En/l'/au with seasons (French Articles and Prepositions)

Take the fastest path to fluent French

In French, you will have different ways to say that something takes place in one of the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn).

How to express the seasons in French

Look at the examples using the four seasons: 

En hiver, je vais skier.In winter, I go skiing.

L'hiver, il fait très froid.In winter, it's very cold.

En été, je mange beaucoup de glaces !In summer, I eat a lot of ice cream!

L'été, on bronze sur la plage.In summer, we tan on the beach.

En automne, les feuilles tombent des arbres.In autumn, leaves fall from the trees.

L'automne, on retourne à l'école.In autumn, we go back to school.

To say in + [winter, summer, autumn], you will use either : 

en + [hiver, été, automne]
or
l' + [hiver, été, automne] 

You will do the liaison between en and the vowel (été, automne) or mute h (hiver).

ATTENTION :

Au printemps, on se sent heureux.In spring, we feel happy.

To say in spring in French, you will only use :

au printemps

 

Note that all seasons are masculine in French.

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

En été, je mange beaucoup de glaces !In summer, I eat a lot of ice cream!
En hiver, je vais skier.In winter, I go skiing.
L'automne, on retourne à l'école.In autumn, we go back to school.
En automne, les feuilles tombent des arbres.In autumn, leaves fall from the trees.
L'été, on bronze sur la plage.In summer, we tan on the beach.
Au printemps, on se sent heureux.In spring, we feel happy.
L'hiver, il fait très froid.In winter, it's very cold.
Vive le temps, vive le temps,
Vive le temps d'hiver,
Long live the weather, long live the weather,
Long live the winter weather,
Let me take a look at that...