French Phrase
Tu t'en vas ?
Meaning
Literally ‘You are going away?’, this phrase is a casual way to ask someone if they are about to leave. It carries a friendly, slightly surprised tone, as if the speaker just noticed the other person getting up.
When to use
Use it with people you know well—friends, classmates, coworkers you’re on a first‑name basis with. It is too informal for business meetings, official letters, or when speaking to strangers; in those cases switch to the formal ‘Vous en allez ?’ or the neutral ‘Vous partez ?’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tut'envas?
Subject pronoun (Tu)
‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
Reflexive + ‘en’ (t'en)
‘t’en’ is the contraction of the reflexive pronoun ‘te’ + the adverbial pronoun ‘en’, which replaces a phrase introduced by ‘de’ (here, ‘de partir’ → ‘en’).
Verb ‘aller’ (vas)
‘vas’ is the present‑tense form of ‘aller’ for ‘tu’. In the idiom ‘s’en aller’, it means ‘to leave, to go away’.
Inversion for a question
The order ‘tu t’en vas ?’ is a spoken inversion that keeps the subject before the verb, typical in informal spoken French.
🗨In Conversation
Tu t'en vas ?
Are you leaving?
Oui, je dois rentrer à la maison.
Yes, I have to go home.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu en vas ?
Missing the reflexive ‘t’ – the correct contraction is ‘t’en’.
Tu vas en ?
The order is wrong; ‘en’ must precede the verb as part of the idiom ‘s’en aller’.
Tu vas t'en ?
The reflexive pronoun must come before the verb, not after it.
Vous t'en vas ?
When using the formal ‘vous’, the verb must agree: ‘Vous en allez’.
↔Alternatives
Tu pars ?
Are you leaving?
Vous en allez ?
Are you (formal/plural) leaving?
Tu vas‑t'en ?
Are you going away?
Tu t'en vas déjà ?
Are you already leaving?
Cultural Tip
The construction ‘s’en aller’ is idiomatic; the ‘en’ does not translate to a specific English word but conveys the idea of ‘away’. In everyday French, people often drop the formal ‘vous’ when they’re comfortable with someone, so ‘Tu t’en vas ?’ sounds natural among peers. Be careful not to use it with strangers or in a professional setting, where ‘Vous en allez ?’ or simply ‘Vous partez ?’ is preferred.