À table !
Dinner's ready! Come to the table!
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential French call to gather everyone for a meal when the food is ready.
- Means: 'To the table!' or 'Dinner is served!'
- Used in: Family homes, casual gatherings, and shared living spaces.
- Don't confuse: It's a call to action, not a description of location.
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
An exclamation to announce that a meal is served and ready to eat.
Cultural Background
The 'repas gastronomique' is a social ritual where 'À table !' acts as the opening bell. It's expected that everyone stays until the very end, often several hours later. While 'À table !' is used, you might also hear 'C'est prêt !' or 'Le souper est servi !'. The culture is slightly more informal but still values the communal meal. In countries like Morocco or Algeria, the call to the table often involves a large communal dish. 'À table !' is used alongside local Arabic expressions like 'Bismillah'. Very similar to France, but the timing of meals might differ (e.g., 'dîner' for lunch and 'souper' for dinner). 'À table !' remains the universal call.
Add 'Allez'
If people aren't moving, say 'Allez, à table !' to add a bit of friendly pressure.
Don't wait
In France, when you hear 'À table !', you should stop what you're doing immediately. It's rude to keep people waiting.
Meaning
An exclamation to announce that a meal is served and ready to eat.
Add 'Allez'
If people aren't moving, say 'Allez, à table !' to add a bit of friendly pressure.
Don't wait
In France, when you hear 'À table !', you should stop what you're doing immediately. It's rude to keep people waiting.
The 'On passe à table' trick
Use 'On passe à table ?' as a polite way to tell guests it's time to stop drinking and start eating.
No phones
Modern etiquette tip: 'À table !' usually implies that phones should be left in another room or put away.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition to call everyone to eat.
Les enfants, ___ table !
The standard expression is 'À table !'. No article is used.
When is it most appropriate to say 'À table !'?
You are at home and have just finished cooking dinner.
'À table !' is the signal that the meal is served and ready to be eaten immediately.
Complete the dialogue between a mother and her son.
Maman: 'Lucas, ___ ! Le dîner va refroidir.' Lucas: 'J'arrive tout de suite !'
The mother is calling Lucas to eat because the dinner is getting cold.
Match the phrase to the correct context.
Match 'On passe à table ?' with its best context.
'On passe à table ?' is the polite way to suggest starting the meal after an apéritif.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to say it
Home
- • Family dinner
- • Breakfast
- • Lunch
Social
- • Dinner parties
- • BBQs
- • Shared flats
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 'table' is feminine, but even 'À la table' is not used for the exclamation. It is always 'À table !'.
Not at all! It's the standard way to call people from other rooms. It's actually helpful.
Rarely. They usually say 'Je vous apporte vos plats' or 'Bon appétit'. 'À table !' is for home/casual settings.
You don't need to say it, but some people say it to their pets as a joke!
Yes, 'Le dîner est servi' or 'Je vous en prie, passons à table'.
Yes, it works for any meal where you sit at a table.
It's slang for 'to confess' or 'to spill the beans' to the police.
It's an old idiomatic structure where the noun becomes part of the command, similar to 'À cheval !' (To horse!).
Before. 'À table !' gets people to the seats; 'Bon appétit !' starts the eating.
Yes, it is universally understood across the Francophonie.
Related Phrases
Bon appétit !
builds onEnjoy your meal!
Passer à table
similarTo go to the table / To sit down to eat
Se mettre à table
similarTo sit down at the table
Le repas est servi
synonymThe meal is served
Mettre le couvert
builds onTo set the table
Débarrasser la table
contrastTo clear the table
Where to Use It
Family Dinner
Maman: Les enfants, à table ! Le poulet est prêt.
Enfant: J'arrive, maman !
Dinner with Friends
Hôte: On passe à table ? J'ai fini de préparer l'entrée.
Invité: Super, on a hâte de goûter ça !
Sunday Lunch
Grand-père: Allez, tout le monde à table ! On ne va pas attendre que ça refroidisse.
Famille: On s'installe !
Shared Apartment
Colocataire A: À table ! Les pâtes sont cuites !
Colocataire B: Génial, je meurs de faim.
Holiday Feast
Maître de maison: Mes chers amis, si vous voulez bien passer à table, le dîner de Noël est servi.
Invités: Avec plaisir !
Summer BBQ
Cuisinier: À table ! Les merguez sont prêtes !
Amis: On arrive avec le rosé !
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of the 'A' in 'À' as an arrow pointing down to the 'Table'.
Visual Association
Imagine a steaming hot roast chicken in the middle of a wooden table with chairs pulling themselves out automatically as soon as the words are spoken.
Rhyme
À table, c'est formidable !
Story
You are in a French village. You hear a bell ring. A woman opens a window and shouts 'À table !'. Suddenly, the streets empty as everyone rushes home to eat. The phrase is the magic key that opens every dining room door.
Word Web
Challenge
Next time you finish cooking (even if you're alone!), say 'À table !' out loud to practice the 'à' sound and the intonation.
In Other Languages
¡A comer!
Focuses on the verb 'comer' rather than the noun 'mesa'.
Essen ist fertig!
More descriptive and less of a direct command to move.
ご飯ですよ (Gohan desu yo)
Uses the noun for 'meal' as a polite announcement.
يلا ناكل (Yalla nakul)
Includes a 'let's go' particle and a verb.
吃饭了 (Chīfàn le)
Focuses on the completion of the cooking process.
밥 먹자 (Bap meokja)
Uses a specific 'let's' verb ending.
À mesa!
Virtually no difference in structure or usage.
A tavola!
Only the phonetic difference between 'table' and 'tavola'.
Easily Confused
Learners often add the article 'la' because they know 'table' is feminine.
Remember that 'À table !' is a fixed command. No article needed for the shout!
Sounds similar but means 'under the table'.
If you are 'sous la table', you are probably drunk or looking for a dropped fork!
FAQ (10)
No, 'table' is feminine, but even 'À la table' is not used for the exclamation. It is always 'À table !'.
Not at all! It's the standard way to call people from other rooms. It's actually helpful.
Rarely. They usually say 'Je vous apporte vos plats' or 'Bon appétit'. 'À table !' is for home/casual settings.
You don't need to say it, but some people say it to their pets as a joke!
Yes, 'Le dîner est servi' or 'Je vous en prie, passons à table'.
Yes, it works for any meal where you sit at a table.
It's slang for 'to confess' or 'to spill the beans' to the police.
It's an old idiomatic structure where the noun becomes part of the command, similar to 'À cheval !' (To horse!).
Before. 'À table !' gets people to the seats; 'Bon appétit !' starts the eating.
Yes, it is universally understood across the Francophonie.
