At/To Someone's Place (Chez)
chez followed by a person to mean 'at' or 'to' their place.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'chez' to say you are at or going to someone's home, office, or business instead of using 'à'.
- Use 'chez' + person: 'Je vais chez Marie' (I am going to Marie's place).
- Use 'chez' + pronoun: 'Il est chez moi' (He is at my place).
- Use 'chez' + profession: 'Je vais chez le médecin' (I am going to the doctor's office).
Overview
The French preposition chez is a fundamental element for expressing location and destination in relation to a person or a personified entity. Unlike English, which often requires phrases like "at my place," "to Sarah's house," or "at the doctor's office," French utilizes the single, versatile word chez. Its core meaning encapsulates "at the home of," "to the home of," or "at/to the place of business of."
The distinctiveness of chez lies in its inherent focus on the person rather than merely the physical building or geographical location. When you use chez, you are referring to the personal domain, residence, or professional establishment associated with an individual. This concept simplifies expressing where someone is or where they are going, provided the reference point is a person.
For an A1 learner, understanding chez is crucial for basic social interactions. It allows you to communicate visiting friends, going to family, or attending appointments with professionals, forming a cornerstone of everyday French communication about locations. You will encounter chez in various contexts, from casual conversations to formal settings, due to its indispensable nature.
Think of chez as a linguistic shortcut that inherently includes the idea of "place belonging to" or "domain of." It streamlines sentences by combining aspects of location and possession into one concise word. This efficiency is a hallmark of idiomatic French and distinguishes it from more literal translations from English.
How This Grammar Works
chez is to indicate a location or destination that is intimately connected to a person or a group of people. This connection can refer to their residence, their place of work (when acting in a professional capacity), or even their cultural sphere. Crucially, chez does not distinguish between being at a place and going to a place; this distinction is conveyed by the verb accompanying chez.chez is used with a static verb, most commonly être (to be), it indicates being at someone's place. For example, Je suis chez ma grand-mère means "I am at my grandmother's place." The state of being there is expressed by suis. Conversely, when chez is paired with a verb of movement, such as aller (to go), it signifies going to someone's place.Nous allons chez les Martin meaning "We are going to the Martins' place." The verb allons clearly implies movement.chez is its focus on the agent or owner of the location, not the location itself as a mere physical space. This means chez is always followed by a noun or pronoun that identifies a person, a group of people, or a professional acting within their specific domain. This grammatical structure reflects a common French tendency to emphasize human presence and connection.chez with inanimate objects or general public places unless they are personified or closely associated with a named individual. The inherent "personal" aspect of chez is what dictates its usage and differentiates it from other prepositions like à or dans, which refer more broadly to physical locations.Formation Pattern
chez is consistently straightforward, making it accessible even for A1 learners. It always follows the pattern of a verb of being or movement + chez + a personal complement. This complement can take three primary forms: a proper noun, a stressed pronoun, or a definite article followed by a professional title. Understanding these specific complements is key to correctly applying chez.
chez + Proper Noun (a person's name):
chez before their name. This usage is common for friends, family, or well-known figures.
chez + [Name] | Je vais chez Sophie. | I am going to Sophie's (place).|
Tu es chez Marc. | You are at Marc's (place). |
Nous dînons chez les Dubois. | We are dining at the Dubois' (place).|
chez + Stressed Pronoun:
chez. These pronouns serve to emphasize the person and are distinct from subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.). You must memorize these forms, as they are mandatory after chez.
moi | je | me | Je rentre chez moi. | I am returning home. |
toi | tu | you (informal) | Viens chez toi ! | Come to your place! |
lui | il | him | Elle va chez lui. | She is going to his place. |
elle | elle | her | Nous sommes chez elle. | We are at her place. |
nous | nous | us | C'est grand chez nous. | It's big at our place. |
vous | vous | you (formal/plural)| Vous êtes chez vous ? | Are you at your place? |
eux | ils | them (masculine/mixed)| Ils sont chez eux. | They are at their place. |
elles | elles | them (feminine) | Je travaille chez elles. | I work at their (f.) place. |
chez is followed by a stressed pronoun beginning with a vowel (eux, elles), a liaison occurs, pronounced as a /z/ sound. For example, chez eux sounds like "chez-zeu."
