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How to Say ‘Are you going away for the holidays?’ in French

Vous partez en vacances ?

voo par-TAY ahn va-KAHNSS

[voo par-TAY ahn va-KAHNSS]

🇫🇷 In France: Before each school break, this is the go-to question at the gate. French school holidays come every six or so weeks, so it comes up often.

Phrase Breakdown

Vous partez

voo par-TAY

Are you leaving / you are going away

This is 'partir' in the 'vous' form. The '-ez' sounds like 'ay', so say it 'voo par-tay'.

Example

Vous partez quand ?

When are you leaving?

Words in this phrase

Vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

partez

[par-TAY]

are leaving

Form of the verb 'partir' (to leave) used with 'vous'.

Example

Vous partez à quelle heure ?

What time are you leaving?

en vacances ?

ahn va-KAHNSS

on holiday?

'Vacances' is always plural. Say it 'ahn va-kahns', with nasal 'en' and 'an' sounds and a final 's' sound from the 'c'.

Example

Nous sommes en vacances.

We are on holiday.

Words in this phrase

[ahn]

on (holiday)

Preposition used in set phrases like 'en vacances' (on holiday).

Example

Nous sommes en vacances.

We are on holiday.

vacances

[va-KAHNSS]

holidays / vacation

Feminine plural noun meaning time off work or school.

Example

Nous partons en vacances demain.

We are going on holiday tomorrow.

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.

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