When we talk about something or someone being 'au soleil', we mean they are directly exposed to the sun's rays. It's a common phrase used to describe anything from sunbathing to plants growing in a sunny spot. Think of it as indicating a location or state of being 'in the sun'.
For example, if you say 'Je lisais au soleil', it means 'I was reading in the sun'. Or, if a gardener mentions 'Ces fleurs poussent bien au soleil', they mean 'These flowers grow well in the sun'. It's a versatile phrase that implies direct exposure to sunlight.
How to Use It
When you want to express the idea of being 'in the sun' or 'exposed to direct sunlight' in French, the most common and natural phrase is au soleil. It literally translates to 'to the sun' or 'at the sun,' but in context, it conveys the meaning of being outdoors where the sun is shining directly on you. You'll use this phrase when talking about activities like sunbathing, eating outside on a sunny day, or simply enjoying good weather. For example, if you say, 'Je lis un livre au soleil,' it means 'I am reading a book in the sun.' Similarly, if you want to describe a place that gets a lot of direct sunlight, you can say, 'La terrasse est toujours au soleil,' meaning 'The terrace is always in the sun.'
A common mistake English speakers make is trying to translate 'in the sun' too literally with phrases like dans le soleil. While dans means 'in,' dans le soleil is not used in French to mean 'in the sun' as in enjoying direct sunlight. It would sound very unnatural to a native speaker. Another error could be using sous le soleil. While sous means 'under,' sous le soleil implies being physically beneath the sun in a poetic or literary sense, not simply being exposed to its rays. Always stick to au soleil for the straightforward meaning of being 'in the sun' or 'exposed to direct sunlight.'
Test Yourself 12 questions
This sentence translates to 'I like to read in the sun.' The structure 'J'aime lire' (I like to read) is followed by the phrase 'au soleil' (in the sun).
This sentence means 'The children play in the sun.' 'Les enfants' (The children) is the subject, followed by the verb 'jouent' (play), and then 'au soleil' (in the sun).
This sentence translates to 'It is hot in the sun today.' 'Il fait chaud' means 'It is hot,' and 'au soleil' specifies where it's hot.
This sentence means 'I love to read a book in the sun.' The order follows a typical French sentence structure: subject, verb, infinitive, object, and then the adverbial phrase.
This sentence means 'The children are playing in the sun in the garden.' The phrase 'au soleil' describes where they are playing.
This sentence means 'It is important to protect oneself when staying too long in the sun.' The phrase 'au soleil' specifies the condition for needing protection.
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à ciel ouvert
B1Open-air, under the open sky.
à fleur d'eau
B1At water level; just above the surface of the water.
à l'abri de
B1Sheltered from; safe from.
à l'approche de
B1As (something) approaches; nearing.
à l'aube
B1At dawn; at the very beginning of the day.
à l'écart de
B1Away from; apart from.
à l'état sauvage
B1In the wild; in an untamed state.
à l'extérieur de
A2Outside of.
à l'intérieur de
A2Inside of; within.
à pas lents
B1At a slow pace.
