When you first learn French, "aller" is probably the first verb you encounter for "to go". But did you know there are many other verbs that can express this idea, each with its own subtle nuance? Whether you're heading to the store, leaving for a trip, or simply moving from one place to another, French offers a rich vocabulary to describe these actions. Let's explore 9 different ways to say "to go" in French and learn how to use them like a native speaker!

The standard 'to go' – aller

The standard 'to go' – aller is the most fundamental and frequently used French verb to express movement, direction, or simply "to go."

As one of the most common verbs, aller is also highly irregular, meaning its conjugations don't follow typical patterns. This makes it crucial to memorize its forms.

Here's how aller is conjugated in the present tense:

• Je vais — I go
• Tu vas — You go_(informal singular)_
• Il / Elle / On va — He / She / One goes
• Nous allons — We go
• Vous allez — You go_(formal singular or plural)_
• Ils / Elles vont — They go

Aller is primarily used to indicate going to a place. You often combine it with prepositions like à (to, at) or en (to, in) depending on the destination's gender and type. For example: Je vais à Paris. (I'm going to Paris.) or Nous allons en France. (We're going to France.)

One of its most important functions is to form the futur proche (near future) tense. This construction is aller (conjugated in the present tense) + infinitive verb. It expresses an action that will happen very soon. For instance: Je vais manger. (I am going to eat.)

Aller is also central to asking and talking about one's health or how things are going. The classic phrase Comment ça va? (How are you?) literally translates to "How does it go?" and Ça va bien. means "It's going well."

Beyond personal well-being, ça va can describe how a situation or thing is progressing. Comment va ce projet? (How is this project going?) or Ça va mieux. (It's getting better/going better.)

When forming the passé composé (past tense), aller uses the auxiliary verb être (to be). So, "I went" is Je suis allé(e). Remember to agree the past participle with the subject if être is used.

Aller appears in many common French idioms. Examples include y aller (to go for it, to leave), aller chercher (to go fetch/get), or aller bien/mal (to be doing well/badly).

Mastering aller is fundamental for any French learner. Its versatility, from expressing movement to forming the near future and discussing well-being, makes it an indispensable part of daily French communication.

💡 * Je vais à la boulangerie pour acheter du pain. (I'm going to the bakery to buy bread.)

• Nous allons regarder un film ce soir. (We are going to watch a movie tonight.)
• Comment ça va? Ça va très bien, merci. (How are you? I'm doing very well, thank you.)
• Ils sont allés en vacances le mois dernier. (They went on vacation last month.)
• Tu vas y aller seul? (Are you going there alone?)

To leave, to go away, to depart – partir

The verb partir is one of the most fundamental French verbs for expressing the idea of 'leaving,' 'going away,' or 'departing.' It's essential for discussing travel, departures, and simply moving from one place to another.

Partir primarily means 'to leave,' 'to go,' or 'to depart.' Crucially, it is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object for the place or person being left. You leave from a place, or you leave for a destination, but you don't 'partir' something directly.

Like many verbs of movement, partir uses the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé, plus-que-parfait). For example, 'Je suis parti' (I left) or 'Elle était partie' (She had left), ensuring agreement with the subject.

To indicate the destination you are leaving for, use the preposition pour. This is a very common construction when specifying where you are headed. For example, 'Nous partons pour Paris demain.' (We are leaving for Paris tomorrow.)

To specify the place you are leaving from, use the preposition de (which contracts to du, des, de la, de l', etc., as needed). For instance, 'Il part de la maison à 8h.' (He leaves from home at 8 AM.)

When referring to leaving for a trip, vacation, or a general type of journey, partir en is commonly used. This construction often precedes nouns without articles. Examples include 'partir en vacances' (to go on vacation) or 'partir en voyage' (to go on a trip).

Partir is an irregular -IR verb, similar to dormir and sentir. Its present tense conjugation is: je pars, tu pars, il/elle/on part, nous partons, vous partez, ils/elles partent. Pay attention to the stem change in the singular forms.

