Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| à côté de | /a ko.te də/ |
| auprès de | /o.pʁɛ də/ |
À côté de is used to describe physical proximity, such as being positioned beside an object or a person. To emphasize that something is immediately next to something else, you can say juste à côté de (right next to). In informal settings, you might hear collé(e) à, which literally suggests that two things are stuck or glued together, implying they are very closely located.
Which one should you use?
While à côté de is the standard way to describe physical proximity or being positioned beside an object or person, auprès de is used to describe being near a person. The use of auprès de often implies a sense of presence, support or emotional closeness.
How do you pronounce it?
/a ko.te də/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to include the word de in this phrase. Do not say Il est à côté moi. You must say Il est à côté de moi.
Did you know?
- If someone says être à côté de ses pompes, they are not talking about their shoes. It is a slang expression meaning to be confused or out of it.
- In French, the phrase à côté de la plaque literally means 'next to the plate' but is used to say someone is completely mistaken.
- The word côté comes from the Latin costātus, which refers to the side of a body. This is the same root found in the English word 'costal', used in anatomy to describe things relating to the ribs.
Examples in context
- Il habite à côté de moi.He lives next to me.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of à côté de regarding people.Tatoeba #4269504 by ocirne, translation #298017 by CK
- Je m'assis auprès de lui.I sat down next to him.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of auprès de regarding people.Tatoeba #1313178 by sacredceltic, translation #1312798 by CK
- Je m'assis à côté de Tom.I sat next to Tom.Tatoeba #5419879 by Jean_Burin, translation #5418420 by CK
- La bibliothèque est à côté de l'université.The library is next to the university.
- Le parc est contigu à la rivière.The park is adjacent to the river.
- J'adore passer du temps aux côtés de mes amis.I love spending time with my friends.
- Le restaurant est juste à côté de chez moi.The restaurant is right next to my place.
- La boulangerie est collée à l'école.The bakery is next to the school.
- 103 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are looking for a seat in a crowded cafe.
- LucasEst-ce que ce fauteuil est à côté de toi ?Is this armchair next to you?
- LéaNon, il est juste là, à côté de la table.No, it is right there, next to the table.
- LucasD'accord, je vais m'asseoir à côté de toi alors.Okay, I will sit next to you then.
- LéaC'est parfait, Lucas.That's perfect, Lucas.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “next to” translations and entries à côté de, auprès de, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries auprès, côté, de, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
