Learn about the different meanings and translations of the essential French preposition "chez," and find examples of how to use it with this grammar guide.
In this lesson, you’ll learn 8 key uses of chez, all with Marie’s native audio. Chez (pronounced /ʃe/, “shay”) is a French preposition meaning “at the home of” or “at the place of.”
Ever noticed how many French restaurants are named Chez Someone? It’s like an invitation to eat at Chef Someone ‘s home. b. Je suis chez le marchand des fruits et légumes. I’m at the greengrocer’s shop. Je vais chez le dentiste. I’m going to the dentist’s office. C’est un problème chez les Français. That’s a problem among the French.
In Quebec and elsewhere in French-speaking Canada, colloquial speech often uses plural pronouns with chez when referring to a person's home (chez nous, chez vous, chez eux) even when the singular is meant and indeed even if the person lives alone.
Chez is a French preposition that can mean “at/to \ \ \ ’s house”, “to”, “among”, or “in \ \ \ ’s work,” depending on the context. Overall, the word expresses a sense of “home”, whether someone’s actual dwelling, or a characteristic that’s innate to a person or group.
CHEZ translations: at the home of, care of, at home, home, round, at, telephone, c/o. Learn more in the Cambridge French-English Dictionary.
Chez moi, c’est moderne : la maison a dû être construite il y a une vingtaine d’années. My house is modern: it must have been built about twenty years ago. Je suis resté chez moi ce week-end. I stayed at home this weekend. Viens chez moi, je te montrerai ma collection de timbres. Come to my house, I’ll show you my stamp collection.