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French preposition
The preposition chez is unlike anything in English – it carries more meaning than a simple preposition and has a number of different uses.
1) Location / Destination
| a. | Home | ||
| Je suis chez moi. | I’m at home. | ||
| Je vais chez Philippe. | I’m going to Philippe’s house. |
Ever noticed how many French restaurants are named Chez Someone? It’s like an invitation to eat at Chef Someone‘s home.
| b. | Business/office/shop | ||
| 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. |
2) Among / Of / In a group |
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| C’est un problème chez les Français. | That’s a problem among the French. | ||
| Chez les enfants, on trouve beaucoup de créativité. | You find a lot of creativity in children. | ||
3) In regard to an individual’s character |
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| C’est un problème chez Paul. | That’s a problem for Paul. | ||
| Je n’ai jamais vu une telle chose chez mon chat. | I’ve never seen anything like that with my cat. | ||
4) In someone’s work |
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| chez Picasso | in Picasso’s art | ||
| chez Victor Hugo | in Victor Hugo’s writings | ||
5) Expressions with chez |
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| avoir ses entrées auprès de quelqu’un | to have easy access to someone | ||
| bien de chez nous | typically French | ||
| Charbonnier est maître chez soi. | (proverb) | A man’s home is his castle. | |
| un chez-soi | a home | ||
| être partout chez soi | to feel at home anywhere | ||
| Faites / Fais comme chez vous / toi. | Make yourself at home. | ||
| mon chez-moi | my home | ||
| noir comme chez le diable | pitch black | ||
| nul de chez nul | completely useless/worthless/hopeless | ||
| rentrer chez soi | to go home | ||
| se sentir chez soi | to feel at home | ||
| ton chez-toi | your home | ||
| Va te faire voir chez les Grecs ! | (familiar) | Go to hell! | |
Related lessons
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