chez + Definite Article + Professional Title:
le, la, l') is crucial here, as it indicates a specific type of professional.
chez + le + [masculine profession]| Je vais chez le médecin. | I am going to the doctor's (office). |
chez + la + [feminine profession] | Elle est chez la coiffeuse. | She is at the hairdresser's (salon). |
chez + l' + [profession starting with vowel]| Nous allons chez l'opticien. | We are going to the optician's. |
When To Use It
chez extends beyond just "at home" and covers various scenarios where a location is defined by its association with a person or a collective entity. Mastering these contexts will significantly enhance your ability to communicate naturally in French.- To Indicate Someone's Residence or Home: This is the most common and fundamental use of
chez. It refers to the dwelling where an individual or family lives, whether it's an apartment, a house, or another type of home. This is distinct from referring to the physical building itself. Je dîne souvent chez mes amis.(I often have dinner at my friends' place.)Il préfère travailler chez lui.(He prefers to work at his place/home.)Est-ce que tu es chez toi ce soir ?(Are you at your place tonight?)
- To Express Visiting or Going to Someone's Place: When your destination is a person's home or a gathering at their residence,
chezis the appropriate preposition. It conveys the idea of going to a person, rather than simply a building. Nous allons passer le week-end chez mes parents.(We are going to spend the weekend at my parents' place.)Viens chez moi après le cours !(Come to my place after class!)Les enfants jouent chez le voisin.(The children are playing at the neighbor's house.)
- To Refer to a Professional's Place of Business: Many services are rendered at the location of a specific professional.
Chezis used for these establishments, emphasizing the professional providing the service rather than the generic type of building. This applies to various trades and medical practices. J'ai rendez-vous chez le médecin à 10 heures.(I have an appointment at the doctor's at 10 o'clock.)Elle achète son pain chez le boulanger.(She buys her bread at the baker's.)Je dois aller chez le garagiste pour ma voiture.(I have to go to the mechanic's for my car.)
- To Indicate Living Arrangements with Others: When someone lives with their family or a guardian,
chezis used to describe this cohabitation. It signifies dwelling within another's established home. Ma sœur habite encore chez nos parents.(My sister still lives at our parents' place.)Quand j'étais étudiant, j'habitais chez ma tante.(When I was a student, I lived at my aunt's place.)
- To Refer to Companies, Brands, or Institutions (viewed as a collective of people): While
àcan be used for physical company locations,chezis often preferred when emphasizing the company as an entity comprising individuals or a brand's corporate identity. This is particularly common when discussing employment. Il travaille chez Google.(He works at Google / for Google.)C'est une tradition chez Apple.(It's a tradition at Apple.)J'ai acheté cette voiture chez Renault.(I bought this car at Renault.)
- In a Figurative or Cultural Sense: Less frequent for A1, but important to recognize,
chezcan describe common traits, characteristics, or cultural norms within a group or a literary work. Here,chezpoints to the "sphere" or "nature" of a person or collective. Chez les Français, on boit beaucoup de café.(Among the French, people drink a lot of coffee.)C'est typique chez les adolescents.(It's typical among teenagers.)On trouve ce thème souvent chez Molière.(One often finds this theme in Molière's work.)
