How to Say ‘At the start’ in French
Au début
💬 Usage Tip: Refers to the beginning of an action or event.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Au
[o]
At the
Indicating the starting point in time or space.
Au début du trajet, le tarif était abordable.
At the beginning of the trip, the fare was affordable.
début
[deh-boo]
beginning
The start or first part of something.
Au début, tout semblait normal.
At the beginning, everything seemed normal.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
What Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer