en voiture
The French phrase for "all aboard" is en voiture.
The phrase en voiture is used as a command to signal that passengers should board a vehicle, such as a train or tram, before departure.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, en voiture translates to "in car" or "in carriage".
When do people say it?
While this is the standard idiomatic expression for "all aboard", it is most commonly associated with the departure of trains or trams.
Did you know?
- The word voiture shares a common ancestor with the English word 'vector', both stemming from the Latin 'vectūra' which describes the act of carrying or transporting.
- Because voiture is the standard word for 'car', using the phrase en voiture to signal a train departure can feel slightly old-fashioned or theatrical to modern ears. It evokes the era of horse-drawn carriages rather than modern locomotives.
- The phrase en voiture is an imperative-style command, making it sound much more forceful than the English 'all aboard'. It functions more like a direct order to 'get in the carriage'.
Examples in context
- Montez et embarquez, tout le monde!Get on board, everyone!
- Tout le monde, montez à bord! On y va!Everyone, get on board! Let's go!
Example conversation
Manon is waiting for Nathan by the car to leave for a trip.
- ManonNathan, en voiture !Nathan, all aboard!
- NathanJ'arrive, je cherche mes clés.I'm coming, I'm looking for my keys.
- ManonDépêche-toi, on est en retard.Hurry up, we are late.
- NathanC'est bon, je suis prêt.Okay, I'm ready.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, voiture, CC BY-SA 4.0.
