À gauche
To the left
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'à gauche' to tell someone to turn left or to describe something located on the left side.
- Means: To the left or on the left.
- Used in: Giving directions, describing a room, or navigating a city.
- Don't confuse: 'Gauche' (left) with 'Gaucher' (left-handed person).
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Indicates a direction to the left side.
Cultural Background
In French schools, children are taught to raise their 'main gauche' (left hand) to distinguish it from the right, often using the 'L' shape trick with their thumb and index finger, just like English speakers. The terms 'Left' and 'Right' in politics originated in the French National Assembly of 1789. Those who sat 'à gauche' were the radicals and revolutionaries. In Quebec, directions are often given with 'virer' instead of 'tourner' in informal speech, but 'à gauche' remains the same.
The 'L' Trick
If you forget which is 'gauche', remember that 'gauche' starts with 'G', and in many cultures, the 'G' side is the 'G'ood side... wait, no, just remember 'Gauche' is 'Left'!
Don't say 'Le gauche'
When giving directions, never use the article 'le'. It's always 'à gauche'.
Meaning
Indicates a direction to the left side.
The 'L' Trick
If you forget which is 'gauche', remember that 'gauche' starts with 'G', and in many cultures, the 'G' side is the 'G'ood side... wait, no, just remember 'Gauche' is 'Left'!
Don't say 'Le gauche'
When giving directions, never use the article 'le'. It's always 'à gauche'.
Test Yourself
How do you say 'Turn left' in French?
_______ à gauche.
'Tournez' is the standard verb for 'Turn'.
Complete the sentence: 'The bank is to the left of the park.'
La {la|f} banque est à gauche ___ parc.
'De + le' contracts to 'du' because 'parc' is masculine.
Match the direction to the action.
You see a sign pointing ⬅️. What do you do?
The arrow points left.
Fill in the missing word.
Où est mon café ? - Il est là, à ______.
'Gauche' is the noun for the direction.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsYes, when used as a noun for the direction ('la gauche'), it is feminine.
Yes, it is very common and means 'on the left side'.
Related Phrases
À droite
contrastTo the right
Tout droit
similarStraight ahead
À gauche toute !
specialized formHard to port! / All the way left!
Where to Use It
Asking for the bathroom
Touriste: Excusez-moi, où sont les {le|m} toilettes ?
Serveur: C'est au fond, à gauche.
Driving with GPS
GPS: Dans cent mètres, tournez à gauche.
Conducteur: D'accord, je tourne à gauche.
Setting the table
Mère: Où est la {la|f} fourchette ?
Enfant: Elle est à gauche de l'assiette.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'G' in 'Gauche' as 'Go'... but only to the left!
Visual Association
Imagine a giant letter 'L' (for Left) made out of a French baguette, pointing 'à gauche'.
Rhyme
À gauche, on s'approche!
Story
You are at a French café. You ask for the bathroom. The waiter points his left hand and says 'À gauche.' You walk left and find a golden door.
Word Web
Challenge
Spend the next 5 minutes pointing at objects in your room and saying 'À gauche' or 'À droite' out loud.
In Other Languages
A la izquierda
Spanish always keeps the article 'la'.
Links / Nach links
German doesn't use a preposition for simple location (just 'links').
左に (Hidari ni)
The word order is reversed (Noun + Particle).
إلى اليسار (Ila al-yasar)
Arabic always requires the definite article 'al-'.
To the left / On the left
French uses one preposition ('à') where English uses two ('to'/'on').
Easily Confused
Learners think it means 'to the left'.
Gaucher is a noun/adjective for a left-handed person.
Both can mean clumsy.
Use 'gauche' for social awkwardness and 'maladroit' for physical clumsiness.
FAQ (2)
Yes, when used as a noun for the direction ('la gauche'), it is feminine.
Yes, it is very common and means 'on the left side'.
