en route
/ɑ̃ ʁut/
The English phrase "on the way" is translated into French as en route.
en route is used to describe someone or something that is currently in transit. This includes people traveling toward a destination and inanimate objects, such as a pizza delivery, that are on their way.
Meaning: heading to a certain place (prep_phrase)
Which one should you use?
The expression En cours de route can be used specifically to mean "in the process of going" or "while on the way."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, you may hear the phrase En train d'arriver to convey that someone is about to arrive soon.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑ̃ ʁut/
Did you know?
- The word route comes from the Latin word rupta, meaning 'broken'. It originally referred to a path created by breaking through the brush or soil.
- If you are 'on the way' to a mistake or a disaster, you might use the phrase en route vers…, implying an inevitable direction.
- The phrase en route is so common that English adopted it as a loanword. While 'on the way' is a translation, English speakers often use the French phrase en route to sound more formal or precise.
Examples in context
- On est en route.We're on the way.This sentence is useful for stating that we are currently on the way.Tatoeba #13391022 by lbdx, translation #9458979 by CK
- La pizza est en route.The pizza's on the way.This sentence is useful for stating that a delivery is currently on the way.Tatoeba #4956385 by sacredceltic, translation #2635450 by Joseph
- Gabriel est mort en route.Gabriel died on the way.This sentence is useful for describing a person who died while traveling.Tatoeba #11756581 by Amastan, translation #11754746 by Amastan
- Monsieur Dupont est actuellement en cours de route pour vous rencontrer.Mr. Dupont is currently on the way to meet you.
- Salut, j'arrive chez toi. Je suis en chemin !Hey, I'm coming to your place. I'm on the way!
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is calling Manon to tell her he is coming over.
- GabrielSalut Manon, je suis en route !Hi Manon, I'm on my way!
- ManonSuper, tu arrives dans combien de temps ?Great, how long until you arrive?
- GabrielJe suis en route, j'arrive dans dix minutes.I'm on my way, I'll be there in ten minutes.
- ManonD'accord Gabriel, à tout de suite !Okay Gabriel, see you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry en route, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries en, route, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
