How do you say we go to the movies in French?

The exact translation for "we go to the movies" in French is Nous allons au cinéma.

Understanding "Nous allons au cinéma"

This common French phrase perfectly captures the meaning of "we go to the movies." Let's break down its components to understand why it's the correct translation.

1. Nous (We)

Nous is the first-person plural subject pronoun in French, directly translating to "we." It indicates that the action is being performed by a group of people including the speaker.

2. Allons (Go)

Allons is the present tense conjugation of the irregular verb aller (to go) for the subject pronoun nous. The verb aller is fundamental in French, used not only for physical movement but also to form the near future tense.

• The Verb Aller (To Go): This verb is highly versatile and frequently used. When expressing the idea of "going" somewhere, aller is the appropriate verb. The phrase "Nous allons au cinéma" directly exemplifies its use for "We go to the movies," as noted in resources on aller conjugation.

Here's a quick look at the present tense conjugation of aller:

For more detailed information on aller and its various conjugations, you can refer to comprehensive resources like Lawless French: Aller Conjugation.

3. Au Cinéma (To the Movies/Cinema)

This part of the phrase indicates the destination.

• Au (To the / At the): This is a contraction of the preposition à (to/at) and the masculine definite article le (the). In French, when à is followed by le, they combine to form au.
• Cinéma (Movies/Cinema): Cinéma is a masculine noun in French, meaning "cinema" or "movie theater."

So, au cinéma literally means "to the cinema" or "to the movie theater," which is the standard way to say "to the movies" in French.

Practical Usage and Examples

The structure Nous allons + à + destination is a common pattern for expressing where you are going.

• We go to the restaurant: Nous allons au restaurant.
• We go to the beach: Nous allons à la plage. (Note: plage is feminine, so à + la does not contract.)
• We go to Paris: Nous allons à Paris. (No article needed for cities.)

Understanding the conjugation of aller and the use of prepositions like à (which contracts to au with masculine singular nouns like cinéma) is key to forming many common French sentences related to movement and location.