US states

In some cases, there is a French form of the name, but not always (if in doubt, check in the dictionary). Each state has a gender in French and is used with the definite article, except after the preposition en, e.g. :

Arkansas

= l’Arkansas m

California

= la Californie

Texas

= le Texas

So :

Arkansas is beautiful

= l’Arkansas est beau

I like California

= j’aime la Californie

do you know Texas?

= connaissez-vous le Texas?

In, to and from somewhere

For in and to, use en for feminine states and for masculine ones beginning with a vowel, e.g. :

in Alaska

= en Alaska

to Alaska

= en Alaska

in California

= en Californie

to California

= en Californie

For in and to, use au for masculine states beginning with a consonant, e.g. :

in Texas

= au Texas

to Texas

= au Texas

For from use de for feminine states and for masculine ones beginning with a vowel, e.g. :

from California

= de Californie

from Alaska

= d’Alaska

For from use du for masculine states beginning with a consonant, e.g. :

from Texas

= du Texas

Coming from somewhere : Uses with another noun

There are a few words e.g. californien, new-yorkais, texan used as adjectives and as nouns (with a capital letter) referring to the inhabitants. In other cases it is usually safe to use de for feminine states, and to use de l’ or du for masculine states, e.g. :

the Florida countryside

= les paysages de Floride

Illinois representatives

= les représentants de l’Illinois

but

a Louisiana accent

= l’accent de la Louisiane

New-Mexico roads

= les routes du Nouveau-Mexique

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.