French Phrase
C'est près de l'entrée.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that something is located close to the entrance. It is a concise way to give a directional cue or describe the position of an object or room relative to the building’s entry point.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving directions, answering a question about where something is, or describing the location of a place inside a building, a shop, a museum, etc.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estprèsdel'entrée
C'est (ce + est)
Used to identify or describe something; the contraction of "ce" (this/it) and "est" (is).
près de
A preposition meaning "near"; it must always be followed by the preposition "de" and then a noun.
l' + entrée (elision)
The definite article "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel or mute h, as in "l'entrée".
🗨In Conversation
Où se trouve la salle de réunion ?
Where is the meeting room?
C'est près de l'entrée.
It's near the entrance.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est près l'entrée.
The preposition "près" always requires "de" before the noun.
C'est près de l'entrer.
Use the noun "entrée" (entrance), not the verb "entrer" (to enter).
↔Alternatives
C'est à côté de l'entrée.
It's next to the entrance.
C'est proche de l'entrée.
It's close to the entrance.
C'est à proximité de l'entrée.
It's nearby the entrance.
Cultural Tip
In French, "près de" is a neutral, slightly formal way to express proximity, while "à côté de" feels more casual and implies immediate adjacency. When speaking to locals, choose the version that matches the distance you want to convey. Also, "l'entrée" can refer to a building’s main door or a subway/metro entrance, so context matters.