Questions & Answers about Je monte en haut.
Why do we need en haut if monte already means "going up"?
You are right that monter already means to go up! Saying monter en haut (literally "to go up upwards") is a repetition. However, it is extremely common in everyday spoken French to emphasize the destination, especially when meaning "to go upstairs". Is there a liaison (linking sound) between en and haut?
No, there is no liaison here! The word haut starts with an "aspirated h". Even though the h is silent, it acts like a consonant and prevents the n in en from linking to it. You pronounce them as separate words without an "n" sound in between. Could I use this sentence to say "I am going upstairs"?
Yes! The phrase en haut is the standard way to say "upstairs" in French. If you are on the ground floor and heading to a higher floor, Je monte en haut or simply Je vais en haut is exactly what you would say. How could I use the preposition chez (from our current lesson) with this verb?
If you are going upstairs specifically to your own apartment or room, you would use chez instead of en haut. You would say Je monte chez moi (I am going up to my place). You usually drop en haut here because chez moi provides the exact destination. Learn Je monte en haut and more in French
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