chez referring to the domain associated with a person or group.Common Mistakes
chez due to its lack of a direct English equivalent and the nuances in distinguishing it from other prepositions. Avoiding these common pitfalls is crucial for sounding natural and clear in French.- 1Literal Translation of "At My House":
à ma maison or dans ma maison. This is incorrect when you mean "at my home" or "at my place."- Incorrect:
Je suis à ma maison.(This sounds like you are specifying the physical location of the house, perhaps contrasting it with a shed, not expressing being "at home.") - Incorrect:
Je suis dans ma maison.(This literally means "I am inside my house," focusing on the interior space, which is too specific and not idiomatic for simply being "at home.") - Correct:
Je suis chez moi.(I am at my place/home.) This conveys the personal and habitual sense of being home. - The WHY:
Chezrefers to the personal domain associated with an individual, encompassing their residence or personal space.Maisonrefers to the physical structure. French prioritizes the personal connection over the mere architectural one in this context.
- 1Adding
deAfterchez:
Chez already inherently carries the meaning of possession or association ("of"). Therefore, adding de after chez is redundant and grammatically incorrect.- Incorrect:
Je vais chez de Marie. - Correct:
Je vais chez Marie.(I am going to Marie's place.) - The WHY:
Chezfunctions similarly to an English possessive ('s), combining the idea of "at/to" and "belonging to." Addingdewould be like saying "at of Marie's," which is nonsensical.
- 1Using
chezfor Generic Public Places or Inanimate Objects:
Chez is strictly reserved for people, personified entities, or professionals. It cannot be used for general public places that are not defined by an individual's presence or profession.- Incorrect:
Je vais chez le cinéma.(A cinema is a building, not a person.) - Correct:
Je vais au cinéma.(I am going to the cinema.) (auis a contraction ofà le) - Incorrect:
Le livre est chez la table.(A table is an inanimate object.) - Correct:
Le livre est sur la table.(The book is on the table.) - The WHY: The core principle of
chezis its personal association. A cinema, a park, or a table lack this personal dimension.
- 1Confusing
àvs.chezfor Professions/Businesses:
à+ definite article + generic place:Je vais à la boulangerie.(I am going to the bakery – the physical shop.)chez+ definite article + professional:Je vais chez le boulanger.(I am going to the baker's – referring to the person who owns/works at the bakery.)- The WHY:
Àspecifies the type of establishment as a place, focusing on its function.Chezspecifies the professional responsible for the establishment, focusing on the human agent. Often,chez le boulangeris more natural and idiomatic.
- 1Incorrect Stressed Pronouns:
moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles) after chez is a common mistake. Subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.) are never used after prepositions.- Incorrect:
Je suis chez je. - Correct:
Je suis chez moi. - Incorrect:
Elle va chez il. - Correct:
Elle va chez lui. - The WHY: French grammar dictates specific pronoun forms for different grammatical functions. Stressed pronouns are the designated forms to follow prepositions.
chez.Real Conversations
Understanding chez in a textbook is one thing; recognizing and using it naturally in everyday French conversations, texts, and social media is another. Here’s how chez appears in authentic, modern communication, reflecting its versatility and indispensable nature.
Scenario 1
- A: Salut, on se voit ce soir ? (Hey, wanna meet tonight?)
- B: Oui, bonne idée ! On se retrouve chez toi ou chez moi ? (Yes, good idea! Shall we meet at your place or mine?)
- A: Chez moi, c'est plus simple. (My place, it's simpler.)
- Observation: Chez toi and chez moi are concise and direct ways to suggest locations without explicitly mentioning "house" or "apartment." The verb se retrouver (to meet up) clearly indicates movement and destination.
Scenario 2
- J'ai un rendez-vous chez le médecin à 14h. (I have an appointment at the doctor's at 2 PM.)
- Comment ça s'est passé chez le dentiste ? (How did it go at the dentist's?)
- Observation: These phrases demonstrate the standard use of chez for professional visits. The context makes it clear that chez le médecin refers to the doctor's office, not the doctor's personal home.
Scenario 3
- Mon cousin habite toujours chez ses parents, il n'a pas encore trouvé d'appartement. (My cousin still lives at his parents' place; he hasn't found an apartment yet.)
