French Phrase
Environ 8-10 minutes de chaque côté.
Meaning
This sentence tells someone to spend roughly eight to ten minutes on each side of something—most often a piece of food on a grill or a workout set. The speaker emphasizes an approximate time rather than an exact count.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving step‑by‑step instructions that involve flipping, turning, or alternating sides, such as cooking a steak, grilling vegetables, or doing a plank on each side.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Environ8-10minutesdechaquecôté
Environ
An adverb meaning 'approximately' or 'about', placed before the quantity it modifies.
Number range
When giving a range, use a hyphen (8-10) or write it out as 'huit à dix'.
de chaque côté
A prepositional phrase meaning 'on each side', commonly used in cooking or exercise instructions.
Plural noun agreement
'minutes' stays plural regardless of the range; the article is omitted because the quantity is expressed by the number.
🗨In Conversation
Mets le poulet sur le gril et laisse‑le cuire environ 8-10 minutes de chaque côté.
Put the chicken on the grill and let it cook for about 8‑10 minutes on each side.
D'accord, je le retournerai après dix minutes si ce n'est pas encore doré.
Okay, I’ll flip it after ten minutes if it’s not golden yet.
✕Common Mistakes
Environ 8-10 minutes à chaque côté.
Use "de chaque côté" for timing instructions; "à chaque côté" is used for location, not duration.
Environ 8-10 minutes de chaque côté.
When writing out the range in formal French, spell the numbers or use "à" between them.
Environ exactement 8 minutes de chaque côté.
Do not use "environ" with a precise number like "exactement 8 minutes"; they contradict each other.
↔Alternatives
Environ huit à dix minutes de chaque côté.
Approximately eight to ten minutes on each side.
Environ 8 à 10 minutes de chaque côté.
Approximately 8 to 10 minutes on each side.
Environ huit à dix minutes par côté.
Approximately eight to ten minutes per side.
Cultural Tip
In French, "environ" is preferred over "à peu près" in formal instructions. When you write a numeric range, you can either use a hyphen (8‑10) or the word "à" (8 à 10). The phrase "de chaque côté" is idiomatic for cooking and exercise, but avoid "à chaque côté" which would sound unnatural in this context.