French Phrase
Ils sont dans l'allée 5.
Meaning
The sentence means 'They are in aisle 5.' It tells the listener where a group of people or objects are located inside a store, supermarket, or any place that uses numbered aisles.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to point out the exact aisle where something or someone can be found—e.g., giving directions to a colleague, answering a customer's question, or describing where items are placed in a warehouse.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilssontdansl'allée5
Ils (subject pronoun)
Third‑person plural pronoun meaning 'they'. It agrees with the verb in number.
sont (être)
Present tense of the verb 'être' (to be) for third‑person plural.
dans (preposition)
Used to indicate being inside or within a place; here it marks location inside an aisle.
l' (elision)
The definite article 'le' or 'la' drops the vowel and becomes 'l'' before a vowel or mute h.
allée (noun)
Feminine noun meaning 'aisle' or 'row' in a shop, supermarket, or museum.
5 (number)
Cardinal number; in spoken French you can say either the digit '5' or the word 'cinq'.
🗨In Conversation
Où sont les produits que vous cherchez ?
Where are the products you’re looking for?
Ils sont dans l'allée 5.
They are in aisle 5.
✕Common Mistakes
Ils sont à l'allée 5.
Use "dans" for being inside an aisle; "à" would imply a point on the aisle, which is not idiomatic here.
Ils sont dans l'allé 5.
The noun "allée" needs the final accent "é"; dropping it changes the word entirely.
Ils sont dans l'allée cinq.
While not grammatically wrong, using the digit "5" is more common on signs and in spoken directions.
↔Alternatives
Ils se trouvent dans l'allée 5.
They are located in aisle 5.
Ils sont placés dans l'allée 5.
They are placed in aisle 5.
Vous les trouverez dans l'allée 5.
You will find them in aisle 5.
Cultural Tip
In French supermarkets and department stores, aisles are numbered and called "allées". The preposition "dans" is preferred for something that is inside the aisle, while "à" would refer to a point on the aisle (e.g., "à l'allée 5" would sound odd). Also, remember the elision "l'" before a vowel‑starting noun, which is mandatory in spoken and written French.