive at noon - Nous arriverons à midi
Expressing a rate or price:
- The car is driving at 60 mph - La voiture roule à 60 miles à l'heure
- Apples are sold at $2 per pound - Les pommes sont vendues à 2 dollars la livre
Other Ways to Express "At" in French
While à is the most common translation, there are other prepositions and constructions used to convey the meaning of "at" in specific contexts:
Chez - Used for "at someone's place" or "at a business":
- I'm at Sarah's house - Je suis chez Sarah 🏠
- We're dining at the restaurant - Nous dînons chez le restaurateur 🍽️
En - Used with certain locations:
- She's at school - Elle est à l'école (or) Elle est en classe 🏫
Dans - Used for "in" but can sometimes translate to "at":
- The keys are at the bottom of the bag - Les clés sont au fond du sac (or) Les clés sont dans le fond du sac 🎒
Here's a helpful table summarizing the main translations:
| English | French | Pronunciation (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| at | à | /a/ |
| at (someone's place) | chez | /ʃe/ |
| at (in certain contexts) | en | /ɑ̃/ |
| at (in/inside) | dans | /dɑ̃/ |
Remember, context is key when choosing the right preposition in French. Practice and exposure to the language will help you develop an intuition for when to use each option. Bonne chance! 🇫🇷✨
