à l' enfant

You usually place this phrase after a verb. Common partners include donner (to give), parler (to speak), or sourire (to smile). The magic happens with the l'. In French, à + le usually becomes au. But because enfant starts with a vowel, we keep it as à l'. It creates a smooth, sliding sound. Try saying it quickly; it feels like one single word.

Use it whenever a child is the recipient of something. You are at a birthday party? You give the gift à l'enfant. You are at the park? You return a lost ball à l'enfant. It is perfect for doctors, teachers, or just friendly neighbors. It is a neutral, safe phrase for any situation involving a minor.

Do not use this for your boss. Even if they are acting like a baby! It is strictly for actual children. Also, if there is more than one child, you must switch to aux enfants. If you are being very informal with friends, you might use au petit or au gamin instead. But à l'enfant is never 'wrong.'

French culture has a specific view of childhood. There is a famous concept called the 'Enfant Roi' (Child King). This refers to kids who get everything they want. However, traditional French parenting actually emphasizes 'le cadre' (the frame). This means children are given clear boundaries. When you say something à l'enfant, there is often an underlying expectation of politeness and 'bonjour.'

The most common shift is the plural: aux enfants. You might also hear à l'enfant sage, which means 'to the well-behaved child.' This is a classic line used around Christmas time. If you want to be more specific about gender, you would switch to au garçon (to the boy) or à la fille (to the girl).