Breakdown of Il habite hors de la ville.
il
he
la ville
the city / the town
habiter
to live
hors
outside, out of
Questions & Answers about Il habite hors de la ville.
Why is hors de used here instead of en dehors de?
Both phrases mean 'outside of' and are correct for physical locations. The phrase hors de la ville is a standard way to say this, though in modern spoken French, you will also frequently hear en dehors de la ville. The preposition hors de is slightly shorter and often appears in abstract set phrases, but for this specific location, they are entirely interchangeable.
Could I use à l'extérieur de in this sentence?
Is there a nuance between using habite and vit in this context?
The verb habiter specifically means 'to reside' or occupy a dwelling, making it the most precise choice for stating where someone's house is located. vivre (to live) is a broader verb about your general existence and lifestyle. You can definitely say Il vit hors de la ville, but habite focuses purely on his physical place of residence.
Learn Il habite hors de la ville and more in French
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free