In: Level A1, Prepositions & Conjunctions, Préposition

Look at these examples:

un verre à vina wine glass
(a glass for wine)

un bracelet en ora gold bracelet

un sac de cuir / un sac en cuira leather bag

une tarte aux pommesan apple tart

In English, we often simply squish nouns together to form new words for things: wine glass, snowball, ironing board, etc. (we call these compound nouns because they are formed from two nouns compounded together).

In French though, compound words like this are almost always separated by à or de or en and the meaning changes depending on which is used.

à

à usually indicates what something is designed for, e.g. un verre à vin.

Note that to say a glass of wine, we use de where English uses of: e.g. un verre de vin.

de / en

de or en usually implies what something is made of, e.g. un sac de cuir / un sac en cuir.

à la / à l' / au / aux

Additionally, à la / à l’ / au / aux are used particularly with food to mean with, made with or flavoured with, e.g. une glace à la vanille.

Also have a look at Compound nouns formed with noun + à + verb-infinitive

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Préposition

Examples and resources

une tarte aux pommesan apple tart

Boules de neige et Jour de l'An Et Bonne Année grand-mère !Snowballs and New Year's Day
and Happy New Year Grandma!

une brosse à dentsa tooth brush

une boule de neigea snowball (a ball of snow)

un sandwich au jambona ham sandwich

une boule à neigea snowglobe (an ornamental toy that you shake)

une cuillère à soupea soup spoon

un oreiller en plume / un oreiller de plumea feather pillow

un verre à vina wine glass
(a glass for wine)

la glace à la vanillea vanilla ice-cream

un sac de cuir / un sac en cuira leather bag

un bracelet en ora gold bracelet

Q&A Forum 14 questions, 27 answers

DavidB1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

Could you add some clarification re: wedding bells, baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob, golf club, soccer ball, soccer field, sunglasses, Christmas tree, water tank, bus stop, fire truck, etc.

By your lesson, these should all be “à” (what something is designed for), but in fact this whole genre is “de”.

Specifically, why is it “boîte à bijoux” and not “boîte de bijoux” ? Other than convention.

Clearly, these are not just a few exceptions, but an entire class of compound nouns (open form, noun+noun) that is not covered in the lesson.

Thank you.

Asked 1 week ago

Like1Answer3

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi David,

There are different types of compound nouns and the lesson specifically concentrates on those which take prepositions.

You might find useful reading my following answer to a similar question which lists some using a hyphen -

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/questions/view/are-these-examples-of-compound-nouns

In the case of 'boîte à bijoux', normally when you can say - for something - it will be 'à' in French as in:

Cuillère à soupe, brosse à dents, verre à vin

But I am sure there will be some exceptions!

Hope this helps!

Like01 week ago

DavidB1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks Cécile. C'est possible que vous ne dormez jamais ? Ou au moins, levez vous un peu plus tard dans le weekend. Mais ...

While your answer works for boîte à ... and brosse à ... and cuillère à ...

"when you can say - for something -" seems to apply to all my examples just as well.

Are there any general rules or guidelines for à vs. de with noun+noun constructions ?

I guess most of my prior learning and examples were sports related, which all seem to be "de".

Like11 week ago

CécileKwiziq team member

Re-bonjour David!

Effectivement, je suis 'une lève-tôt' mais je dors suffisamment, ne vous inquiètez- pas...

Le contraire est 'un/e couche-tard'

Revenons à nos moutons -

There are no rule, just categories as far as I am aware but it would be good to develop the lesson as this has been asked before.

We are all so inundated with work that it wont happen anytime soon.

It is so odd that we say -

un arrêt d'autobus but le centre-ville.

Grévisse says that it is mainly the preposition 'de' which is used but you can have other prepositions like 'à, autour, contre par, pour, sans' etc.

une planche à dessin = a drawing board

un sirop contre la toux = a cough mixture

but

un cor de chasse = a hunting horn

etc.

Hope that helps!

Like01 week ago

David asked:View original

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

Could you add some clarification re: wedding bells, baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob, golf club, soccer ball, soccer field, sunglasses, Christmas tree, water tank, bus stop, fire truck, etc.

By your lesson, these should all be “à” (what something is designed for), but in fact this whole genre is “de”.

Specifically, why is it “boîte à bijoux” and not “boîte de bijoux” ? Other than convention.

Clearly, these are not just a few exceptions, but an entire class of compound nouns (open form, noun+noun) that is not covered in the lesson.

Thank you.

