French Phrase
Je pars faire une rando.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I’m leaving to do a hike.’ In everyday French it’s a casual way to announce that you’re heading out for a walk in the mountains or countryside.
When to use
Use this sentence in informal conversation with friends, family, or fellow hikers when you’re planning an outdoor outing. It’s too colloquial for a formal email or a business meeting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jeparsfaireunerando
Subject pronoun
‘Je’ is the first‑person singular subject pronoun, always placed before the verb.
Verb ‘partir’ (present)
‘pars’ is the present‑tense form of ‘partir’ for ‘je’. It means ‘to leave’ or ‘to set off’.
Infinitive after motion verb
When a verb of movement (like ‘partir’, ‘aller’, ‘venir’) is followed by another action, the second verb stays in the infinitive: ‘partir faire…’.
‘rando’ – colloquial
‘rando’ is the familiar short form of ‘randonnée’ (hike). It’s common in spoken French, especially among young people and outdoor enthusiasts.
Indefinite article
‘une’ agrees with the feminine noun ‘rando’ (short for ‘randonnée’).
🗨In Conversation
Tu fais quoi ce week‑end ?
What are you doing this weekend?
Je pars faire une rando.
I’m going to go for a hike.
✕Common Mistakes
Je part faire une rando.
The verb ‘partir’ must be conjugated: ‘je pars’ for ‘I leave’.
Je pars à faire une rando.
After ‘partir’, the infinitive follows directly; no preposition is needed.
Je pars faire une randonée.
The correct spelling is ‘randonnée’; ‘randonée’ is a misspelling.
↔Alternatives
Je vais faire une randonnée.
I’m going to do a hike.
Je me lance dans une rando.
I’m setting out on a hike.
Je pars en randonnée.
I’m leaving for a hike.
Cultural Tip
‘Rando’ is especially popular in regions with famous trails – the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Vosges, etc. It conveys a relaxed, adventurous vibe. When speaking with older generations or in a formal setting, stick to the full word ‘randonnée’. Also, French hikers often say ‘faire la rando’ to refer to the whole day’s activity, not just the act of walking.