entrer
/ɑ̃.tʁe/
To go inside in French is entrer.
The verb is used to describe the action of moving from the outside to the inside of a building or a room. While entrer can be used by itself to mean 'to go inside', it is often accompanied by a prepositional phrase to specify the specific destination one is entering.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb entrer is an intransitive verb of motion, which means it does not take a direct object.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃.tʁe/
Did you know?
- While entrer is the standard verb for 'go inside', the French use the verb rentrer specifically when 'going inside' refers to returning to one's own home.
- The expression entrer en collision is used to describe two things crashing into each other, treating a collision as a place one 'enters'.
- While 'entrer' means to physically move inside, the phrase entrer en matière is a common idiom meaning 'to get down to business' or 'to get to the heart of the matter'.
Examples in context
- Je les ai vus entrer.I saw them go inside.This sentence is useful for showing how to use entrer after seeing someone perform the action.Tatoeba #12409635 by lbdx, translation #3910605 by CH
- Ziri a décidé d'y entrer.Ziri decided to go inside.This sentence is useful for expressing a decision to use entrer.Tatoeba #11756804 by Amastan, translation #10965579 by Amastan
- Elle ne veut pas y entrer.She doesn't want to go inside there.This sentence is useful for expressing a refusal to use entrer in a specific place.Tatoeba #9544338 by Julien_PDC, translation #11684974 by tieguy
- Entrez s'il vous plaît.Please go inside.
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are standing outside a restaurant.
- ManonHugo, il fait froid, vite, entrons !Hugo, it is cold, hurry, let's go inside!
- HugoTu as raison, je veux entrer aussi.You are right, I want to go inside too.
- ManonOn peut entrer par cette porte.We can go inside through this door.
- HugoD'accord, allons-y.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry entrer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