- Quand j'étais jeune, j'ai passé un été entier chez ma grand-mère à la campagne. (When I was young, I spent an entire summer at my grandmother's place in the countryside.)
- Observation: Habiter chez is the idiomatic way to describe living with family or others. It emphasizes shared living space under another's roof.
Scenario 4
- J'ai une interview chez Renault la semaine prochaine. (I have an interview at Renault next week.)
- C'est une politique interne chez eux. (It's an internal policy at their company.)
- Observation: Chez with a company name, particularly in professional contexts like employment or internal policies, views the company as a collective entity or a "house" of business. Chez eux here refers to "their company" or "their organization."
Scenario 5
- Chez nous, c'est une tradition de fêter Noël en famille. (In our culture/country, people celebrate Christmas with family.)
- On remarque souvent cette pudeur chez les Japonais. (One often notices this modesty among Japanese people.)
- Observation: Chez nous can extend to refer to "our country," "our culture," or "our community," highlighting a collective characteristic. This is an excellent example of chez transcending a purely physical location to denote a cultural or social sphere.
These examples illustrate that chez is far from a mere grammatical point; it is an active and dynamic part of how French speakers communicate their social and professional interactions. Its consistent use in varied contexts underlines its importance for any learner aiming for fluency.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can
chezbe used for animals or pets? - A: Technically,
chezrefers to the owner of the house or the animal's human companion, rather than the animal itself. So, if you sayJe vais chez mon chien Médor, it implies you are going to the house where your dog Médor lives, which is your house. It's often used playfully or to express the idea that the pet "rules the roost," but grammatically, it anchors to the human owner's domain.
- Q: How do
chezandàdiffer when referring to companies or brands? - A: Both can be used, but with a subtle distinction.
Travailler chez Google(to work at Google) often implies being employed by the company, viewing it as an organization or "house" of people.Aller à Google(to go to Google) typically refers to going to the physical location or campus of Google. For smaller, individual-run businesses (like a local baker),chezis usually more common. For large, multi-location corporations, both are possible, butchezimplies a more direct relationship with the entity itself.
- Q: What if I don't know the professional's name, or it's a large establishment like a supermarket?
- A: If it's a professional whose type of business is known (e.g., doctor, dentist, baker), you use
chezwith the definite article and the profession:chez le dentiste,chez la fleuriste. For larger, generic commercial establishments like supermarkets, department stores, or banks that aren't defined by a single professional's name, you typically useàorau/à la/aux. Je vais au supermarché.(I'm going to the supermarket.)Je suis à la banque.(I'm at the bank.)J'achète du pain chez le boulanger, mais mes légumes au marché.(I buy bread at the baker's, but my vegetables at the market.)
- Q: Is
chezconsidered formal or informal? - A:
Chezis neither inherently formal nor informal; it is simply the standard and most natural way to express "at/to someone's place" or "at a professional's." You will use it in all registers of speech, from casual conversations with friends to formal professional discussions. Its usage is dictated by the grammatical context (referring to a person's domain), not by social formality.
- Q: Can
chez nousalso mean "in our country" or "in our culture"? - A: Yes, absolutely. This is a very common and idiomatic usage.
Chez nouscan extend beyond the literal "our home" to encompass "our country," "our region," or "our culture," referring to shared customs, traditions, or common characteristics of a group. Chez nous, les repas de famille sont très importants.(In our country/culture, family meals are very important.)C'est une particularité chez nous.(It's a peculiarity in our region/culture.)
chez can cover in French.Using Chez with Pronouns
| Subject Pronoun | Tonic Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
moi
|
Chez moi
|
|
Tu
|
toi
|
Chez toi
|
|
Il
|
lui
|
Chez lui
|
|
Elle
|
elle
|
Chez elle
|
|
Nous
|
nous
|
Chez nous
|
|
Vous
|
vous
|
Chez vous
|
|
Ils
|
eux
|
Chez eux
|
|
Elles
|
elles
|
Chez elles
|
Meanings
The preposition 'chez' is used to indicate a location that is someone's home, place of work, or a professional establishment.
