English “a” can be an indefinite article, a form of the verb “to have,” or part of other constructions. In French, the article is un before a masculine noun and une before a feminine noun. The verb form “has” is a (without an accent), while the preposition “to/at” is à (with a grave accent).
a / an (article) = un (masculine), une (feminine)
he/she has = il / elle a
to / at = à
The Article: Un or Une
Use un before a masculine noun and une before a feminine noun. French nouns have grammatical gender, so learn each noun with its article: un livre (“a book”) and une maison (“a house”). Both forms mean “a” or “an”; the choice depends on the noun, not the first letter of the following word. These forms also serve as “one” in French numbers 1 to 10.
Meaning: a book / a house
A as a Verb Form
A without an accent is the third-person singular present form of avoir (“to have”): il a means “he has” and elle a means “she has.” It is pronounced like à, but spelling distinguishes the verb from the preposition.
À as a Preposition
À with a grave accent can mean “to,” “at,” or “in,” depending on context: à Paris (“in/to Paris”), à la maison (“at home”), and un verre à eau (“a water glass”). Keep the accent when writing the preposition.
Examples
- J’ai un chien et une voiture. — I have a dog and a car.
- Elle a un frère. — She has a brother.
- Nous allons à l’école. — We are going to school.
- Il habite à Lyon. — He lives in Lyon.
Frequently Asked Questions About A in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say “a book” in French?
Say un livre, because livre is masculine.
What is the difference between a and à?
A is a form of “to have”; à is a preposition meaning “to,” “at,” or sometimes “in.” They sound alike.
Does French use un or une before a vowel?
Use the form that matches the noun’s gender: un or une. The initial vowel does not decide the article.
Summary: A in French
For the article “a/an,” choose un or une based on noun gender. A means “has,” while accented à is the preposition “to/at.”
