Chez vs À in French 🇫🇷 — The Rule You Must Know
A simple guide to avoid one of the most common mistakes in French.
Salut tout le monde ! 👋
If you’ve ever tried to tell someone you’re heading to an appointment, you might have struggled with which preposition to use.
In French, choosing between “chez” and “à” is a classic trap for learners.
✅ Correct sentence:
Je suis allé chez le docteur.
La Règle d'Or (The Golden Rule)
The preposition depends on whether your destination is a person or a place.
🧑 Chez → For People
- Chez le docteur (At the doctor's)
- Chez le dentiste (At the dentist's)
- Chez Marie (At Marie's house)
📍 À → For Places
- À l'hôpital (To the hospital)
- À la clinique (To the clinic)
- Au cabinet médical (To the medical office)
❌ Why the Others Are Wrong
- ❌ Je suis allé au docteur → "Docteur" is a person, not a place.
- ❌ Je suis allé à le docteur → Incorrect grammar (must be "au").
- ❌ Je suis allé docteur → Missing preposition.
💡 Pro Tip
If you're going to see a human being for a service → always use chez.
🔁 Practice Examples
👨🍳 Chez le boulanger (The baker)
🥩 Chez le boucher (The butcher)
🥖 À la boulangerie (The bakery)
🥩 À la boucherie (The butcher shop)
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