It's important to distinguish partir from quitter. While both mean 'to leave,' quitter is transitive, meaning you leave someone or something directly. For example, 'Je quitte mon travail.' (I'm leaving my job.) You wouldn't say 'Je pars mon travail.' Use partir when the focus is on the act of departing, not on the object left behind.

Partir also appears in some common idiomatic expressions, extending its meaning beyond physical departure. For example, 'partir de zéro' means 'to start from scratch' or 'to start from nothing,' highlighting its sense of beginning a journey or process from a particular point.

💡 * Je pars demain matin. (I'm leaving tomorrow morning.)

• Elle est partie pour Paris. (She left for Paris.)
• Nous partons de la gare. (We are leaving from the train station.)
• Ils partent en vacances la semaine prochaine. (They are going on vacation next week.)
• Il est parti de zéro et a bâti un empire. (He started from scratch and built an empire.)

4. To go (to a place), to proceed, to make one's way (more formal) – se rendre

While aller is the most common way to say 'to go,' the reflexive verb se rendre offers a more formal or nuanced alternative, often implying a deliberate journey or arrival at a specific destination.

Se rendre is a reflexive verb, meaning it always uses a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject. This highlights the subject's action upon itself or in relation to its own movement.

Its most frequent usage is to mean 'to go to a place,' particularly when the journey is official, planned, or a significant event. Think of it as 'to proceed to' or 'to make one's way to.'

Compared to aller, se rendre carries a slightly more formal tone and often emphasizes the act of 'making one's way' or 'proceeding' to a location, rather than just the simple act of going.

As a regular -ER verb, its conjugation is straightforward once you remember the reflexive pronouns. For example, in the present tense: je me rends, tu te rends, il/elle/on se rend, nous nous rendons, vous vous rendez, ils/elles se rendent.

When indicating the destination, se rendre is typically followed by the preposition à (or its contractions au, aux) or en (for feminine countries/regions or means of transport), similar to aller.

While our focus is on 'to go,' it's worth noting that rendre has other meanings when not reflexive (e.g., 'to give back'), and se rendre also appears in fixed expressions like se rendre compte ('to realize') or se rendre à l'évidence ('to face the facts').

Choose se rendre when you want to convey a sense of purposeful movement, formality, or when referring to official travel or attendance at an event. For everyday, casual 'going,' aller remains the go-to verb.

💡 * Je me rends à la réunion. (I am going/proceeding to the meeting.)

• Elle s'est rendue à l'aéroport tôt ce matin. (She went to the airport early this morning.)
• Nous nous rendons souvent en Espagne. (We often go to Spain.)
• Les étudiants se rendent à la bibliothèque pour étudier. (The students go to the library to study.)
• Veuillez vous rendre au guichet 3. (Please proceed to counter 3.)

To go away, to leave (often more informal or emphatic) – s'en aller

The verb for “to go away” or “to leave” with an informal or emphatic tone is s'en aller.

At its core, s'en aller means “to go away” or “to leave”. It's a pronominal verb, indicated by the se (s') part, which means the action reflects back on the subject.

The 'en' in s'en aller adds the nuance of 'from here' or 'from there', implying a departure from a specific place or situation.

While partir is a general verb for “to leave”, s'en aller often carries a stronger, more definite, or even impatient connotation, like “to take off” or “to get going”.

It's frequently used in informal contexts to express a quick or sudden departure. Think of it as “I'm out of here!” or “I'm off!”

In the imperative, Va-t'en ! (Go away!) or Allez-vous-en ! (You all go away!) is a direct and forceful way to tell someone to leave.

Beyond physical departure, s'en aller can also describe things disappearing, fading, or passing, such as time or a feeling.

Remember that as a pronominal verb, s'en aller conjugates with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) and the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses.

💡 * Je m'en vais. (I'm leaving / I'm off.)

• Il faut que je m'en aille maintenant. (I have to go now.)
• Va-t'en d'ici ! (Get out of here!)
• Le temps s'en va vite. (Time goes by quickly.)
• Nous nous en sommes allés avant la fin du film. (We left before the end of the movie.)