Don't have an account yet? Join today

William C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

In the grammar lesson, it explains that you can use either "en" or "de" in "un sac .... cuir". So to avoid confusion, would it not be better to show that both "en" and "de" are also both acceptable answers in "Je possède un blouson _____ cuir". Or are they?

Asked 9 months ago

Like0Answer1

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi William,

I would say that ‘en cuir’ would be the correct answer for a garment made of leather.

Une jupe, un pantalon, une veste en cuir

Hope this helps!

Like09 months ago

William asked:View original

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

Don't have an account yet? Join today

ShereeA2Kwiziq community member

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer1

PattiA2Kwiziq community member

Exactly my question, when I wrote "robe ____ satin" both could be de et en, it told me I was wrong. And I am confused. Should it only be "en"??

Like01 year ago

Sheree asked:View original

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

MichaelC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer3

MichaelC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Nevermind, I believe the answer is, plural prepositions in this case are genderless.....it wasn't immediately obvious to me, then it came to my mind after I posed my question.

Like01 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, that's correct. À+les = aux, regardless of gender.

Like01 year ago

MichaelC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Merci beaucoup !

Like01 year ago

Michael asked:View original

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

LathaB2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Latha,

It depends on the context -

You would say,

Vous voulez une glace à la vanille ? = Do you want a vanilla ice cream?

J'aime la glace à la vanille = I like vanilla ice cream

Hope this helps!

Like01 year ago

LathaB2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

It's clear now.ty

Like01 year ago

Latha asked:View original

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

Don't have an account yet? Join today

PaulC1Kwiziq community member

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres -> Letter box, Postbox.

It may be worth addding this to the notes as an exception to these rules. I believe it is used in singular and in the plural ?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi Paul,

that question intrigued me, so I went online and did a quick research. Here is what I found:

Généralement l'article défini sert à préciser le nom, et quand un nom a la fonction syntaxique de compléter un autre nom, et qu'il désigne la « destination d'un récipient », l'article est d'ordinaire omis (la boîte à bijoux) ; et maintenu, au figuré (le pot aux roses). On parle d'hésitations dans l'usage avec un cas comme la boîte à/aux lettres.

At another place:

Personellement, ayant vécu en France et en Belgique, je dirais que 'boîte aux lettres' est bien plus commun que 'boîte à lettres'.

En effet, les sites suivants ont l'air de favoriser cet usage aussi:

(Gouvernement français) https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/reuses/trouve-une-boite/

(Poste canadienne) https://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/productsservices/send/letterboxes.jsf?LOCALE=fr

(Poste belge) http://www.bpost.be/site/fr/residential/letters-cards/receive/guidelines_mailbox.html

(Page Wikipédia) https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo%C3%AEte_aux_lettres

-- Chris.

Like01 year ago

PaulC1Kwiziq community member

THanks Chris, I favour French from France rather than Belgium / Canada ,

I think I will keep with 'boîte aux lettres'. It seems both terms appear valid in everyday language , and I've learnt a new abbreviation from your wiki link - BAL !

Paul.

Like01 year ago

Paul asked:View original

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres -> Letter box, Postbox.

It may be worth addding this to the notes as an exception to these rules. I believe it is used in singular and in the plural ?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

MarnieC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Tarte aux pommes

Is this considered another « fixed » expression used to describe food. Just curious because as « pommes » is feminine and plural one would normally say « tarte à les pommes » . Are there other similar exceptions?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

À + les = aux

-- Chris.

Like01 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

À les = aux

-- Chris.

Like01 year ago

Marnie asked:View original

Tarte aux pommes

Don't have an account yet? Join today

RitaA2Kwiziq community member

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer1

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Rita,

it is le chocolat, hence au chocolat.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Like01 year ago

Rita asked:View original

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

ShrutiA1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

We can also say

une tasse à café.

A cup for coffee?

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer2

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Shruti,

Yes you can say:

Une tasse à café - A coffee cup ( a cup for coffee)

Une tasse de café - A cup of coffee ( a cup full of coffee)

Hope this helps!

Like21 year ago

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

A coffe cup -- une tasse à café.
A cup of coffee -- une tasse de café.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Like02 years ago

Shruti asked:View original

We can also say

une tasse à café.

A cup for coffee?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

NevB2Kwiziq community member

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer2

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I suspect that there is a missing "/" separating the two possible answers: "un oreiller en plume / un oreiller de plume". -- Chris.

Like02 years ago

AurélieKwiziq team member

Yes indeed ! Thanks to you both, the example has now been amended :) Merci et à bientôt !

Like02 years ago

Nev asked:View original

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

ReneB2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

A doubt.