Residential
At or to someone's home.
“Je suis chez moi.”
“Tu vas chez Julie ?”
Professional
At or to a professional's office or place of business.
“Je vais chez le dentiste.”
“Il travaille chez le boulanger.”
Corporate/Brand
At a specific company or brand.
“Je travaille chez Google.”
“C'est la mode chez Chanel.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Chez + Person
|
Je vais chez Marc.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne pas + Chez + Person
|
Je ne suis pas chez Marc.
|
|
Question
|
Est-ce que + Chez + Person
|
Est-ce que tu es chez Marc ?
|
|
Pronoun
|
Chez + Tonic Pronoun
|
Il est chez moi.
|
|
Profession
|
Chez + le/la + Job
|
Je vais chez le dentiste.
|
|
Plural
|
Chez + les + People
|
Je vais chez les Dupont.
|
Formality Spectrum
Je suis à mon domicile. (Home)
Je suis chez moi. (Home)
Je suis chez moi. (Home)
J'suis chez oim. (Home)
The Chez Universe
People
- Marie Marie
- mes amis my friends
Pronouns
- moi me
- lui him
Professions
- le médecin the doctor
- le coiffeur the hairdresser
Examples by Level
Je vais chez moi.
I am going home.
Il est chez Marie.
He is at Marie's.
Tu es chez toi ?
Are you at your place?
On mange chez Paul.
We are eating at Paul's.
Je vais chez le médecin.
I am going to the doctor.
Elle travaille chez le coiffeur.
She works at the hairdresser's.
Nous allons chez nos parents.
We are going to our parents'.
Il est chez le boulanger.
He is at the bakery.
C'est une habitude chez les jeunes.
It's a habit among young people.
J'ai rendez-vous chez l'avocat.
I have an appointment at the lawyer's.
Il y a beaucoup de tension chez eux.
There is a lot of tension at their place.
On trouve ce produit chez Carrefour.
You find this product at Carrefour.
Chez Molière, on trouve souvent de l'ironie.
In Molière's work, one often finds irony.
La culture est différente chez les Japonais.
Culture is different among the Japanese.
Il a trouvé du réconfort chez ses amis.
He found comfort among his friends.
C'est une pratique courante chez les ingénieurs.
It is a common practice among engineers.
Chez Kant, la raison est centrale.
In Kant's philosophy, reason is central.
Il y a une certaine mélancolie chez cet artiste.
There is a certain melancholy in this artist's work.
Ce trait est typique chez les individus créatifs.
This trait is typical among creative individuals.
Chez les Grecs anciens, la cité était tout.
Among the ancient Greeks, the city-state was everything.
On décèle une influence italienne chez cet auteur.
One detects an Italian influence in this author's work.
Chez les peuples nomades, la notion de propriété est différente.
Among nomadic peoples, the notion of property is different.
Il y a une forme de résilience chez elle qui m'étonne.
There is a form of resilience in her that surprises me.
Chez les grands maîtres, la simplicité est le but ultime.
Among the great masters, simplicity is the ultimate goal.
Easily Confused
Both indicate location.
Both can mean 'in'.
Using 'je' after 'chez'.
Common Mistakes
Je vais chez je.
Je vais chez moi.
Je vais à Marie.
Je vais chez Marie.
Il est chez le maison de Marc.
Il est chez Marc.
Je vais chez le médecin's.
Je vais chez le médecin.
Je vais chez le boulangerie.
Je vais chez le boulanger.
Il est chez euxs.
Il est chez eux.
Je vais chez le docteur.
Je vais chez le médecin.
C'est une mode chez les jeunes gens.
C'est une mode chez les jeunes.
Je travaille chez la Google.
Je travaille chez Google.
Chez lui, il est gentil.
Chez lui, il est gentil.
