Translating
in/to, from
Table of Contents
In/to + country/city
In/to + city
To say that you are in a city, live in a city, or are going to a city, always use the preposition “à” in front of the city name.
Je suis à Paris.
I am in Paris.
Il habite à Londres.
He lives in London.
Nous allons à Rome.
We’re going to Rome.
In/to + feminine country:
To say that you are in a country, live in a country, or are going to a country, always use the preposition “en” in front of the country name, if it’s feminine.
Note: names of countries are feminine when they end in “e”. There are only four exceptions: le Mexique, le Cambodge, le Zimbabwe, le Mozambique.
Je suis en France.
I am in France.
Il habite en Espagne.
He lives in Spain.
Nous allons en Italie.
We’re going to Italy.
Vous habitez en Angleterre.
You live in England.
Note: use “en” for any country that starts with a vowel.
Are they going to Iran or Iraq?
In/to + masculine country:
To say that you are in a country, live in a country, or are going to a country, always use the preposition “au” in front of the country name, if it’s masculine.
Note: names of countries are masculine when they don’t end in “e”, except le Mexique, le Cambodge, le Zimbabwe, le Mozambique which are masculine.
Je suis au Canada.
I am in Canada.
Il habite au Maroc.
He lives in Morocco.
Nous allons au Vietnam.
We’re going to Vietnam.
Vous habitez au Cambodge.
You live in Cambodia.
Note: use “en” for any country that starts with a vowel, even if it’s masculine.
Ils vont en Israël ?
Are they going to Israel?
In/to + plural country:
To say that you are in a country, live in a country, or are going to a country, always use the preposition “aux” in front of the country name, if it’s plural.
Je suis aux États-Unis.
I am in the United States.
Il habite aux Philippines.
He lives in the Philippines.
Nous allons aux Pays-Bas.
We’re going to the Netherlands.
From + country/city
From + city:
To say that you are coming from a city, always use the preposition “de” before the city name:
Je viens de Berlin.
I come from Berlin.
Elle est de Tokyo.
She’s from Tokyo.
Tu es de Madrid ?
Are you from Madrid?
From + feminine country
To say that you are coming from a country, use the preposition “de/d’” before the country name.
Tu es de Belgique ?
Are you from Belgium?
Je viens d’Argentine.
I’m coming from Argentina.
Elles arrivent de France.
They are arriving from France.
Note: use “de/d’” for any country that starts with a vowel.
Tu arrives d’Israël ?
Are you coming from Israel?
From + masculine country
To say that you are coming from a country, use the preposition “du” before the country name.
Tu es du Brésil ?
Are you from Brazil?
Je viens du Portugal.
I’m coming from Portugal.
Elles arrivent du Pérou ou du Mexique ?
Are they arriving from Peru or Mexico?
Note: use “de/d’” for any country that starts with a vowel, even if it’s masculine.
Il arrive d’Israël.
He is coming from Israel.
From + plural country
To say that you are coming from a country, use the preposition “des” before the country name.
Tu viens des États-Unis ?
Are you coming from the United States?
Je reviens des Émirats Arabes Unis.
I’m back from the United Arab Emirates.