French Phrase
C'est au coin d'Elm et d'Oak.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that something (a shop, a house, etc.) is located at the corner where Elm Street meets Oak Street. It is a concise way to give a precise point of reference in a city or town.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving directions, describing the location of a place, or answering the question "Where is…?" It works well in everyday conversation, on the phone, or when pointing someone to a meeting spot.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estaucoind'Elmetd'Oak.
C'est
Contraction of "ce" + "est" used to point out or identify something.
au
Combination of "à" + "le"; used before masculine singular nouns.
coin
Means "corner"; commonly used in French to describe the meeting point of two streets.
d' (de + vowel)
The preposition "de" contracts to "d'" before a vowel or mute h, as in street names.
et
Coordinating conjunction meaning "and".
Proper nouns as street names
Street names keep their original spelling and are not preceded by articles in French.
🗨In Conversation
Où se trouve le café ?
Where is the café?
C'est au coin d'Elm et d'Oak.
It's at the corner of Elm and Oak.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est à le coin d'Elm et d'Oak.
Use the contracted form "au" instead of "à le".
C'est au coin de Elm et de Oak.
Before a vowel, "de" contracts to "d'".
Il est au coin d'Elm et d'Oak.
"Il est" is used for describing inherent qualities, not for pointing out a location.
↔Alternatives
C'est à l'angle d'Elm et d'Oak.
It's at the angle of Elm and Oak.
C'est à l'intersection d'Elm et d'Oak.
It's at the intersection of Elm and Oak.
C'est au croisement d'Elm et d'Oak.
It's at the crossing of Elm and Oak.
Cultural Tip
In French, "coin" and "angle" are both used to describe a street corner, but "coin" sounds a bit more informal and is common in everyday speech. When you want to be very precise, especially in written directions, "intersection" or "croisement" may be preferred. Remember that street names in French are usually not preceded by an article (e.g., "rue Elm" not "la rue Elm").