Je suis parti en vacances
The English phrase 'I went on holiday' is translated into French as Je suis parti en vacances.
This phrase is used to express that you traveled away from home for a vacation. You might use Je suis parti en voyage instead if you want to emphasize the journey or the travel itself rather than the leisure aspect of a vacation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I am departed on holidays' because the verb partir uses the auxiliary verb être to form the passé composé.
Which one should you use?
While Je suis allé en vacances is a correct way to say 'I went on holiday', Je suis parti en vacances specifically emphasizes the act of leaving or setting off on the trip.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the phrase partir en voyage is commonly used to mean 'to go on holiday'. In Belgium, an alternative way to say 'I went on holiday' is Je suis parti(e) en congé.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, an extra e is added to the past participle parti, resulting in Je suis partie en vacances.
Did you know?
- The French word for 'holiday' shares a root with the English word 'vacant'. Both come from the Latin 'vacare', meaning 'to be empty'.
- The word vacances is always plural in French, even when referring to a single trip. This reflects an older meaning of the word as 'empty spaces' or 'vacancies' in a calendar.
- In some regions, using congé instead of vacances shifts the meaning from the leisure of the trip to the legal right to be away from work.
Examples in context
- J'ai profité de quelques jours de repos et je suis parti(e) en vacances.I took advantage of a few days off and went on holiday.
- Pour me détendre, j'ai fait un voyage dans le sud de la France.To relax, I took a trip to the south of France.
- Tu ne devineras jamais où je suis parti(e) en vacances!You'll never guess where I went on holiday!
- Je suis parti en vacances en Espagne.I went on holiday to Spain.
- Je suis parti en vacances avec ma famille.I went on holiday with my family.
- Je suis parti en vacances le mois dernier.I went on holiday last month.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting at a cafe about their summer.
- ChloéTu as voyagé cet été ?Did you travel this summer?
- NathanOui, je suis parti en vacances en Italie.Yes, I went on holiday to Italy.
- ChloéC'est super, Nathan !That's great, Nathan!
- NathanC'était un voyage magnifique.It was a magnificent trip.
