French Phrase
Traverse la rue au coin.
Meaning
Literally, “Cross the street at the corner.” It is an informal command telling someone to cross the road where it meets another street or a corner.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving directions to a friend, a fellow traveler, or anyone you know well. In more formal contexts you would switch to the *vous* form (*Traversez la rue au coin*).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Traverselarueaucoin
Traverse (imperative)
The verb *traverser* in the second‑person singular informal imperative drops the final *-er* and becomes *traverse*.
Definite article *la*
*La* is the feminine singular definite article that agrees with the noun *rue*.
*rue* (noun)
*Rue* is a feminine noun meaning “street”.
*au* = à + le
*Au* is the contraction of the preposition *à* (to/at) and the masculine singular article *le*, used before masculine nouns like *coin*.
*coin* (noun)
*Coin* is a masculine noun meaning “corner” or “nook”.
🗨In Conversation
Traverse la rue au coin.
Cross the street at the corner.
D'accord, je le fais tout de suite.
Okay, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Traverse le rue au coin.
The noun *rue* is feminine, so the article must be *la*, not *le*.
Traverse la rue au coin de la rue.
While grammatically correct, native speakers usually say *au coin* when the context already involves a street.
Traversez la rue à le coin.
The contraction *au* must be used; *à le* is never written separately.
↔Alternatives
Traversez la rue au coin.
Cross the street at the corner. (polite/formal)
Passez de l'autre côté de la rue au coin.
Go to the other side of the street at the corner.
Va traverser la rue au coin.
Go cross the street at the corner.
Cultural Tip
In French, directions are often given using landmarks like *au coin* (at the corner) or *au feu* (at the traffic light). When speaking to strangers or in professional settings, use the *vous* form (*Traversez*). Also, remember that French drivers tend to be more cautious at corners, so a polite tone is appreciated.