Français II – Geographic Articles & Prepositions

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing the use of articles and prepositions with French geographic names.

Definite article with geographic names

French always uses a definite article (le, la, l’, les) in front of continents, countries, states, rivers, and mountains.

Feminine country (ends in -e)

Most countries ending in –e are feminine and take feminine articles/prepositions (ex. la France, en France).

Le Mexique

The main exception to the –e-equals-feminine rule; it is masculine despite ending in –e.

Countries without any article

Israël, Cuba, Haïti, and Porto Rico never take a definite article in French.

Article rule for cities

French cities normally use no article (ex. J’aime Paris).

Cities that always take an article

La Nouvelle-Orléans, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Le Caire, and La Havane always keep their article.

au

Preposition meaning “to/at/in” BEFORE a singular masculine country or state (ex. au Canada).

aux

Preposition meaning “to/at/in” BEFORE a plural country (ex. aux États-Unis).

en (geography)

Preposition meaning “to/at/in” BEFORE a feminine country, any continent, or any masculine country beginning with a vowel (ex. en Allemagne, en Iran).

à (city)

Preposition meaning “to/at/in” BEFORE a city name (ex. à Paris).

du

Preposition meaning “from” (or “of”) a singular masculine country/state (ex. je viens du Maroc).

des

Preposition meaning “from” (or “of”) a plural country (ex. ils arrivent des Philippines).

de (feminine)

Preposition meaning “from” (or “of”) BEFORE a feminine country/state (ex. je reviens de France).

d’ (vowel)

Contracted form of de/du used before a vowel sound for either gender (ex. d’Italie, d’Iran).

L’Ohio est un bel état

Example sentence illustrating that U.S. states take a definite article in French.