Languages › French Au lieu de Share Flipboard Email Print Sally Anscombe / Getty Images French Vocabulary Pronunciation & Conversation Grammar Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on October 29, 2017 Expression: Au lieu de Pronunciation: [oh lyeu deu] Meaning: instead of Literal translation: in the place of Register: normal Notes The French expression au lieu de can be translated by "instead of" or "rather than," not to mention the French-English blend "in lieu of." However, note the difference in pronunciation: in French, lieu is pronounced [lyeu] (click the sound file above), whereas in American English it's pronounced [loo]. Examples Au lieu de can be used in front of an infinitive, a noun, or a demonstrative pronoun: Je vais écrire une lettre au lieu de leur téléphoner. I'm going to write a letter rather than calling them. Viens m'aider au lieu de rester là à ne rien faire ! Come help me instead of just sitting there! When it precedes a subordinate clause, the expression becomes au lieu que (and requires the subjunctive). However, this usage is somewhat archaic; if at all possible, you should reword the sentence to use au lieu de + infinitive. Au lieu que tout le monde prenne sa voiture, allons-y ensemble. Instead of everyone taking his or her own car, let's all go together. More French Expressions Expressions with à Most common French phrases French expressions used in English Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "Au lieu de." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/au-lieu-de-1371098. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). Au lieu de. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/au-lieu-de-1371098 Team, ThoughtCo. "Au lieu de." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/au-lieu-de-1371098 (accessed March 20, 2023). copy citation Featured Video