À = To/in and De = From/of with cities in French (French Prepositions of Location)

Take the fastest path to fluent French

In French, you can use the preposition "à" or "de" with cities. However, there is a difference. 

How to use 'à' or 'de' with cities in French

Look at these sentences using à and de:

Je vais à ParisI'm going to Paris

Il va au Havre.He's going to Le Havre

Elle est à New York.She is in New York.

Note that you use à when describing going to or being in a city.  
And you use de to indicate being, coming or returning from a city. 


ATTENTION: 
With city names containing a definite article (e.g. La Rochelle / Le Havre), you will use à La or de La for feminine nouns, and the contracted forms au or du for masculine nouns:

Il revient de LondresHe's coming back from London.

Je suis de La RochelleI'm from La Rochelle

On va à La Nouvelle-Orléans la semaine prochaine.We're going to New Orleans next week.

Mon oncle vient du Havre.My uncle comes from Le Havre.

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

Elle est à New York.She is in New York.
Je suis de La RochelleI'm from La Rochelle
On va à La Nouvelle-Orléans la semaine prochaine.We're going to New Orleans next week.
Mon oncle vient du Havre.My uncle comes from Le Havre.
Je vais à ParisI'm going to Paris
Il revient de LondresHe's coming back from London.
Je viens de ParisI'm coming from Paris
Il va au Havre.He's going to Le Havre
Let me take a look at that...