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👉 See also: Aller conjugation chart (with audio) »
Level B1–B2 (Intermediate, upper intermediate)
Updated January 26, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The Word of the Day is s’en aller, a fascinating reflexive verb meaning “to leave.” We’ll also take a quick look at the role the pronoun en plays in this construction.
✅ Meaning
✅ Pronunciation
✅ Example sentences
📘 S’en aller meaning in French
S’en aller is a common French reflexive verb meaning “to leave,” “to go away,” or “to be off.” It focuses on the act of departing — often from a place or from other people. You’ll hear it most often in the present tense (je m’en vais — I’m leaving) and in the imperative (va-t’en ! — go away!).
In s’en aller, en replaces an implied de + place and shows movement away from somewhere. That’s why je m’en vais literally suggests “I go away from here.”
👉 Je vais de + place → Je m’en vais
💡 S’en aller vs. partir and sortir
Unlike partir (to leave in a general sense) and sortir (to go out or exit), s’en aller puts the focus on going away from a place and feels more immediate and conversational. Partir is neutral and works for trips or plans, while sortir usually means leaving a building or going out socially.
➞ S’en aller: Je m’en vais — I’m leaving. (right now)
➞ Partir: Je pars demain — I leave tomorrow. (planned)
➞ Sortir: Je sors ce soir — I’m going out tonight. (going out)
See also:
👉 Partir usage examples »
👉 Sortir usage examples »
👉 Object pronoun en »
🎧 S’en aller pronunciation in French
The pronunciation of s’en aller is /sɑ̃ a.le/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “sahn ah-lay.”
📝 S’en aller usage examples
Salut tout le monde ! Je m’en vais !
Bye everybody! I’m leaving!
Tu t’en vas avant la fin du film ?
You’re leaving before the end of the movie?
Vous vous en allez aujourd’hui ? – Non, on s’en va demain.
You’re leaving today? – No, we’re leaving tomorrow.
Prends ta valise et va-t’en !
Take your suitcase and go!
In order to use s’en aller, you must master the irregular verb aller (to go).
👉 See also: Aller conjugation chart (with audio) »
S’en aller present tense conjugation
- Je m’en vais — I leave (go, am off)
- Tu t’en vas — You leave (singular, informal)
- Il, elle s’en va — He, she leaves
- Nous nous en allons — We leave
- Vous vous en allez — You leave (plural, formal)
- Ils, elles s’en vont — They leave
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- partir — to leave
- sortir — to go out
- quitter — to leave (someone / a place)
- se barrer — to take off (informal)
- se casser — to leave (slang)
- s’enfuir — to run away
- faire ses valises — to pack one’s bags
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner!
👉 Aller (to go) — usage examples »
👉 Aller conjugation charts (with audio) »
👉 French reflexive verbs »
S’en aller — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does s’en aller mean?
It means “to leave” or “to go away,” with a focus on moving away from a place or people.
How is s’en aller different from partir?
S’en aller feels more immediate and conversational, while partir is neutral and often used for plans or trips.
What does the pronoun en do in s’en aller?
En replaces an implied de + place, so je m’en vais literally suggests “I go away from here.”
Do I need to know aller to use s’en aller?
Yes — s’en aller is built on the irregular verb aller, so mastering its conjugation is essential.
