French Phrase
C'est une place côté fenêtre.
Meaning
Literally, "It is a seat by the window." The sentence is used to indicate that the speaker wants or has a seat located next to a window, whether on a train, plane, bus, or in a restaurant.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are reserving or requesting a seat and want to specify that you prefer the window side. It works in travel contexts (train, airplane, bus), in cafés or restaurants, and even in theaters or lecture halls.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estuneplacecôtéfenêtre.
C'est
Contraction of "ce" + "est" used to identify or describe something; always followed by a noun or adjective.
côté + noun
When "côté" is followed directly by a noun (no article), it functions as a preposition meaning "by" or "next to".
place (feminine)
Means "seat" or "spot"; the article "une" signals it is singular and indefinite.
fenêtre
A feminine noun meaning "window"; the final "e" is silent, but the "t" is pronounced.
🗨In Conversation
Je voudrais une place côté fenêtre, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a seat by the window, please.
Bien sûr, voici votre place côté fenêtre.
Of course, here is your seat by the window.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est une place au côté de la fenêtre.
Use "côté" directly before the noun; adding "au" and "de" makes the phrase redundant.
C'est une place côté la fenêtre.
The article is omitted after "côté"; keep it "côté fenêtre".
C'est une place à côté fenêtre.
"à côté de" requires the article, but when using the short form "côté" you drop "de" and the article.
↔Alternatives
C'est une place près de la fenêtre.
It's a seat near the window.
C'est une place côté hublot.
It's a seat by the porthole (airplane window).
C'est une place côté couloir.
It's an aisle seat.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries, specifying "côté fenêtre" is considered polite and shows you know the typical seat layout. "Côté" can be combined with many nouns (côté couloir, côté porte) to indicate position. Remember that "place" can also refer to a spot in a queue, so context matters.