🙋📍✅🏁

How to Say ‘I had given you the exact address at the start’ in French

Je vous avais donné l'adresse exacte au départ

zhuh voo ah-veh duh-NAY l' ah-DRESS eg-ZAKT oh day-PAR

[zhuh voo ah-veh duh-NAY l' ah-DRESS eg-ZAKT oh day-PAR]

💬 Usage Tip: Avais donné means "had given" and points back to something done earlier, before the current problem came up.

Phrase Breakdown

Je vous avais donné

zhuh voo ah-veh duh-NAY

I had given you

This is the pluperfect. Use the 'z' liaison: 'voo-za-vay'.

Example

Je vous avais donné mon numéro.

I had given you my number.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

vous

[voo]

to you

Indirect object pronoun: the person receiving something.

Example

Je vous donne la monnaie.

I give you the change.

avais

[ah-veh]

had

Past tense of have; used to describe possession or experience in the past.

Example

J'avais une voiture rouge autrefois.

I had a red car once.

donné

[duh-NAY]

given

Past participle of 'donner', to give.

Example

Il m'a donné son numéro.

He gave me his number.

l'adresse exacte

l' ah-DRESS eg-ZAKT

the exact address

Noun with its adjective, linked: 'la-dre-seg-zakt'.

Example

Donnez-moi l'adresse exacte.

Give me the exact address.

Words in this phrase

[l']

the

Used before singular when the item is known.

Example

L'homme est là.

The man is there.

adresse

[ah-DRESS]

address

Means a street address or location written down.

Example

Dans la rue, je dis : « Je cherche cette adresse ».

In the street, I say: “I am looking for this address.”

exacte

[eg-ZAKT]

exact

Feminine adjective: precise, correct.

Example

Quelle est l'heure exacte?

What is the exact time?

au départ

oh day-PAR

at the start

Means 'at the beginning'. The final 't' is silent: 'o day-par'.

Example

Au départ, c'était facile.

At the start, it was easy.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

at the

A phrase used to indicate location, time, or a condition.

Example

Elle est au parc.

She is at the park.

départ

[day-PAR]

start / departure

Masculine noun; 'au départ' = at the start.

Example

Au départ, tout allait bien.

At the start, all was fine.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer