French Phrase
Ne te mets pas trop près.
Meaning
Literally, 'Don't put yourself too close.' In everyday English it translates to 'Don’t get too close (to me/it).' It is a warning or request to keep a safe or comfortable distance.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to ask someone to stay back—whether you’re protecting personal space, handling a delicate object, or keeping a distance for safety. It works in both casual and slightly formal contexts, but the tone is more direct than a polite request.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Netemetspastropprès
Negation (Ne…pas)
In French, the standard negative form wraps the verb with 'ne' before and 'pas' after. In spoken French, the 'ne' is often dropped, but it is required in formal writing.
Reflexive pronoun (te)
The verb 'se mettre' is reflexive; when giving a command to 'you' (tu), the reflexive pronoun becomes 'te' and is placed before the verb.
Imperative of 'mettre'
For the second‑person singular, the imperative drops the final -s of the present tense form, giving 'mets' (instead of 'mets' with an -s).
Adverb of degree (trop)
Trop means 'too' or 'excessively' and modifies the following adverb, indicating an amount beyond what is desired.
Adverb of place (près)
Près means 'close' or 'near'. When used after 'trop', it forms the expression 'trop près' = 'too close'.
🗨In Conversation
Ne te mets pas trop près.
Don't get too close.
D'accord, je resterai à distance.
Okay, I'll stay at a distance.
✕Common Mistakes
Ne mets pas trop près.
Missing the reflexive pronoun; the verb must stay reflexive in this command.
Ne te mets trop près.
The negation must surround the verb: 'Ne te mets pas trop près.'
Ne te mets pas trop proche.
While understandable, 'trop proche' is an adjective and sounds less natural in this imperative construction.
↔Alternatives
Ne t'approche pas trop.
Don't come too close.
Reste à une distance raisonnable.
Stay at a reasonable distance.
Éloigne-toi un peu.
Move a little farther away.
Cultural Tip
In France, personal space is respected, especially in professional or formal settings. Saying 'Ne te mets pas trop près' is direct but acceptable when you need to protect yourself or an object. If you want a softer tone, you can add 's'il te plaît' (please) or use the more polite 'Veuillez ne pas vous approcher trop près' for formal situations.