Abroad (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Travel abroad (À l'étranger)
When learning to talk about travelling abroad in French, you'll need to master key vocabulary and understand important grammar rules for using prepositions with different countries. This topic is essential for describing travel experiences and will help you communicate effectively about international destinations.
Essential vocabulary
Understanding basic travel vocabulary is crucial for discussing trips abroad. The following comprehensive table includes the most useful terms you'll encounter when talking about international travel:
| French | English | Gender/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| à l'étranger | abroad | |
| Angleterre | England | (f) |
| Canada | Canada | (m) |
| Maroc | Morocco | (m) |
| passer | to spend (time) | |
| pays | country | (m) |
| sports d'hiver | winter sports | (mpl) |
| visiter | to visit | |
| vue | view | (f) |
| Afrique | Africa | (f) |
| Asie | Asia | (f) |
| Corse | Corsica | (f) |
| étonnant(e) | incredible | |
| Europe | Europe | (f) |
| paysage | landscape | (m) |
| Tunisie | Tunisia | (f) |
Pay special attention to the gender of country names (marked as (f) for feminine, (m) for masculine, and (mpl) for masculine plural). Learning the gender alongside the country name is crucial for correct preposition usage.
Grammar: saying "in" and "to" with countries
The correct use of prepositions with countries is one of the most important grammar rules when discussing travel. The choice of preposition depends entirely on the gender of the country name.
Critical Rule: Preposition choice depends on country gender
The gender of the country name determines which preposition to use - this is not optional and must be memorised for fluent French.
With feminine countries, use "en":
- Je vais en France (I'm going to France)
- Countries ending in -e are typically feminine
With masculine countries, use "au":
- Je suis au Canada (I'm in Canada)
- Most countries not ending in -e are masculine
With plural countries, use "aux":
- Je vais aux États-Unis (I'm going to the USA)
- Countries with plural names always use "aux"
This rule applies whether you're talking about going to a country or being in a country currently. There are no exceptions to this fundamental grammar rule.
Example sentences and phrases
Here are practical sentences you might use when discussing travel abroad. These examples demonstrate how to apply the grammar rules in real contexts:
Worked Example: Present Tense Travel Statements
- Je n'ai jamais voyagé à l'étranger (I have never travelled abroad)
- Le paysage est tellement beau (The landscape is so beautiful)
- J'habite sur la côte (I live on the coast)
Notice how these sentences use present tense and perfect tense to describe current situations and experiences.
Worked Example: Past Tense Travel Descriptions
- Nous sommes allés à un lac (We went to a lake)
- La vue était étonnante (The view was incredible)
- J'ai visité les musées (I visited the museums)
These examples show how to describe completed actions using passé composé and imperfect tenses.
Worked Example: Describing Holiday Activities
- Normalement, je passe les vacances d'été au Canada avec ma tante et mon oncle (Usually, I spend the summer holidays in Canada with my aunt and uncle)
- Mes grand-parents passent les vacances avec nous aussi (My grandparents spend the holidays with us too)
Note the use of "au Canada" (masculine country) and how family members are integrated into travel descriptions.
Pronunciation tips
Proper pronunciation of French country names and travel vocabulary will help you sound more natural and be better understood by native speakers.
Key Pronunciation Guidelines:
When pronouncing French country names, remember:
- Silent final consonants: "Maroc" sounds like "Ma-rok"
- The "gn" in "Angleterre" makes a "ny" sound
- "Tunisie" ends with a "zee" sound
- The liaison in "aux États-Unis" connects the words smoothly
Translation practice
Practice translating between French and English to reinforce your understanding of the vocabulary and grammar rules. This exercise will help you apply what you've learned in practical situations.
Translation Exercise: French to English
- Je vais en Corse car le paysage est tellement beau
- L'année dernière, nous sommes allés à un lac où la vue était étonnante
Translation Exercise: English to French
- I spend my holidays in Morocco with my family
- My brother likes swimming and playing on the beach
Answers:
- I'm going to Corsica because the landscape is so beautiful
- Last year, we went to a lake where the view was incredible
- Je passe mes vacances au Maroc avec ma famille
- Mon frère aime nager et jouer sur la plage
Key Points to Remember:
- Feminine countries (usually ending in -e) use "en": en France, en Angleterre
- Masculine countries use "au": au Canada, au Maroc
- Plural countries always use "aux": aux États-Unis
- Learn country genders alongside the names themselves
- Practice using both present and past tenses when describing travel experiences
- Master the essential vocabulary for describing landscapes, activities, and experiences abroad