Prepositions of place in French are words that show the position of one thing relative to another. They help you answer questions like "Where is...?" These prepositions usually come before a noun or pronoun.
Common Prepositions of Place
Here are some of the most common prepositions of place in French along with their English translations:
French | English | Example (French) | Example (English)
--- | --- | --- | ---
à côté de | next to, beside | Le chat est à côté de la table. | The cat is next to the table.
derrière | behind | La voiture est derrière la maison. | The car is behind the house.
devant | in front of | Je suis devant l'école. | I am in front of the school.
sur | on | Le livre est sur la table. | The book is on the table.
sous | under | Le canapé est sous la fenêtre. | The sofa is under the window.
dans | in | Elle est dans la chambre. | She is in the room.
entre | between | Le magasin est entre la banque et la poste. | The store is between the bank and the post office.
au-dessus de | above | Le tableau est au-dessus du lit. | The picture is above the bed.
au-dessous de | below | L'étagère est au-dessous du bureau. | The shelf is below the desk.
Usage Rules
- The preposition is followed by a definite article (le, la, les) which may contract with the preposition:
- à + le → au
- à + les → aux
- de + le → du
- de + les → des
- When talking about cities or small towns, use à without an article:
- Je suis à Paris.
- For countries, use en (feminine) or au (masculine), not à:
- Je suis en France.
- Je suis au Canada.
Examples in Context
Here are some examples showing how these prepositions are used in full sentences:
French | English | Explanation
--- | --- | ---
Le chat est à côté du canapé. | The cat is next to the sofa. | à côté de + le = à côté du
La lampe est au-dessus de la table. | The lamp is above the table. | au-dessus de + la = au-dessus de la
Le chien est sous la chaise. | The dog is under the chair. | No article contraction needed
Elle est dans la cuisine. | She is in the kitchen. | No article contraction needed
Le musée est entre la bibliothèque et le théâtre. | The museum is between the library and the theater. | No article contraction; two nouns
Je suis devant l’école. | I am in front of the school. | elision of la before vowel sound
Why is there no article contraction in 'Le musée est entre la bibliothèque et le théâtre'?
Because 'entre' is followed by two definite articles separately.
With 'entre,' use the full definite articles before each noun; no contraction occurs.
Summary
French prepositions of place are used to describe where something or someone is located. They are always followed by a noun with a definite article, which may contract with the preposition. Learning these will help you give and understand directions, describe scenes, and more.
Which preposition do you use before a city name in French?
à
Use 'à' before city names without an article.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
