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How to Say ‘I have to go’ in French

Je dois y aller

zhuh dwah ee ah-LAY

[zhuh dwah ee ah-LAY]

💬 Usage Tip: Y aller is the natural way to say "to go" or "to head off" when you aren't naming a place. Saying je dois aller on its own sounds unfinished.

Phrase Breakdown

Je dois

zhuh dwah

I have to

This comes from 'devoir', meaning must or have to. Say it as 'zhuh dwah'.

Example

Je dois travailler.

I have to work.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

dois

[dwah]

must / have to

Form of 'devoir' for 'je', expressing obligation.

Example

Je dois partir.

I have to leave.

y aller

ee ah-LAY

go (there)

'Y aller' means to get going or leave. Say it as 'ee ah-lay', blending the two words.

Example

On peut y aller ?

Can we go?

Words in this phrase

[ee]

there

In or at that place.

Example

Y a-t-il une solution?

Is there a solution?

aller

[ah-LAY]

to go

Infinitive of the verb meaning to go.

Example

Je veux aller au tableau.

I want to go to the board.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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