When prepositions à or de are followed by definite articles le or les in French, these prepositions "contract" with them to form one word.
Learn how to contract à / de with the definite articles in French
Summary of the rules of contracted articles with à and de
| Preposition + article | Contraction | Example |
| à + le | au |
Je vais au cinéma. (le cinéma) |
| à + les | aux |
Je vais aux États-Unis. (Les États-Unis / USA) |
| de + le | du |
Je viens du marché. (le marché /market) |
| de + les | des |
Je viens des Pays-Bas. (Les Pays-Bas / The Netherlands) |
| These don't contract |
||
| à + la | Je vais à la poste (the post office) | |
| à + l' | Je vais à l'hôtel. | |
| de + la | Je viens de la piscine. (the swimming pool) | |
| de + l' | Je viens de l'auberge de jeunesse. (the youth hostel) | |
Remember that with locations, you will use the preposition à = to/in + [a place] and de = from + [a place].
See also À = To/in and De = From/of with cities in French (French Prepositions of Location)
Listen to these examples :
Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Aux mille bougies,
Qu'enchantent vers le ciel,
Les cloches de la nuit.Happy, happy Christmas!
To the thousand candles,
That enchant to the heavens,
The night bells.
I am from the Netherlands.
(lit. Christmas on the balcony, Easter by the firebrand)
à
Marie is at school.
Alain is going to the house