To head towards, to go in the direction of – se diriger vers

The French phrase se diriger vers is a versatile and commonly used expression that translates to "to head towards," "to go in the direction of," or "to move towards."

At its heart, se diriger vers signifies the act of orienting oneself or something in a specific direction, with an intention of reaching a particular destination or goal.

It's important to note that se diriger is a reflexive verb, meaning it always requires a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject. This emphasizes the subject's active role in directing itself.

The preposition vers is crucial here, as it explicitly indicates the direction or approximation of the movement. It means "towards," "in the direction of," or "around" (when referring to time).

One of the most common uses of se diriger vers is to describe physical movement towards a place. For instance, you might se diriger vers la sortie (head towards the exit) or se diriger vers la gare (go towards the train station).

Beyond physical movement, se diriger vers can also be used in more abstract contexts to indicate moving towards a goal, a decision, or a particular state. For example, se diriger vers une solution (to head towards a solution) or se diriger vers le succès (to move towards success).

As a regular -ER verb, diriger (and thus se diriger) conjugates like most other first-group verbs. Remember to place the reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb.

Se diriger vers is considered standard and relatively formal French. While understood in casual conversation, it's often preferred in written contexts, official communications, or when precision is desired, compared to simpler verbs like aller.

While aller (to go) is more general, se diriger vers implies a more deliberate and often more direct movement or orientation towards a specific point. It suggests a conscious choice of direction.

In summary, se diriger vers is a powerful and precise phrase for expressing directional movement, both literal and figurative, emphasizing the subject's active orientation towards a destination or objective.

💡 * Les étudiants se dirigent vers la bibliothèque. (The students are heading towards the library.)

• Je me dirige toujours vers les défis. (I always move towards challenges.)
• Le débat se dirige vers une conclusion. (The debate is heading towards a conclusion.)
• Nous nous dirigeons vers la sortie maintenant. (We are heading towards the exit now.)
• Dirigez-vous vers le nord pour trouver le chemin. (Head north to find the path.)

To go to meet, to join (someone/somewhere) – rejoindre

The verb rejoindre in French is a versatile and commonly used verb that translates to "to join," "to meet up with," or "to rejoin."

At its heart, rejoindre implies going to a place or person to connect with them, often with the idea of "reuniting" or "coming together again" if there was a prior separation, or simply "joining" an existing group or person.

Unlike some other verbs of movement, rejoindre is a direct transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object without a preposition. You rejoindre someone or something directly.

One of the most common uses is to talk about meeting up with people. For example, you might rejoindre your friends at a café or rejoindre your family for dinner.

It's also used when you join a group, a team, a club, or even a conversation. You can rejoindre a political party or rejoindre a discussion that's already underway.

Sometimes, rejoindre can mean to "reach" a specific point or destination, especially when you are catching up to someone or arriving at a designated meeting spot. For instance, "The road rejoint the river further down."

Rejoindre belongs to the same conjugation group as joindre (to join/attach) and peindre (to paint). Its conjugation follows a regular pattern for verbs ending in '-oindre' or '-eindre'. For example, in the present tense: je rejoins, tu rejoins, il/elle/on rejoint, nous rejoignons, vous rejoignez, ils/elles rejoignent.

You'll often hear phrases like rejoindre quelqu'un (to join/meet someone), rejoindre un groupe (to join a group), or rejoindre sa place (to return to one's seat/place).

It's important to distinguish rejoindre from rencontrer. While rencontrer often implies meeting someone for the first time or meeting by chance, rejoindre suggests a planned meeting or joining someone who is already present or at a specific location.

💡 * Je vais te rejoindre au restaurant. (I'm going to meet you at the restaurant.)

• Nous rejoignons nos amis à la plage. (We are joining our friends at the beach.)
• Elle a décidé de rejoindre le club de lecture. (She decided to join the book club.)
• Le chemin rejoint la forêt après le pont. (The path meets the forest after the bridge.)
• Puis-je vous rejoindre ? (Can I join you?)

