French · Travel & Getting Around
"Airplane" in French: avion
l'avion
Airplane in French is l'avion, masculine, said lah-VYOHN. Voyager en avion means to travel by plane. Prendre l'avion means to take the plane.
Booking talk
Je prends l'avion demain matin.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce avion
Say it
lah-VYOHN
/a.vjɔ̃/
Lah-VYOHN—nasal on at the end. Stress the second syllable. Soft v. The article l' links smoothly before the vowel.
"Airplane" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'avion | the plane / airplane Standard noun. | Standard noun. |
| en avion | by plane Mode of transport. | Mode of transport. |
| prendre l'avion | to take the plane / to fly Common travel verb phrase. | Common travel verb phrase. |
| l'avion à réaction | jet More technical; beginners can stick to avion. | More technical; beginners can stick to avion. |
How to use avion in real life
- 1Booking talk
Je prends l'avion demain matin.
I'm taking the plane tomorrow morning.
Prendre l'avion is idiomatic.
- 2Comparing transport
On y va en avion ou en train ?
Are we going by plane or by train?
En avion vs en train.
- 3Watching the sky
Regarde, l'avion passe au-dessus de nous.
Look, the plane is flying over us.
Literal sighting.
Mistakes English speakers make with avion
Incorrect: Je vais avec le plane.
Correct: Je vais en avion. / Je prends l'avion.
Use avion, with en avion or prendre l'avion.
Incorrect: La avion est en retard.
Correct: L'avion est en retard.
Avion is masculine and takes l'.
Good to know
French travel talk mixes prendre l'avion with vol (flight): mon vol is my flight. Low-cost carriers made en avion common for short European hops once dominated by trains.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Choosing how to reach Rome
ChatPal
Tu préfères l'avion ou le train ?
Do you prefer the plane or the train?
You
L'avion est plus rapide pour moi.
The plane is faster for me.
ChatPal
D'accord. On réserve l'avion ce soir.
Okay. We'll book the plane tonight.
You
Oui. J'aime regarder le décollage de l'avion.
Yes. I like watching the plane take off.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Airplane" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Airplane" in French
Is avion masculine?
Yes: l'avion, un avion, cet avion.
How do I say by plane?
En avion.
What is the difference between avion and vol?
Avion is the aircraft; vol is the flight.
How do you pronounce avion?
Ah-VYOHN with a nasal ending.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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