Learn French: Il vaut mieux partir tôt. - It is better to leave early.

Il vaut mieux (it is better) is another very common way to give advice in French! While tu devrais (you should) is directed at a specific person, il vaut mieux is an impersonal expression. It states a general good idea, much like saying "it's best to..." in English.

What verb does vaut come from?

It comes from the irregular verb valoir, which means "to be worth." So, il vaut mieux literally translates to "it is worth better," which we understand as "it is better."

Do I need a connecting word like de or à before the next verb?

No. After the expression il vaut mieux, you directly attach the infinitive (unconjugated) form of the action you are recommending. That is why partir follows it directly with no extra words.

Why do we use mieux instead of meilleur for "better"?

Mieux is an adverb, so it is used to describe verbs, like vaut in this sentence. Meilleur is an adjective, so it is only used to describe nouns (for example, "un meilleur café" means "a better coffee").