where

Most French learners are familiar with the word for “where,” which is “où.” But how do you say “somewhere,” “nowhere,” “anywhere,” “everywhere,” “elsewhere,” and similar words?

  • where – où
    • Où sont les toilettes ? (Where is the toilet?)
  • somewhere – quelque part
    • Tu as quelque part où dormir ce soir ? (You have somewhere to sleep tonight?)
  • nowhere – nulle part
    • Le chemin ne menait nulle part (The path led nowhere)
  • nowhere near – loin, loin d’être
    • Loin d’être assez grand (Nowhere near big enough)
    • La gare est loin de la cathédrale (The train station is nowhere near the cathedral)
  • anywhere – quelque part, nulle part (with negative), où, n’importe où
    • Avez-vous un cintre quelque part ? (Do you have a coat hanger anywhere?)
    • Tu ne peux aller nulle part (You can’t go anywhere)
    • Où tu veux (Anywhere you like)
    • Le chat peut se cacher n’importe où dans la maison (The cat can hide anywhere in the house)
  • everywhere – partout
    • Il a voyagé partout (He’s been everywhere)
  • elsewhere – ailleurs, autre part
    • Il vient d’ailleurs (It comes from elsewhere)
    • Il faut chercher autre part (You have to look elsewhere/somewhere else)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • coeur d’artichaut

    “Coeur d’artichaut” is a French saying that translates literally as “heart of artichoke” or “artichoke heart.” What it really means is someone who falls in love easily, or it can also mean someone who is fickle in love. An artichoke is a vegetable with tough leaves on the outside and a much softer centre. Comparing…

  • battre la campagne

    “Battre la campagne” is a French saying that literally means “to beat the countryside.” What it really means is “to talk nonsense,” “to rant,” or “to travel over large areas in search of something or someone.” It comes from a practice used by hunters of getting servants or friends to use sticks to beat bushes…

  • piger

    The verb “piger” is a colloquial term in French that means “to understand” or “to grasp.” It is often used in informal contexts, instead of the usual verb “comprendre,” meaning “to understand.” The verb “piger” is conjugated like a regular -er verb in French, with forms such as “je pige” (I understand), “tu piges” (you…

  • Thing

    In French, there are several words used to refer to “thing.” Each has its nuances and specific contexts where it’s most appropriate. Here’s a guide to the different French words for “thing.” Chose The most common word for “thing” is une chose. It is used broadly and can refer to just about any object or…