To go by, to stop by, to drop in (often for a short visit) – passer

The verb passer is incredibly versatile in French, often translating to 'to pass,' 'to go by,' or, particularly relevant for this section, 'to stop by' or 'to drop in' for a short visit. It's a key verb for discussing brief movements and informal calls.

At its most literal, passer means to go by or to pass a location. For instance, if you walk past a shop, you would use passer.

Extending from its meaning of passing by, passer often implies a brief, informal stop or visit. This is common when you're in the vicinity and decide to make a quick call on someone or somewhere.

When passer signifies movement, such as to go by, to pass through, or to stop by (intransitive uses), it is conjugated with the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses (e.g., je suis passé(e), nous sommes passés).

It's important to note that passer uses avoir when it takes a direct object (transitive uses), meaning 'to pass something' or 'to spend time.' For example, passer un examen (to take an exam) or passer le temps (to pass the time). However, our focus here is on its intransitive use for short visits.

A very common and useful expression is passer chez quelqu'un, which translates to to drop by someone's place or to visit someone briefly at their home. This construction always implies a quick, informal visit.

The phrase passer par means to pass through or to go via a specific place or route. It emphasizes the journey through a location rather than just past it.

One of the defining characteristics of passer in the context of a visit is the implied brevity. It suggests a visit that isn't planned to be long or formal, often spontaneous.

You can reinforce the idea of a quick visit by adding adverbs like rapidement (rapidly) or vite (quickly) after passer, though the verb often implies this on its own.

Unlike visiter (to visit a place or monument) or rendre visite à (to pay a visit to a person, often for a longer, more formal duration), passer specifically conveys the idea of a fleeting or informal stop. It's the perfect verb for a quick 'hello' or a brief errand.

💡 * Je suis passé devant la boulangerie ce matin. (I went by the bakery this morning.)

• Tu peux passer me voir après le travail ? (Can you stop by to see me after work?)
• Nous sommes passés chez nos amis pour un café rapide. (We dropped in on our friends for a quick coffee.)
• Elle est passée par Paris avant d'aller à Londres. (She passed through Paris before going to London.)
• Pendant mes vacances, je suis passé par de petits villages charmants. (During my vacation, I went through charming small villages.)

To move, to travel, to go from one place to another – se déplacer

The French verb se déplacer is a versatile and essential term for expressing movement, travel, or the act of going from one place to another. It literally means 'to move oneself'.

At its core, se déplacer conveys the idea of changing one's location. Whether it's a short trip across a room or a long journey, this verb is frequently used to describe the act of moving from point A to point B.

It's important to note that se déplacer is a pronominal (or reflexive) verb, indicated by the 'se'. This means the action is performed by the subject on itself. Remember to always use the appropriate reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) before the verb.

As a regular -er verb, se déplacer conjugates predictably. The main challenge for learners is remembering the reflexive pronoun. For example, 'I move' is je me déplace, 'you move' is tu te déplaces, and 'he/she moves' is il/elle se déplace.

You can use se déplacer for general movement, such as walking around a space or shifting position. For instance, a security guard might se déplacer through a building, or a child might se déplacer closer to a toy.

This verb is also widely used for travel, commuting, or getting around using various modes of transport. When you talk about traveling to work, school, or another city, se déplacer is a natural choice. You can specify the mode of transport with prepositions like en (for vehicles) or à (for walking/cycling).

While similar, se déplacer differs from bouger. Bouger generally means 'to move' in the sense of stirring, wiggling, or making a small, localized movement (e.g., bouger un doigt – to move a finger). Se déplacer, on the other hand, implies a change of location or position in a broader sense.

Some common expressions include se déplacer en voiture (to travel by car), se déplacer à pied (to travel on foot/walk), se déplacer en transports en commun (to use public transport), or se déplacer pour le travail (to travel for work).

