Few French verbs are as central to everyday conversation as aller, which translates to “to go” in English. From discussing immediate or future plans to giving directions or forming idiomatic expressions, mastering aller is a fundamental milestone on your French learning journey. Below, we’ll walk you through the essentials, while directly answering nine key questions about this cornerstone verb.

1) Does Aller Mean to Go?

Short Answer: Yes, aller is the primary French verb meaning “to go.”

Long Answer: Aller covers most contexts in which you’d say “to go” in English, whether you’re going to the store, traveling to a different city, or simply heading out with friends. This versatility is why aller is among the first verbs taught in French classes and is used extensively in spoken French for everything from greetings (Comment ça va? literally “How does it go?”) to the near future tense (Je vais manger = I’m going to eat).

2) What Is Another Word for “Go” in French?

Short Answer: The direct synonym for “go” in French is aller, though there are related verbs like partir (to leave) or marcher (to walk), depending on context.

Long Answer: If you want to convey the idea of leaving, traveling, or walking, you might use other verbs:

• Partir: to leave (e.g., Je pars demain. / I’m leaving tomorrow.)
• Marcher: to walk (e.g., Je marche au parc. / I walk to the park.)
  However, these verbs are not perfect synonyms for “to go.” In the vast majority of daily conversations, aller remains the most common and direct verb for “to go” in French.

3) What Is an Example of Aller Verb in French?

Short Answer: Je vais au musée. (I am going to the museum.)

Long Answer: This example nicely illustrates how aller is used in the present tense to express current or imminent actions. The simplest form is “Je vais…” followed by the destination or action—an essential structure you’ll use constantly while speaking French. Another example:

• Nous allons à l’école. (We go to school.)

4) How Do You Conjugate Aller with the Infinitive?

Short Answer: To form the near future (futur proche), use aller in the present tense + infinitive of another verb.

Long Answer: This is one of the easiest ways to express immediate or planned future actions in French. Here’s the formula:

• [Subject] + [Present Tense of Aller] + [Infinitive Verb]
• Example: Je vais manger. (I am going to eat.)

No matter your subject pronoun (je, tu, il/elle/on, nous, vous, ils/elles), simply conjugate aller in the present tense, then tack on the infinitive of the verb describing the action. It’s a key difference from English but quite simple once you get the hang of it.

5) How Do You Conjugate Aller in the Past Tense?

Short Answer: Use être as the auxiliary verb + the past participle allé, making sure to agree in gender and number (passé composé).

Long Answer: In the passé composé, aller is one of the verbs conjugated with être instead of avoir. Its past participle is allé, and it must agree with the subject:

• Je suis allé(e)
• Tu es allé(e)
• Il est allé / Elle est allée
• Nous sommes allé(e)s
• Vous êtes allé(e)(s)
• Ils sont allés / Elles sont allées

Example:
Je suis allée au marché hier. (I went to the market yesterday.)

6) How Do You Conjugate Aller in the Imperative?

Short Answer: Drop the subject pronoun and use Va !, Allons !, or Allez ! to form commands.

Long Answer: The imperative mood for aller is used to give instructions or encouragement:

• (Tu) Va ! (Go!) — informal singular
• (Nous) Allons ! (Let’s go!) — first-person plural
• (Vous) Allez ! (Go!) — formal or plural

Example:
Allons au cinéma ce soir ! (Let’s go to the cinema tonight!)

7) How Does Aller Work in French?

Short Answer: Aller is irregular and fulfills two main functions: expressing physical movement and forming the “near future.”

Long Answer: “Aller” is considered an irregular verb. Despite its irregularity, it’s crucial for French grammar because it’s used:

1. For physical or metaphorical movement (Je vais au parc = I go to the park).
2. As an auxiliary in the futur proche (Je vais manger = I’m going to eat).

It also appears in idiomatic expressions and greetings, such as Comment ça va ? (How are you?), literally “How does it go?” Mastery of aller is a foundational step toward fluency, enabling ease in everyday conversation, future-planning statements, and casual French interactions.

8) What Are the Conjugations for Aller?

Below is a quick reference to the key aller conjugations—across tenses and moods:

Present Tense (Le Présent de l’Indicatif)

• Je vais
• Tu vas
• Il/Elle/On va
• Nous allons
• Vous allez
• Ils/Elles vont

Passé Composé (Compound Past)

• Je suis allé(e)
• Tu es allé(e)
• Il est allé / Elle est allée
• Nous sommes allé(e)s
• Vous êtes allé(e)(s)
• Ils sont allés / Elles sont allées

Imperfect (L’Imparfait)

• J’allais
• Tu allais
• Il/Elle/On allait
• Nous allions
• Vous alliez
• Ils/Elles allaient

Future Simple (Le Futur Simple)

• J’irai
• Tu iras
• Il/Elle/On ira
• Nous irons
• Vous irez
• Ils/Elles iront

Conditional Mood (Le Conditionnel)

• J’irais
• Tu irais
• Il/Elle/On irait
• Nous irions
• Vous iriez
• Ils/Elles iraient

Subjunctive Mood (Le Subjonctif)

• Que j’aille
• Que tu ailles
• Qu’il/elle/on aille
• Que nous allions
• Que vous alliez
• Qu’ils/elles aillent

Imperative (L’Impératif)

• Va !
• Allons !
• Allez !

9) How Do You Say “Go Girl” in French?

Short Answer: A close approximation is “Vas-y, fille!” or “Allez, vas-y!” in an encouraging tone.

Long Answer: French doesn’t have an exact phrase that matches the cultural nuance of “Go girl!” in English. However, you can adapt expressions like “Allez, ma fille !” (literally, “Come on, my girl!”) or “Vas-y, fille!” to cheer someone on. The context—casual, friendly, or slang—will dictate which phrase works best. Sometimes, French speakers might simply use “Vas-y!” (Go for it!) when encouraging a friend.

Bonus: The Futur Proche vs. Le Futur Simple

Futur Proche: Je vais partir (I’m going to leave soon).
Futur Simple: Je partirai (I will leave someday / in the future).

The futur proche is formed by aller + infinitive to convey immediate or certain future actions, while the futur simple often implies more distant or formal futurity.

Cultural Insight: Aller in Everyday Life

• Comment ça va ? (How are you?) – The literal meaning is “How does it go?”, capturing how deeply aller weaves into French greetings.
• Allez, on y va ! (Come on, let’s go!) – A common group exclamation to move or start something together.

You’ll also see “aller” used in idiomatic expressions like “Ça va?” (It’s going?) and “Ça va bien.” (It’s going well.). These everyday exchanges highlight how integral aller is to the rhythm of French conversation.

Beyond Grammar: Engaging with French Culture

Do you have young aspiring French language learners in your family?
“Y’a pas école ?” on TV5MONDEplus is a new educational program for children aged 6 to 12 that combines education and entertainment. Children can practice French, review subjects like math, and immerse themselves in French culture, setting the foundation for lifelong language skills. Programs like these help learners internalize verbs like “aller” naturally and joyfully.

 

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