Chez le Kant, la raison...
Chez Kant, la raison...
C'est typique chez les humains.
C'est typique de l'humain.
Il est chez le coiffeur de Marie.
Il est chez le coiffeur.
Sentence Patterns
Je vais ___ ___.
Il est ___ ___.
C'est une habitude ___ ___.
___ ___ , on trouve de la poésie.
Real World Usage
J'arrive chez toi.
Je travaille chez Google.
Je vais chez mon ami à Paris.
Je suis chez le médecin.
Soirée chez moi !
Livraison chez le client.
Pronoun Check
No 'à'
Professions
Intimacy
Smart Tips
Always check if you can replace the location with 'the house of'.
Use tonic pronouns (moi, toi, lui).
Use 'chez' for companies.
Use 'chez' to refer to an author's world.
Pronunciation
Chez
The 'z' is silent unless followed by a vowel (liaison).
Rising
Tu es chez toi ? ↑
Questioning
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Chez is for 'Chums' and 'Chiefs' (people and bosses).
Visual Association
Imagine a house with a giant 'Chez' sign above the door. Inside, you see your friends and your doctor.
Rhyme
If it's a person, use 'chez', don't go the other way.
Story
Marc is at home. He invites Julie. Julie goes 'chez Marc'. They decide to go 'chez le dentiste' together.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room and name 3 people you could visit using 'chez'.
Cultural Notes
Inviting someone 'chez soi' is a sign of intimacy.
Used identically to France.
Often used to refer to the family compound.
Comes from the Old French 'chez', derived from the Latin 'casa' (house).
Conversation Starters
Tu vas chez qui ce soir ?
Est-ce que tu travailles chez une grande entreprise ?
Quelles sont les habitudes chez toi ?
Comment définirais-tu le style chez cet auteur ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je vais ___ moi.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je vais chez je.
Je suis chez lui.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
chez / vais / je / Marc
Il est chez ___ (me).
Je vais chez le ___ (dentist).
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe vais ___ moi.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je vais chez je.
Je suis chez lui.
Match: Chez le...
chez / vais / je / Marc
Il est chez ___ (me).
Je vais chez le ___ (dentist).
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesNous allons ___ le dentiste à 14h.
Are you at your place?
soir / ce / chez / je / vais / eux
Match the following:
Marie et Julie sont là. On va chez ___ ?
Je suis au médecin.
On se voit ___ toi ou ___ moi ?
He lives at his brother's.
est / le / livreur / moi / chez
I am staying at home tonight.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, use 'à' for cities.
French requires tonic pronouns after prepositions.
No, it's for offices and businesses too.
Use 'chez' + the shopkeeper's title.
No, that's a common mistake. Say 'chez le boulanger'.
Yes, especially when discussing authors or philosophers.
No, it is invariant.
Say 'chez mes parents'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
en casa de
French uses one word, Spanish uses three.
bei
German 'bei' is broader than 'chez'.
no uchi
Word order is reversed.
3inda
Arabic is more flexible with objects.
zai...jia
Chinese requires the word for house.
at [person]'s
French doesn't use possessive markers.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
Related Grammar Rules
Prepositions with Cities and Countries (à, en, au)
Overview French prepositions of place, specifically when referring to cities and countries, present a nuanced system for...
French Conjunctions of Purpose: Using 'pour' (pour + infinitive)
Overview Ever found yourself pointing at a menu or a train station map while making weird grunting noises? We’ve all bee...
French Connectors: And, Or, But (et, ou, mais)
Overview In French, as in any language, the ability to connect ideas is fundamental. The three most essential tools for...
French Contractions with 'à' (au, aux)
Overview French, renowned for its melodic quality and inherent fluidity, employs various grammatical mechanisms to achie...
French Time Prepositions: When to use à, en, and dans
Overview Mastering French time prepositions – `à`, `en`, and `dans` – is fundamental to precise communication. While Eng...
