Prepositions with Regions, Departments, Provinces, States, and Counties

Prépositions avec régions, départements, provinces, états, comtés

French prepositions with regions, departments, provinces, states, and counties
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As with other other geographical names, French prepositions with regions, departments, provinces, states, and counties depend on the gender* and first letter of the name, plus of course whether you’re coming or going.

Going to / Being in a region, department, province, state, or county

1) Masculine

a. Name begins with a consonant or aspirated h: dans le

Je vais dans le Limousin.   I’m going to Limousin.
Il est dans le Nebraska.   He’s in Nebraska.

 Exceptions: au Nouveau-Mexique, au Québec, au Texas

b. Name begins with a vowel or mute h: dans l’ or en

Elle va dans l’Ain / en Ain.   She’s going to Ain.
Nous habitons dans l’Ontario / en Ontario.   We live in Ontario.

2) Feminine: en

Ils sont en Cornouailles.   They’re in Cornwall.
On va en Alsace.   We’re going to Alsace.

Coming from a region, department, province, state, or county

1) Masculine

a. Name begins with a consonant or aspirated h: du

Je viens du Limousin.   I’m from Limousin.
Il arrive du Nebraska.   He’s arriving from Nebraska.

b. Name begins with a vowel or mute h: de l’ or d’

Elle vient de l’Ain / d’Ain.   She’s from Ain.
Nous rentrons de l’Ontario / d’Ontario.   We’re returning from Ontario.

2) Feminine: de (d’)

Ils sont de Cornouailles.   They’re from Cornwall.
On arrive d’Alsace.   We’re arriving from Alsace.

 * See lesson on geographical gender

 Geographical Prepositions Quizzes

Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on French geographical prepositions with these fill-in-the-blanks exercises:

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 Related lessons

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French prepositions with departments and regions

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