Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| partir | /paʁ.tiʁ/ |
| s'en aller | /s‿ɑ̃.n‿a.le/ |
The verbs partir and s'en aller are used to express the action of departing or leaving a place. When used as interjections, related forms like va-t'en! or allez-vous-en function as commands to tell someone to leave. In a dismissive or colloquial sense, the interjection va-t'en! can be used to tell someone to get lost or to leave you alone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase s'en aller is a pronominal verb where the particle en indicates departing from a place.
Which one should you use?
While partir often implies leaving a place for a specific destination or a long-term departure, s'en aller focuses more on the act of departing from the current location.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the expression Tire-toi is used to mean 'go away', while in France, the informal expression Dégage is used to convey the same idea.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative va-t'en is the singular, informal way to tell someone to go away. The plural or formal version is allez-vous-en.
How do you pronounce it?
/paʁ.tiʁ/
Did you know?
- The Quebec expression tire-toi literally translates to 'pull yourself', which is the opposite of pushing someone away.
- In France, using dégage to tell someone to 'go away' literally means 'clear the way' or 'unblock'.
- The French verb aller is an irregular linguistic hybrid, blending roots from the Latin 'vado' and 'eo'.
Examples in context
- Comment te fais-je partir ?How do I make you go away?This sentence shows how to use partir in a question about making someone leave.Tatoeba #3797845 by sacredceltic, translation #3732050 by CM
- Vous nous manquerez à tous quand vous partirez.We shall all miss you when you go away.This sentence uses partir to express missing someone when they depart.Tatoeba #478058 by sacredceltic, translation #18050 by Zifre
- Faites-les partir.Make them go away.This sentence uses partir to express the command to make others leave.Tatoeba #13378338 by lbdx, translation #3912443 by CH
- Merci pour votre temps, mais je pense que nous avons terminé. Partez, s'il vous plaît.Thank you for your time, but I think we are done. Please leave.
- Veuillez vous éloigner de cette zone, c'est interdit.Please move away from this area, it's forbidden.
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous partir maintenant ? La soirée est terminée.Excuse me, could you leave now? The evening is over.
- Arrête de me déranger ! Va-t'en !Stop bothering me! Go away!
- J'ai besoin de faire mes devoirs. Barre-toi de ma chambre !I need to do my homework. Go away from my room!
- Tu es dans ma voie ! Casse-toi !You are in my lane! Get lost!
- Arrête, tu me tapes sur les nerfs. Tire-toi !Stop it, you are getting on my nerves. Go away!
- Vous n'écoutez pas, vous êtes en retenue. Dégagez tous les deux !You're not listening, you both have detention. Go away!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are at a train station.
- GabrielÀ quelle heure devez-vous partir ?What time do you have to leave?
- ManonJe dois partir à dix heures.I have to leave at ten o'clock.
- GabrielC'est bientôt l'heure de partir.It is almost time to depart.
- ManonOui, je vais partir maintenant.Yes, I am going to leave now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go away” translations and entries partir, s'en aller, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aller, partir, s'en aller, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
