French · Travel & Getting Around

"Left" in French: à gauche

à gauche

Say it: ah GOHSHadverb/a ɡoʃ/

Left as a direction in French is à gauche. Tournez à gauche means turn left. Sur votre gauche is on your left.

GPS voice

Tournez à gauche au prochain feu.
Turn left at the next light.
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How to pronounce à gauche

Say it

ah GOHSH

/a ɡoʃ/

À gauche is ah GOHSH. The ch is like sh in "shoe". Silent final e.

"Left" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
à gaucheto the left / on the left

Directions and placement.

tourner à gaucheto turn left

Driving and walking.

sur la gaucheon the left side

Describing where something sits.

tout à gaucheall the way to the left

Far left of a row or road.

How to use à gauche in real life

  1. 1GPS voice

    Tournez à gauche au prochain feu.

    Turn left at the next light.

    Classic direction phrase.

  2. 2In a cinema

    Nos places sont à gauche.

    Our seats are on the left.

    À gauche for location.

  3. 3Helping a tourist

    La gare est juste à gauche.

    The station is just on the left.

    Short and clear.

Mistakes English speakers make with à gauche

Incorrect: Tourne left.

Correct: Tourne à gauche.

Direction left is à gauche.

Incorrect: À le gauche.

Correct: À gauche.

No article in the set phrase à gauche.

Good to know

French road signs and apps stick to à gauche / à droite. Gauche alone can also mean political left; the à keeps the directional sense clear.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Finding a café

  1. ChatPal

    Le café est à gauche après la pharmacie.

    The café is on the left after the pharmacy.

  2. You

    Donc je tourne à gauche ici ?

    So I turn left here?

  3. ChatPal

    Oui, puis encore vingt mètres.

    Yes, then another twenty meters.

  4. You

    Je vois l'enseigne.

    I see the sign.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Left" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Left" in French

How do you say left in French?

À gauche for direction.

How do I say turn left?

Tournez à gauche / tourne à gauche.

Left hand?

La main gauche.

How do you pronounce gauche?

GOHSH, like "gauche" with sh.

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