It seems that une boule de neige doesn't follow the pattern of un sac en/de cuir. Is that right?

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer1

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonsoir Rene, une boule de neige --> a snowball (a ball of snow) There does not seem to be a valid reason one could not state «une boule en neige», the biggest hurdle with that locution; however, would be in using it verbally. Une boule de neige sounds more aesthetically pleasing when pronounced. Bonne chance.

Like02 years ago

Rene asked:View original

A doubt.

It seems that une boule de neige doesn't follow the pattern of un sac en/de cuir. Is that right?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

SurendraA1Kwiziq community member

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

According to this lesson, for translation of bathroom/washroom, a room for baths. So it should be 'salle à bains', but why do we use 'salle de bains'

Asked 2 years ago

Like0Answer2

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Surendra ! "Salle de bains" is a fixed expression in French. I would say that we're literally saying "the room of baths" as in "containing the baths", hence the use of "de" here: it's the room that *owns* the baths in the house :) I hope that helps! Bonne journée !

Like22 years ago

SurendraA1Kwiziq community member

It is clear now, thank you.

Like02 years ago

Surendra asked:View original

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

According to this lesson, for translation of bathroom/washroom, a room for baths. So it should be 'salle à bains', but why do we use 'salle de bains'

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Thekla A1Kwiziq community member

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer2

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Thekla ! Yes, exactly! "Un verre à eau" is a glass "made for" water, whereas "un verre d'eau" is a glass containing water. Bonne journée !

Like23 years ago

Thekla A1Kwiziq community member

Merci, à bientôt

Like03 years ago

Thekla asked:View original

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

JoakimC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

De vs en

Are these competely interchangeable for specifying what something is made of or are there pronounciation rules that indicate which one is better for a particular word?

Asked 3 years ago

Like2Answer3

AurélieKwiziq team member

Bonjour Joakim ! I would say that "en" implies that this is the main (and often only) element the thing is made of, whereas "de" would imply that it's one of the elements composing the thing, but there must be more. Colloquially, "en" is used more often than "de". I hope that's helpful! Bonnes Fêtes et à bientôt !

Like43 years ago

DavidB1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Could you add some clarification re: wedding bells, baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob, golf club, soccer ball, soccer field, sunglasses, Christmas tree, water tank, bus stop, fire truck, etc.

By your lesson, these should all be “à” (what something is designed for), but in fact this whole genre is “de”.

Specifically, why is it “boîte à bijoux” and not “boîte de bijoux” ? Other than convention.

Clearly, these are not just a few exceptions, but an entire class of compound nouns (open form, noun+noun) that is not covered in the lesson.

Thank you.

Like01 week ago

DavidB1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Put in wrong place

Like01 week ago

Joakim asked:View original

De vs en

Are these competely interchangeable for specifying what something is made of or are there pronounciation rules that indicate which one is better for a particular word?

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level

Get some more practice

French listening practice

French reading practice

French speaking practice

French writing practice

French fill-in-the-blanks exercises

Compound nouns formed with prepositions à, de, en

à

de / en

à la / à l' / au / aux

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Préposition

Examples and resources

Q&A Forum 14 questions, 27 answers

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

Tarte aux pommes

Tarte aux pommes

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

We can also say

We can also say

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

A doubt.

A doubt.

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?

De vs en

De vs en

Find your French level for FREE

Get some more practice

Why not share the love?!

Related lessons

Compound nouns formed with prepositions à, de, en

à

de / en

à la / à l' / au / aux

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Préposition

Examples and resources

Q&A Forum 14 questions, 27 answers

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

baseball cap, tennis racquet, door knob

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

Je possède un blouson _______ cuir

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

The example shows en/de used for sac ___ cuir but when I chose de on the quiz, I got it wrong. Pourquoi?

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

E.G. "une tarte AUX pommes"...My question, why AUX with two feminine nouns, tarte et pommes?

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

Une glace à la vanille or la glace à la vanille is correct.ps clarify

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

une boîte aux lettres / une boîte à lettres

Tarte aux pommes

Tarte aux pommes

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

Why is chocolate ice cream written as la glace au chocolat and not la glace à la chocolat?

We can also say

We can also say

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

Should plumeun in feather pillow be plumeux?

A doubt.

A doubt.

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

Why 'salle de bains', shouldn't it be 'salle à bains'

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass *for* water not *of* water?

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass *for* water not *of* water?

De vs en

De vs en

Find your French level for FREE

Get some more practice

Why not share the love?!

Related lessons

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?

We can say " un verre à eau " when we want a glass for water not of water?