What does chez mean?
Chez is a preposition that English borrows directly from French, meaning 'at the home of' a named person or, by extension, at their place of business. It appears in phrases such as 'dinner chez Anna' or 'the offices of chez Smith & Co.', and it is most familiar in the fixed expressions 'chez moi' (at my home) and 'chez nous' (at our place). Because it is an untranslated borrowing, chez lends a sentence a touch of elegance and cosmopolitan flair, which is why it thrives in informal conversation among well-read speakers, food writing, and lifestyle journalism. It functions grammatically like any other preposition, taking a name, pronoun, or possessive as its object. Its ultimate root is the Latin word casa, meaning a hut or cottage, making it a distant relative of words such as chalet and casino.
At the home or residence of a specified person.
"She spent the weekend chez her sister in Provence."
Usually followed by a proper name or by a stressed pronoun such as moi, nous, or vous.
At the establishment or workplace of a specified person or business.
"You'll find the best espresso chez Marco."
Often used in reviews and guides for restaurants, salons, and shops.
English speakers borrowed 'chez' whole from French just so they could say 'at my place' with an accent of sophistication.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chez
Chez is taken straight from modern French, where it likewise means 'at the house of'. French developed it from the Latin word casa, which meant a cottage or humble dwelling, via late and medieval forms of the word. English adopted the term by direct borrowing, retaining its French pronunciation and its slightly fashionable connotation. It thus shares its deep origin with other Romance-derived words built on casa, including chalet and casino.
How chez is actually used
Borrowed directly from French and used without translation; it carries a slightly chic, cosmopolitan register in English and is common in informal speech among educated speakers and in lifestyle writing. The phrases 'chez moi', 'chez nous', and 'chez vous' are especially frequent.
Easily confused with chez
A chaise is a noun meaning a light carriage or a type of long chair, whereas chez is a preposition meaning 'at the home of'.