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Getting around in French with 'en' and 'à'

When you talk about how you travel from one place to another, English relies heavily on the word "by", as in "by car" or "by train". The main exception is when you use your own two legs and travel "on foot". French has a similar system, but it divides modes of transportation into two distinct categories using the prepositions en and à.

To decide which preposition to use, you have to think about the physical shape of the vehicle. Is it an enclosed space that you step inside, like an avion or a voiture? Or is it an open mode of transport that you sit on top of, like a vélo or a moto? This physical distinction is a highly useful trick to help you pick the right word.

Word list
autobusmA1 bus en autobus = by bus avionmA1 airplane en avion = by plane busmA1 bus en bus = by bus chevalmA1 horse à cheval = on horseback piedmA1 foot à pied = on foot trainmA1 train en train = by train vélomA1 bicycle à vélo = by bike voiturefA1 car en voiture = by car ambulancefA2 ambulance en ambulance = by ambulance autofA2 car en auto = by car automobilefA2 car en automobile = by car bateaumA2 boat en bateau = by boat bicyclettefA2 bicycle à bicyclette = by bicycle camionmA2 truck en camion = by truck métromA2 subway en métro = by subway motofA2 motorcycle à moto = by motorcycle motocyclettefA2 motorcycle à motocyclette = by motorcycle taximA2 taxi en taxi = by taxi trammA2 tram en tram = by tram ânemB1 donkey à dos d'âne = on donkey-back camionnettefB1 van en camionnette = by van chameaumB1 camel à dos de chameau = on camelback ferrymB1 ferry en ferry = by ferry pick-upmB1 pickup truck en pick-up = by pickup truck sous-marinmB1 submarine en sous-marin = by submarine traversiermB1 ferry en traversier = by ferry (Quebec) vaisseau spatialmB1 spaceship en vaisseau spatial = by spaceship autocarmB2 coach en autocar = by coach bacmB2 ferry en bac = by (small) ferry carmB2 coach en car = by coach (not 'car'!) cargomB2 cargo ship en cargo = by freighter fourgonmB2 van en fourgon = by (large) van fourgonnettefB2 van en fourgonnette = by van hélicoptèremB2 helicopter en hélicoptère = by helicopter kayakmB2 kayak en kayak = by kayak limousinefB2 limousine en limousine = by limousine yachtmB2 yacht en yacht = by yacht bateau à vapeurmC1 steamship en bateau à vapeur = by steamboat calèchefC1 carriage en calèche = by horse-drawn carriage canoëmC1 canoe en canoë = by canoe canotmC1 canoe en canot = by canoe carrossemC1 carriage en carrosse = by carriage char d'assautmC1 tank en char d'assaut = in a tank mulefC1 mule à dos de mule = on muleback tankmC1 tank en tank = in a tank traîneaumC1 sled en traîneau = by sleigh tracteurmC2 tractor en tracteur = by tractor voiture de patrouillefC2 patrol car en voiture de patrouille = in a patrol car
Riding inside an enclosed vehicle

The general rule of thumb is to use en for any mode of transportation that you can physically enter and sit or stand inside. This applies to most motor vehicles and public transport.

For personal transport, you will use en with words like voiture. For public or large vehicles, you will use it with train, bus, métro, and avion. You also use en for travel on the water, such as with a bateau.

Je vais au travail en voiture tous les matins.
(I go to work by car every morning.)
Ils voyagent en train pour aller à Paris.
(They travel by train to go to Paris.)
Nous préférons traverser le lac en bateau.
(We prefer to cross the lake by boat.)
Riding on top and walking

If you ride on top of the mode of transport, you use the preposition à. This covers two-wheeled vehicles like a vélo or a moto, as well as riding an animal, like a cheval.

You also use à when you travel using a pied. Just like the English phrase "on foot", French uses à pied to describe walking.

Le week-end, nous explorons la ville à vélo.
(On the weekend, we explore the city by bike.)
Mon oncle se déplace toujours à moto.
(My uncle always gets around by motorcycle.)
Les enfants rentrent de l'école à pied.
(The children walk home from school.)
Everyday usage and locations

The physical rule of inside versus outside is a very helpful memory aid, but language is rarely perfect. In casual spoken French, you will often hear people say en vélo or en moto. While traditional grammar rules prefer à vélo, the en version is widely accepted in everyday life. However, you should never say en pied.

Finally, remember that these phrases describe how you travel, not exactly where you are located. If you want to say that you are physically trapped inside a car, you would use a location word like dans to say dans la voiture. But if you want to say you are travelling by car, stick to en voiture.

J'ai oublié mon sac dans la voiture.
(I forgot my bag inside the car.)
Summary

When talking about modes of transport in French, think about the physical object. If you go inside it, use en. If you ride on top of it or walk, use à. While spoken French is sometimes flexible with bikes and motorcycles, this mental trick will help you choose the correct preposition almost every time.