What does it mean word for word?
The phrase viens chez moi is composed of the imperative viens (come), the preposition chez (at the home/place of) and the stressed pronoun moi (me), which literally translates to "come at/to home of me".
Which one should you use?
While viens à ma maison is grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural to native speakers. chez moi is the standard idiomatic way to refer to one's own home.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form viens chez moi uses the "tu" form of the verb, making it appropriate for friends, family or peers. In more formal situations, such as speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people, you should use venez chez moi or the more polite Veuillez venir chez moi (Please come to my house). If you want to be particularly gracious, you can say Je serais ravi(e) de vous accueillir chez moi (I would be delighted to welcome you to my house).
Is it said differently in some regions?
Viens chez moi is an informal phrase commonly used in France.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are inviting more than one person or want to use the formal "you", you must change the verb to the "vous" form: venez chez moi.
Did you know?
- The word chez in viens chez moi is actually a linguistic relative of the English word 'case', as both stem from the Latin 'casa' meaning 'house'.
- The preposition chez is so versatile that it describes any place associated with a person, meaning you can use it for a doctor's office or a bakery if you name the professional.
- When a French speaker says je suis chez moi, they are often expressing a feeling of comfort and privacy rather than just stating their physical location.
Examples in context
- Viens chez moi à huit heures.Come to my house at eight.This sentence is useful for specifying a time when someone should viens chez moi.Tatoeba #7771207 by Aiji, translation #72311 by CK
- Madame Dupont, veuillez venir chez moi ce samedi pour prendre le thé.Mrs. Dupont, please come to my house this Saturday for tea.
- Monsieur Jacques, je serais ravi de vous accueillir chez moi pour célébrer votre réussite.Mr. Jacques, I would be delighted to welcome you to my house to celebrate your success.
- Salut! Viens chez moi ce soir pour regarder un film ensemble.Hi! Come to my house tonight to watch a movie together.
- Hey, tu peux passer à la maison après le travail. On pourra discuter de notre projet.Hey, you can come to the house after work. We can discuss our project.
- Si tu es libre, viens chez moi.If you are free, come to my house.
- Viens chez moi pour boire un café.Come to my house to drink a coffee.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about their weekend plans.
- LéaTu es libre samedi ?Are you free on Saturday?
- LucasOui, pourquoi ?Yes, why?
- LéaViens chez moi pour dîner.Come to my house for dinner.
- LucasC'est une super idée !That's a great idea!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chez, moi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
