Bedeutung
A very short distance away.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In cities like Paris, 'à deux pas' is the ultimate selling point for any business. The '15-minute city' concept is lived through this phrase. While 'à deux pas' is used, Quebecers might also use 'pas loin' or 'juste là' with a specific accentuation to show extreme proximity. In Francophone Africa, 'à deux pas' is used but often competes with more local French variations or Wolof-influenced spatial descriptions. In Brussels, 'à deux pas' is common in both French and the local Dutch equivalent 'op een steenworp' (a stone's throw).
Use it for Real Estate
If you're writing an ad or describing your home, 'à deux pas' sounds much more charming and 'French' than 'près de'.
The 'De' Rule
Never say 'à deux pas la gare'. It must be 'à deux pas DE la gare'. This is the most common error for learners.
Bedeutung
A very short distance away.
Use it for Real Estate
If you're writing an ad or describing your home, 'à deux pas' sounds much more charming and 'French' than 'près de'.
The 'De' Rule
Never say 'à deux pas la gare'. It must be 'à deux pas DE la gare'. This is the most common error for learners.
The Walking Culture
Remember that this phrase implies walking. Don't use it if the place is close but only accessible by highway!
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'à deux pas' and the preposition 'de'.
J'adore ce quartier car la boulangerie est ________ la maison.
We use 'de' because 'la maison' is feminine and starts with a consonant.
Which sentence is the most natural for a real estate ad?
L'appartement est...
'De + le' contracts to 'du'. This is the standard way to describe proximity to a masculine noun.
Match the situation to the best use of the phrase.
You are 100 meters away from your friend at a meeting point.
In this context, it simply means you are very close to arriving.
Fill in the missing line.
A: On prend le bus pour aller au musée ? B: Mais non, ________ !
If it's 'à deux pas', you don't need a bus; you can walk.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJ'adore ce quartier car la boulangerie est ________ la maison.
We use 'de' because 'la maison' is feminine and starts with a consonant.
L'appartement est...
'De + le' contracts to 'du'. This is the standard way to describe proximity to a masculine noun.
You are 100 meters away from your friend at a meeting point.
In this context, it simply means you are very close to arriving.
A: On prend le bus pour aller au musée ? B: Mais non, ________ !
If it's 'à deux pas', you don't need a bus; you can walk.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenTechnically yes, but it's not a standard idiom. 'À deux pas' is the fixed expression. Saying 'à trois pas' would be taken literally (exactly three steps).
Yes, it's neutral-formal. It's perfectly fine to tell a client 'Notre bureau est à deux pas de la gare'.
Yes, always. Even though it's a small distance, 'deux' makes 'pas' plural.
No, that sounds very strange in French. Use 'C'est pour bientôt' or 'Ça approche' instead.
'Juste à côté' usually means 'right next door' or 'immediately adjacent'. 'À deux pas' can be a slightly longer distance (like a 2-minute walk).
Verwandte Redewendungen
À un jet de pierre
synonymA stone's throw away.
Tout près
similarVery close.
À portée de main
similarWithin reach.
Au bout de la rue
specialized formAt the end of the street.
