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Holidays and travel

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Talking about where you go and how you travel needs the right little words: à, en and au.

To or in a place

à + town: à Paris, à Londres.
en + feminine country: en France, en Espagne, en Italie.
au + masculine country: au Portugal, au Canada.
aux + plural country: aux États-Unis.

Transport

en + vehicle you sit inside: en avion (plane), en voiture (car), en train, en bus, en bateau.
à for: à pied (on foot), à vélo (by bike).

Holiday phrases

D'habitude, je vais en vacances en France. = Usually I go on holiday to France.
Je reste dans un hôtel. = I stay in a hotel.
Il fait chaud. = It is hot.
Worked example

Translate: I go to Portugal by plane.

  1. I go = je vais
  2. Portugal is masculine, so au Portugal.
  3. by plane = en avion

Answer: Je vais au Portugal en avion.

Key idea

à + town, en + feminine country, au + masculine country, aux + plural. en + vehicle (en avion), à pied, à vélo.

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