French · Travel & Getting Around

"Church" in French: église

l'église

Say it: ay-GLEEZfeminine · l'églisenoun/e.ɡliz/

Church in French is l'église, feminine. À l'église means at/to church. Une église is one church building. Cathédrale is a cathedral—bigger and a bishop's seat.

Directions

Tourne à gauche après l'église.
Turn left after the church.
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How to pronounce église

Say it

ay-GLEEZ

/e.ɡliz/

Église is ay-GLEEZ. The é is ay, and soft g before l. Final e is light; s often heard as z in liaison.

"Church" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'églisethe church

Building or institution.

à l'égliseat/to church

Going or attending.

une églisea church

Pointing out a building.

l'église du villagethe village church

Landmark.

How to use église in real life

  1. 1Directions

    Tourne à gauche après l'église.

    Turn left after the church.

    Landmark.

  2. 2Wedding

    La cérémonie est à l'église à quinze heures.

    The ceremony is at the church at three.

    À l'église.

  3. 3Sightseeing

    Cette église romane vaut le détour.

    This Romanesque church is worth the detour.

    Cette église.

Mistakes English speakers make with église

Incorrect: Le église est ouverte.

Correct: L'église est ouverte.

Use elision: l'église.

Incorrect: On va au church.

Correct: On va à l'église.

Church is église.

Good to know

Even in secular France, l'église often anchors the village square and walking directions. Many are free to visit quietly outside services.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Finding a meetup point

  1. ChatPal

    On se retrouve devant l'église ?

    Shall we meet in front of the church?

  2. You

    Oui. L'église avec le marché, pas l'autre.

    Yes. The church by the market, not the other one.

  3. ChatPal

    Noté. Vers dix-huit heures.

    Got it. Around six.

  4. You

    À tout à l'heure.

    See you soon.

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"Church" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Church" in French

What is church in French?

L'église (feminine).

How do I say to church?

À l'église.

How do you pronounce église?

Ay-GLEEZ.

Is cathédrale the same?

A cathedral is more specific; église is the general church.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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