Déménager vs Emménager vs Aménager

These three verbs look and sound similar, and they’re all connected to the idea of moving, but they describe three totally different stages of the process. English has only one verb (“to move”), so this distinction is often confusing for learners.

Here’s exactly what each one means, when to use it, and the patterns to watch out for.

You can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.

1. Déménager – To move out / move away (changing residence)

Déménager is the verb you use when you are leaving one home and moving to another. It focuses on the departure, not the destination.

Means to move out of a place
Can refer to a person, family, or business
Can take de (from) OR be used alone
Sometimes takes à (to) when specifying destination

Examples

Je déménage demain.
I’m moving tomorrow.
Ils ont déménagé de Paris l’an dernier.
They moved out of Paris last year.
Nous allons déménager à Lyon cet été.
We’re going to move to Lyon this summer.
Le magasin a déménagé.
The store has moved locations.

Tricky point for English speakers

“Move” in English usually covers both leaving and arriving.
In French, déménager only covers the “leaving/moving house” part.

2. Emménager – To move in (settle into a new place)

Emménager is the opposite of déménager. Use it when you are arriving in the new home and beginning to live there.

Means to move into a place
Always refers to the arrival
Takes dans or à for the destination
You cannot emménager de somewhere — only dans somewhere

Examples

Nous emménageons dans notre nouvel appartement samedi.
We’re moving into our new apartment Saturday.
Ils ont emménagé il y a trois semaines.
They moved in three weeks ago.
Elle va emménager à Bordeaux en mai.
She’s going to move into her new place in Bordeaux in May.

Tricky point for English speakers

If you say “We moved to Paris,” English combines both ideas. In French, you might need two verbs depending on the context:

Nous avons déménagé de Lyon et emménagé à Paris.
We moved out of Lyon and moved into Paris.

3. Aménager – To set up / furnish / arrange / convert a space

This one does NOT mean “to move.” It means to arrange a space, to furnish, to renovate, or to make a place functional. Think of it as setting up a space after moving in.

To furnish or organize a home or room
To convert a space (garage into a bedroom, attic into an office)
To design/lay out a space
Can be used for cities or infrastructure (“urban planning”)

Examples

Nous allons aménager la chambre du bébé.
We’re going to set up the baby’s room.
Ils ont aménagé le grenier en bureau.
They converted the attic into an office.
On doit aménager la cuisine avant d’emménager.
We need to set up the kitchen before moving in.
La ville a aménagé une nouvelle piste cyclable.
The city developed a new bike path.

4. Summary

Verb	Meaning	Prepositions	Example
déménager	move out move house	de (from)à (to)	Nous déménageons à Nice.
emménager	move in (arrive)	dansà	Ils emménagent dans leur maison.
aménager	set up furnisharrangeconvert	direct object	Elle aménage son salon.