Mastering French Prepositions: How to Use Chez, À la, Au
Level: DELF A1
Introduction
Learning French prepositions can be tricky, especially when it comes to chez, à la, au, and their variations. These little words help describe locations, and choosing the right one is key to speaking naturally. In this post, we’ll break them down with clear explanations, examples, and an easy mnemonic to help you remember them!
1. "Chez" – Think of People and Businesses
The word chez is special because it’s used to refer to someone’s home, workplace, or a professional’s office. Unlike à la or au, which are used for places, chez is always followed by a person, a profession, or a business name.
Examples:
✅ Je vais chez Paul. → I’m going to Paul’s house.
✅ Nous allons chez le médecin. → We’re going to the doctor’s office.
✅ J’ai acheté du pain chez le boulanger. → I bought bread at the baker’s (shop).
🔹 Mnemonic: Think of chez as "chez somebody." If you can replace the place with a person’s home or a professional, chez is your best bet.
2. "À la" and "Au" – Feminine vs. Masculine Places
Both à la and au mean "to the" or "at the" and are used before places. The difference lies in the gender of the noun that follows:
- À la → Used before feminine places.
- Au (a contraction of à + le) → Used before masculine places.
Examples:
✅ Je vais à la boulangerie. → I’m going to the bakery. (boulangerie is feminine)
✅ Il est au restaurant. → He is at the restaurant. (restaurant is masculine)
🔹 Mnemonic: Imagine a bakery (boulangerie) with a long "a" sound, reminding you it’s à la. Now think of a café (café)—shorter, sharper—so it takes au.
3. "À l’" and "Aux" – Vowel and Plural Rules
In addition to à la and au, there are two more variations:
- À l’ → Used before singular words that start with a vowel or silent h.
- Aux → Used before plural nouns, regardless of gender.
Examples:
✅ Je vais à l’hôtel. → I’m going to the hotel. (hôtel starts with a vowel sound)
✅ Nous allons aux magasins. → We’re going to the stores. (magasins is plural)
🔹 Mnemonic: Picture "L'Hotel" with an open door (vowel sound welcomes à l’), while "aux" sounds like "ohhh, so many places!" for plurals.
Quick Cheat Sheet
| Preposition | Usage Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Chez | Je vais chez Marie. | For people, professionals, and businesses |
| À la | Je vais à la pharmacie. | For feminine places |
| Au | Il va au supermarché. | For masculine places |
| À l’ | Elle est à l’école. | For singular words starting with a vowel/h |
| Aux | Nous allons aux musées. | For plural places |
Final Tip: Think of "C.A.A.A." for an easy way to recall the rules:
- Chez → People & professionals
- A la → Feminine places
- Au → Masculine places
- A l’ / Aux → Vowels & plurals
By remembering this pattern, you’ll be able to use these prepositions effortlessly in your conversations. Keep practicing, and soon enough, it will feel natural. Bon courage! 🇫🇷✨
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Read more:
💙 Vocabulary Categories for DELF A1
💙 Table of Contents: French Grammar
