The Most Common French Prepositions (Avec, Dans, Sur, Chez)

The Most Common French Prepositions Explained: Avec, Dans, Sur, Chez

Prepositions are small words that make a big difference in any language. In French, prepositions connect nouns, verbs, and ideas — they tell you where, how, or with whom something happens.

But for many learners, French prepositions can feel tricky because they don’t always translate directly from English. For example, “in” isn’t always dans, and “at” isn’t always à.

In this guide, we’ll focus on four of the most common and useful prepositions in French: avec, dans, sur, and chez. By mastering these, you’ll understand and speak French more fluently in everyday situations.

1. Avec – With

Meaning: “Avec” means with and is used to show that two or more people or things are together or connected.

Examples:

• Je parle avec mon ami. → I’m talking with my friend.

• Elle travaille avec passion. → She works with passion.

• Je prends mon café avec du sucre. → I take my coffee with sugar.

Tip: “Avec” is simple to use and doesn’t change form. It’s also used in many idiomatic expressions:

• Avec plaisir ! → With pleasure! (used to say “you’re welcome” or “sure!”)

• Avec soin → Carefully

• Avec moi / avec toi / avec eux → with me / with you / with them

2. Dans – In / Inside

Meaning: “Dans” is used to mean in, inside, or within. It indicates something inside a physical space or period of time.

Examples:

• Les clés sont dans la poche. → The keys are in the pocket.

• Nous habitons dans une grande maison. → We live in a big house.

• Le train part dans dix minutes. → The train leaves in ten minutes.

Tip: Be careful — dans usually means inside something specific, not just in general.
Compare:

• Je suis à Paris. → I’m in Paris. (a location on a map)

• Je suis dans le métro. → I’m in the subway. (inside a space)

Common expressions with “dans”

• Dans la vie → In life

• Dans le monde → In the world

• Dans quelques jours → In a few days

3. Sur – On / On top of / About

Meaning: “Sur” means on, on top of, or sometimes about (when talking about topics). It expresses physical position or relation.

Examples:

• Le livre est sur la table. → The book is on the table.

• Il marche sur la plage. → He walks on the beach.

• Un film sur l’amour. → A movie about love.

Tip: Use sur when something is physically touching or resting on another surface, or when speaking about topics and subjects.

Common expressions with “sur”

• Sur Internet → On the Internet

• Sur la route → On the road

• Un livre sur les animaux → A book about animals

• Compter sur quelqu’un → To count on someone

4. Chez – At the home/place of

Meaning: “Chez” is a unique French preposition that has no exact translation in English. It usually means at someone’s place or in the home/business of someone.

Examples:

• Je vais chez Marie. → I’m going to Marie’s house.

• Nous dînons chez mes parents. → We’re having dinner at my parents’ house.

• Il travaille chez Renault. → He works at Renault (the company).

Tip: “Chez” doesn’t only refer to people — it can also refer to companies, doctors, or artists:

• Chez le médecin → At the doctor’s

• Chez le coiffeur → At the hairdresser’s

• Chez les Français → Among the French (in French culture)

Common expressions with “chez”

• Rester chez soi → Stay at home

• Dormir chez un ami → Sleep at a friend’s place

• Chez moi / chez toi / chez eux → at my place / your place / their place

Common Confusions Between Prepositions

Even intermediate learners mix up à, dans, and chez. Here’s a quick comparison:

MeaningFrench ExampleTranslationBeing in a cityJe suis à Paris.I’m in Paris.Being inside a placeJe suis dans le restaurant.I’m inside the restaurant.Being at someone’s placeJe suis chez Paul.I’m at Paul’s place.

Rule of thumb:

• Use à for general locations (towns, countries, institutions).

• Use dans for enclosed spaces.

• Use chez for people or companies.

Tips for Mastering French Prepositions

1. Learn prepositions with example sentences. Memorizing them alone isn’t enough — always connect them to context.

2. Notice patterns while listening. Watch French videos or listen to podcasts to hear prepositions in action.

3. Avoid direct translation. The English “in” or “at” doesn’t always match perfectly with dans or à.

4. Practice writing short dialogues. This helps you internalize common combinations like avec moi, sur la table, or chez le médecin.

Conclusion

Prepositions may be small words, but they’re essential for expressing everyday ideas in French. By mastering avec, dans, sur, and chez, you’ll be able to describe relationships, places, and situations much more naturally.

Whether you’re saying Je vis dans une grande ville, Je travaille chez un ami, or Je viens avec toi, these four prepositions will appear in almost every conversation you have in French.

So keep practicing — with time, using French prepositions will feel just as natural as saying “in,” “on,” or “with” in English.