French Phrase
C'est loin à pied ?
Meaning
Literally, "Is it far on foot?" The speaker is asking whether a destination is a long walk away, usually to decide if they should walk or use another means of transport.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are getting directions, planning a trip, or simply checking how far a place is if you intend to walk. It’s common in everyday conversation, especially in tourist areas, campuses, or when meeting friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estloinàpied?
C'est (cela est)
C'est is the contraction of "cela est" and is used to point out or describe something.
loin (adverb of distance)
Loin means "far" and functions as an adverb that modifies the implied verb "être".
à pied (prepositional phrase)
À pied literally means "by foot" and is used to specify the mode of travel.
Question intonation
In spoken French the rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes‑no question; the written form can also use "Est‑ce que" or inversion.
🗨In Conversation
C'est loin à pied ?
Is it far to walk?
Non, c'est à cinq minutes.
No, it’s about five minutes away.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est loin à la pied ?
The preposition is "à" and the noun is "pied" without an article.
Loin à pied ?
When forming a yes‑no question you need the contraction "C'est" or "Est‑ce que".
C'est loin à piedes ?
"Pied" is singular; do not add an "s".
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que c'est loin à pied ?
Is it far on foot?
C'est à quelle distance à pied ?
How far is it on foot?
C'est loin à marcher ?
Is it far to walk?
Cultural Tip
In French, "à pied" is the standard way to talk about walking distance, while "en voiture" (by car) or "en métro" (by metro) are used for other modes. The word "loin" is relative – what feels far to a Parisian might be a short stroll for someone from the countryside. Also, French speakers often add a time estimate (e.g., "cinq minutes à pied") rather than a precise metric distance.