à emporter
The French phrase for "to go" (when referring to food being served in a takeout container) is à emporter.
Meaning: served in a takeout container (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition à (to/for) and the infinitive verb emporter (to take away/to carry away).
Which one should you use?
While à emporter means to go, the term sur place is the standard way to indicate that food will be eaten on site or inside the establishment.
When do people say it?
When a staff member wants to ask a customer if they want to eat in the restaurant or take their food to go, the standard way to ask is Sur place ou à emporter ?
Did you know?
- In a figurative sense, emporter can describe a victory, such as emporter la victoire meaning 'to carry away the win'.
- The English word 'import' has a direct relative in the verb 'emporter' found in the phrase, as both share the root 'porter' meaning 'to carry'.
- In some regions, particularly in Quebec, you may hear pour emporter instead of à emporter to express the same idea.
Examples in context
- Sur place ou à emporter ?Is this to eat here, or to go?This example shows how to ask if a customer wants to eat in or to go using à emporter.Tatoeba #891505 by sacredceltic, translation #61883 by CM
- Sur place ou à emporter ?Here or to go?Tatoeba #2124213 by sacredceltic, translation #61525 by CM
- C'est pour ici ou à emporter ?For here, or to go?Tatoeba #799660 by felix63, translation #263831 by CK
- Je vais au parcI'm going to the park
- Je me déplace en voitureI go by car
- Je pars au travailI'm going to work
- On bouge au cinéma ce soir?Are we going to the movies tonight?
- On va quelque part après l'école?Are we going somewhere after school?
- Je file au travailI'm off to work.
- Je me tireI'm leaving or I'm getting out of here.
- Allons-y !Let's go!
- Elle va souvent au musée .She often goes to the museum
- Je veux partir en vacances .I want to go on vacation
- Nous bougeons demain pour la fête .We're moving/taking off tomorrow for the party
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are ordering sandwiches at a bakery.
- ManonJe voudrais un jambon-beurre, s'il vous plaît.I would like a ham and butter sandwich, please.
- LucasC'est pour consommer sur place ou à emporter ?Is it to eat here or to go?
- ManonCe sera à emporter, merci.It will be to go, thank you.
- LucasD'accord, je vous mets ça dans un sac.All right, I'll put that in a bag for you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries emporter, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
