allez à droite
The English phrase "go right" is translated into French as allez à droite.
The phrase is used to instruct someone to move or travel toward the right side.
What does it mean word for word?
The component à droite literally means "at/to right".
Which one should you use?
The phrase allez à gauche is the direct opposite of allez à droite, meaning "go left".
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form va à droite is used when speaking to one person you know well or a child, whereas allez à droite is used for multiple people or to be polite.
Did you know?
- In French, the word droite shares a root with the word droit, which means 'law' or 'a legal right'. This links the physical direction of the right hand to the idea of justice and correctness.
- The word droite shares a common ancestor with the English word 'direct', as both stem from the Latin 'directus', meaning 'straight'.
- In traditional French symbolism, the droite was historically associated with the 'correct' or 'dexterous' side, while the left was linked to the Latin word for 'awkward'.
Examples in context
- Bien sûr, tournez à droite au prochain carrefour.Of course, turn right at the next intersection.
- Pas de problème, va à droite à l'intersection et c'est juste là.No problem, go right at the intersection, and it's right there.
- Pour sortir, allez à droite.To exit, go right.
- Allez à droite au prochain feu.Go right at the next traffic light.
- S'il vous plaît, allez à droite après le parc.Please, go right after the park.
Example conversation
Lucas is giving Chloé directions to a store.
- LucasD'abord, continuez tout droit.First, keep going straight.
- ChloéEt après ?And after that?
- LucasEnsuite, allez à droite.Then, go right.
- ChloéMerci beaucoup, Lucas !Thank you very much, Lucas!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries droite, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
