place côté fenêtre
The English phrase "window seat" is translated into French as place côté fenêtre.
Which one should you use?
To specify an aisle seat instead of a window seat, replace côté fenêtre with côté couloir to form place côté couloir.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, some individuals may refer to a window seat as une place près de la vitre.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun place is feminine, so the indefinite article une is used when referring to a single window seat, as in une place côté fenêtre.
Did you know?
- The word fenêtre actually comes from an ancient Etruscan word, making its roots much older than the Latin from which many other French words descend.
- The word place can refer to a seat in a vehicle, but it also describes a public square or a town center in French.
- In France, the word place is the standard term for a seat on a plane, but using the word siège can sound more formal or technical, like a manufacturer's description.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais réserver une place près de la fenêtre s'il vous plaît.I would like to reserve a seat near the window, please.
- Je préfère la place côté fenêtre.I prefer the window seat.
- Est-ce qu'il reste une place côté fenêtre ?Is there a window seat left?
- Il a réservé une place côté fenêtre.He reserved a window seat.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are checking in for a flight.
- EmmaJe voudrais une place côté fenêtre, s'il vous plaît.I would like a window seat, please.
- NathanIl n'en reste plus pour vous, Emma.There are none left for you, Emma.
- EmmaOh, c'est dommage !Oh, that's a shame!
- NathanNathan a une place côté fenêtre, vous pouvez échanger.Nathan has a window seat, you can swap.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries côté, fenêtre, place, CC BY-SA 4.0.
