How to Say "I Have to Go" in French

Je dois y aller

In French, "I have to go" is expressed as Je dois y aller.

The phrase Je dois y aller is used to indicate that the speaker needs to leave their current location or end a conversation.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of Je (I), dois (must/have to), y (there) and aller (to go).

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For a formal emphasis on the necessity of your departure, you can use Je suis obligé de partir. In informal situations among friends, especially when conveying a sense of urgency, you can say Je dois filer. Avoid using the slang Je me casse, as it is much more informal and can be potentially rude, functioning more like "I'm outta here".

How does it change in a sentence?

In the phrase Je dois y aller, the pronoun y functions as "there" and is placed immediately before the infinitive verb aller.

Did you know?

The pronoun Je evolved from the Classical Latin egō̆, which is the same root that gave English the psychological term 'ego'.
The word filer in Je dois filer literally means 'to spin thread', but it is used here to describe moving quickly like a thin line.

Examples in context

Je dois y aller.
I have to go.
Tatoeba #952757 by sacredceltic, translation #1887384 by CK
Je dois y aller !
I have to go away.
Tatoeba #9396619 by felix63, translation #9396821 by Objectivesea
Tu sais que je dois y aller.
You know I have to go.
Tatoeba #1724212 by sacredceltic, translation #1723945 by Spamster
L'heure tourne, je dois partir maintenant.
Time is running out, I have to go now.
Je suis obligé de partir pour honorer un engagement.
I am obliged to leave to fulfill a commitment.
Pardonnez-moi, mais je dois m'en aller maintenant.
Forgive me, but I have to go now.
Il est tard, je dois filer chez moi.
It's late, I have to go home.
Désolé, mais je dois y aller maintenant.
Sorry, but I have to go now.
La soirée était géniale, mais il est tard, je dois prendre la poudre d'escampette.
The party was great, but it's late, I have to go.
18 more sentences on Tatoeba

Example conversation

Emma and Nathan are chatting at a café.

Emma

C'était super, mais je dois y aller.
It was great, but I have to go.
Nathan

Déjà ? On a encore du temps.
Already? We still have time.
Emma

Désolée, j'ai un rendez-vous à seize heures.
Sorry, I have an appointment at four.
Nathan

Pas de problème, à bientôt Emma !
No problem, see you soon Emma!

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries aller, je, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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How to Say “I Have to Go” in French