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Aller vs Venir – To Go vs To Come

Spoken Description

Learn when to use aller (to go) and venir (to come) with clear examples. Understand related prepositions and standard phrases to talk about movement and direction in French. Practice common patterns to speak naturally.

Learn the difference between aller and venir: use aller for going away and revenir for returning; venir means coming towards the speaker. Includes preposition tips and example phrases for everyday conversation.

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Ce court guide explique quand utiliser aller (aller) et venir (venir) avec des exemples clairs et des expressions utiles.

This short guide explains when to use aller (to go) and venir (to come) with clear examples and useful expressions.

Aller

Utilisez aller pour exprimer un mouvement à partir du lieu actuel du locuteur ou vers un endroit différent. Il met souvent en avant la destination plutôt que l'origine.

Use aller to express movement away from the speaker’s current location or towards a different place. It often highlights the destination rather than the origin.

Examples

Je(aller) au marché demain matin.

I am going to the market tomorrow morning.

Je ______ (aller) au marché demain matin.

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Key Expressions

Vocabulary related to going helps make sentences more natural when using aller. Phrases like aller à pied (to go on foot) or aller en voiture (to go by car) are useful.
Nous allons(the museum) en(car).

We are going to the museum by car.

Nous allons ______ (the museum) en ______ (car).

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Venir

Utilisez venir pour exprimer un mouvement vers le lieu du locuteur ou vers un point de référence considéré comme le lieu d’arrivée. Il met l’accent sur la venue vers celui qui parle ou celui à qui l’on parle.

Use venir to express movement towards the speaker’s location or towards a reference point that is considered the “arrival” place. It emphasizes coming to where the speaker or listener is.

Examples

Je(aller) au marché demain matin.

I am going to the market tomorrow morning.

Je ______ (aller) au marché demain matin.

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Key Expressions

Expressions that signal arrival or approach often pair with venir. Phrases like venir de (to come from) and venir chercher (to come pick up) are common.
Nous allons(the museum) en(car).

We are going to the museum by car.

Nous allons ______ (the museum) en ______ (car).

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Comparing Aller and Venir

The choice between aller and venir depends on the speaker’s perspective: use aller when moving away from the speaker’s place and venir when moving toward it. Changing the point of reference can switch which verb fits.

Examples

Je(aller) au marché demain matin.

I am going to the market tomorrow morning.

Je ______ (aller) au marché demain matin.

1 of 3

Summary

Use aller for going to a place away from the speaker and venir for coming toward the speaker’s location or a designated point. Keep the reference frame in mind to choose the right verb.

Useful Phrases

Learn short fixed expressions with aller and venir that appear often in everyday speech. They speed up communication and make your French sound natural.
This focused guide keeps explanations brief and adds examples and useful phrases for quick learning.

All content was written by our AI and may contain a few mistakes. We may earn commissions on some links. Last updated: Mon Dec 8, 2025, 6:25 AM