Learn French: Tu tournes à gauche.

Since this lesson focuses on où (where), you could ask Où est-ce que tu tournes ? or simply Tu tournes où ? (which is very common in spoken French). The sentence we are looking at is exactly how you would answer that question!

Why is it à gauche and not just gauche?

In English, we just say "turn left". In French, directions like left and right usually need the preposition à (to or at). You are literally saying "You turn to the left".

Do I pronounce the -s at the end of tournes?

No, the -s is completely silent. Regular -er verbs like tourner (to turn) always end in -es for the tu (you) form, but it sounds exactly the same as the je (I) or il/elle (he/she) forms.

Can I use this sentence to give someone directions?

Yes! While Tu tournes à gauche technically means "You are turning left" or "You turn left", French speakers often use simple statements like this to guide someone. If you wanted to give a direct command ("Turn left!"), you would drop the tu and say Tourne à gauche !