In compound tenses like the passé composé, se déplacer uses the auxiliary verb être (to be) and requires agreement with the subject for the past participle. For example, Je me suis déplacé(e) (I moved), Nous nous sommes déplacés(es) (We moved).

💡 * Je me déplace souvent à vélo pour aller au travail. (I often travel by bike to go to work.)

• Les animaux se déplacent en groupe dans la savane. (Animals move in groups in the savanna.)
• Pourriez-vous vous déplacer un peu, s'il vous plaît? (Could you move a little, please?)
• Nous nous sommes déplacés à Paris pour la conférence. (We traveled to Paris for the conference.)
• Il est difficile de se déplacer en ville sans voiture. (It's difficult to get around in the city without a car.)

To go for a walk/ride, to take a turn – faire un tour

The versatile French expression faire un tour literally translates to 'to make a turn,' but its actual meaning is much broader and depends heavily on context. It's a common phrase you'll hear in everyday French conversations.

At its heart, faire un tour implies a brief excursion, a short trip, or a quick visit. It captures the idea of moving around for a short period, whether on foot or by vehicle.

One of the most frequent uses of faire un tour is to describe taking a short walk or going for a stroll. It suggests a casual, often leisurely, movement without a specific destination or purpose beyond enjoyment.

Beyond walking, faire un tour also perfectly describes going for a short ride. This could be by bike, car, scooter, or even a boat. The key is the 'short' and 'excursion' aspect.

You can also use faire un tour to talk about making a quick visit to a place. For instance, 'faire un tour au marché' means 'to make a quick trip to the market' or 'to pop by the market'.

Since faire un tour uses the verb faire (to do/make), you'll need to conjugate faire according to the subject and tense. For example, Je fais un tour (I'm going for a walk/ride), Nous ferons un tour (We will go for a walk/ride).

Often, you'll hear faire un petit tour. Adding petit (small) emphasizes the brevity of the excursion, making it even more informal and friendly, reinforcing the idea of 'just a little walk/ride/visit'.

While similar to se promener (to walk, to stroll), faire un tour often implies a slightly more active or purposeful (even if brief) movement, and crucially, it can involve vehicles, whereas se promener is almost exclusively for walking.

In summary, faire un tour is a highly versatile phrase. Its exact meaning is determined by the context, making it a natural and idiomatic way to express various short movements or visits in French.

💡 * Je vais faire un tour au parc. (I'm going to take a walk in the park.)

• On a fait un tour en voiture hier soir. (We went for a drive last night.)
• Tu veux faire un petit tour à vélo? (Do you want to go for a short bike ride?)
• Je dois faire un tour au supermarché avant de rentrer. (I need to make a quick trip to the supermarket before going home.)
• Fais un tour par chez moi quand tu veux! (Come by my place whenever you want!)

Are there other ways to say 'to go' in French?

Are there other ways to say "to go" in French?

Our list has covered the most common and versatile ways to say "to go" in French. However, the French language is rich with verbs of movement, each carrying its own nuance, context, or even regional flavor. From formal to slang, there's always more to discover!

To delve deeper, you can also do an online search for "comment dire aller en ___" followed by a specific Francophone country or region. You might be surprised by the local expressions!

When you encounter new verbs that mean "to go," make sure to check their definition and try to see them used in context. A good dictionary and example sentences are your best friends here.

As you continue to read, watch, and listen to French media, pay close attention to how native speakers express movement. You'll naturally pick up different verbs and their appropriate usage.

For a comprehensive look at the verb aller and its many nuances, as well as related verbs of movement, the WordReference entry for aller is an excellent starting point. It's a fantastic resource for exploring synonyms and idiomatic expressions.

I hope this article has helped you navigate the various ways to say "to go" in French. To conclude, here's a thought from Guy de Maupassant that beautifully captures the essence of movement and discovery: Le voyage est une sorte de porte par où l'on sort de la réalité connue pour pénétrer dans une réalité inexplorée. (Travel is a kind of door through which one leaves known reality to enter an unexplored reality.)