A common question among French learners is: What is the difference between aller and venir? Both verbs describe movement, but they indicate different directions. Let’s break it down with more examples!
1. Aller (To Go)
Aller is used when the subject is moving away from the current location to another place. It focuses on movement toward a destination.
Examples:
- Je vais à l’école.
(I am going to school.)
(You are leaving your current place to go to school.) - Il va au supermarché.
(He is going to the supermarket.)
(He is moving toward the supermarket.) - Nous allons en France cet été.
(We are going to France this summer.)
(You’re moving away from where you are now and traveling to France.) - Elles vont à la plage demain.
(They are going to the beach tomorrow.)
(Indicating future movement away from their current place toward the beach.) - Marie va chez son ami après le travail.
(Marie is going to her friend’s house after work.)
(Marie will leave work and go to her friend’s house.) - Tu vas au concert ce soir?
(Are you going to the concert tonight?)
(Asking about movement away from the current location to the concert.)
2. Venir (To Come)
Venir is used when the subject is moving toward the speaker or a specific point of reference. It refers to movement from another location toward the destination.
Examples:
- Il vient chez moi.
(He is coming to my house.)
(He is moving toward the speaker’s location.) - Tu viens à la fête ce soir?
(Are you coming to the party tonight?)
(Asking if someone is moving toward the party location, where the speaker will likely be.) - Mes parents viennent nous rendre visite demain.
(My parents are coming to visit us tomorrow.)
(Your parents are moving toward where you are.) - Elles viennent de Paris pour l’événement.
(They are coming from Paris for the event.)
(They are moving from Paris toward the event.) - Je viens te chercher à la gare.
(I am coming to pick you up at the station.)
(You are moving toward the station to meet someone.) - Est-ce que tu viens avec nous en vacances?
(Are you coming with us on vacation?)
(Asking if someone is joining you on the trip, implying movement toward the same destination.)
Summary of Differences
- Aller is used when talking about moving away from the current location toward a new destination.
- Venir is used when talking about movement toward the speaker or a reference point.
Examples to Compare:
Aller (To Go)
- Je vais en vacances en Espagne.
(I am going on vacation to Spain.)
(Movement toward Spain.) - Il va au travail à vélo tous les jours.
(He goes to work by bike every day.)
(Regular movement toward work.) - Elles vont à l’université ensemble.
(They are going to university together.)
(Movement toward the university.) - Nous allons voir un film ce soir.
(We are going to see a movie tonight.)
(Future movement toward the cinema.) - Je vais souvent à la bibliothèque pour étudier.
(I often go to the library to study.)
(Regular movement toward the library.) - Elle va chez le docteur demain.
(She is going to the doctor tomorrow.)
(Future movement toward the doctor’s office.) - Ils vont à Paris pour un week-end.
(They are going to Paris for a weekend.)
(Movement toward Paris.) - Je vais dans un café pour rencontrer un ami.
(I am going to a café to meet a friend.)
(Movement toward the café.) - Vous allez visiter le musée demain?
(Are you going to visit the museum tomorrow?)
(Asking about future movement toward the museum.) - Il va à la poste envoyer une lettre.
(He is going to the post office to send a letter.)
(Movement toward the post office.) - Nous allons au centre commercial cet après-midi.
(We are going to the mall this afternoon.)
(Movement toward the mall.) - Elles vont chez leurs grands-parents ce week-end.
(They are going to their grandparents’ house this weekend.)
(Movement toward the grandparents’ house.) - Je vais au marché tous les samedis.
(I go to the market every Saturday.)
(Regular movement toward the market.) - Ils vont à la montagne pour faire du ski.
(They are going to the mountains to ski.)
(Movement toward the mountains.) - Nous allons à une fête ce soir.
(We are going to a party tonight.)
(Movement toward the party.) - Elle va à l’aéroport pour prendre l’avion.
(She is going to the airport to catch a flight.)
(Movement toward the airport.) - Tu vas au restaurant avec qui?
(Who are you going to the restaurant with?)
(Asking about companions while moving toward the restaurant.) - Je vais en ville demain matin.
(I am going to town tomorrow morning.)
(Future movement toward town.) - Ils vont en Suisse pour les vacances.
(They are going to Switzerland for the holidays.)
(Movement toward Switzerland.) - Nous allons chez le coiffeur demain.
(We are going to the hairdresser tomorrow.)
(Movement toward the hairdresser.)
Venir (To Come)
- Il vient me voir ce soir.
(He is coming to see me tonight.)
(Movement toward the speaker.) - Je viens de terminer mes devoirs.
(I have just finished my homework.)
(Indicating the recent completion of an action.) - Ils viennent en voiture.
(They are coming by car.)
(Movement toward a location using a car.) - Tu viens à ma fête d’anniversaire?
(Are you coming to my birthday party?)
(Asking about movement toward the speaker’s party.) - Nous venons de loin pour te voir.
(We are coming from far away to see you.)
(Movement toward the speaker.) - Il vient de sortir de l’hôpital.
(He has just come out of the hospital.)
(Recent movement away from the hospital.) - Vous venez à la réunion demain?
(Are you coming to the meeting tomorrow?)
(Asking about future movement toward the meeting.) - Je viens de recevoir une lettre.
(I have just received a letter.)
(Movement of the letter toward the speaker.) - Ils viennent de rentrer de vacances.
(They have just come back from vacation.)
(Movement from a vacation location to home.) - Elle vient de terminer son projet.
(She has just finished her project.)
(Recent completion of a task.) - Je viens chercher le livre que j’ai oublié.
(I am coming to get the book I forgot.)
(Movement toward the place where the book is.) - Ils viennent d’Italie pour visiter la France.
(They are coming from Italy to visit France.)
(Movement toward France from Italy.) - Nous venons d’acheter une nouvelle maison.
(We have just bought a new house.)
(Recent completion of buying a house.) - Tu viens de quel pays?
(Which country do you come from?)
(Asking about origin.) - Il vient à l’école à pied.
(He comes to school on foot.)
(Regular movement toward the school on foot.) - Je viens au bureau plus tôt demain.
(I am coming to the office earlier tomorrow.)
(Future movement toward the office.) - Ils viennent de déménager dans cette ville.
(They have just moved to this city.)
(Recent movement to the city.) - Vous venez dîner avec nous ce soir?
(Are you coming to dinner with us tonight?)
(Asking about movement toward the dinner location.) - Elle vient toujours avec ses amis.
(She always comes with her friends.)
(Regular movement toward a shared destination.) - Je viens te voir demain.
(I am coming to see you tomorrow.)
(Future movement toward the speaker’s location.)