Maison, chez moi or chez soi: what to say for “home” in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 6 October 2026 · About the library

Say you are at home, invite someone over and describe feeling at home in French. Practise maison, à la maison, chez moi and chacun chez soi in short exchanges.

A2
16 phrases
4 situations
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In short

Une maison is a house. Chez moi means at my home or to my place, including a flat; à la maison also means at home. Use chez soi with a general subject: Chacun rentre chez soi, everyone goes to their own home.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An adult relaxes comfortably in a modest French apartment living room by an open window, slippers and a cup nearby, no books or writing. — The familiar room gives je me sens chez moi ici a setting. Illustration: Atelier

A home can take different forms

How do you say “home” in French?

Staying in

FriendTu sors ce soir ?Are you going out tonight?

YouNon, je reste à la maison.No, I’m staying at home.You can say à la maison even if your home is a flat.

FriendTu travailles demain ?Are you working tomorrow?

YouOui, mais je travaille chez moi.Yes, but I’m working from home.

Inviting someone over

YouTu viens chez moi après le cours ?Are you coming to my place after class?

FriendOui, avec plaisir. Tu habites dans une maison ?Yes, I’d love to. Do you live in a house?

YouNon, dans un appartement près de la gare.No, in a flat near the station.

FriendD’accord, on se retrouve chez toi.All right, we’ll meet at your place.

Going to separate homes

FriendOn finit la soirée chez Nora ?Shall we finish the evening at Nora’s?

YouCe soir, chacun rentre chez soi.Tonight, everyone is going home.

FriendEt toi, tu rentres comment ?And how are you getting home?

YouJe rentre chez moi à pied.I’m walking home.

Feeling at home

FriendTu te plais dans ton nouvel appartement ?Do you like living in your new flat?

YouOui, je me sens chez moi ici.Yes, I feel at home here.

FriendTu connais déjà les voisins ?Do you know the neighbours already?

YouOui, ils sont très gentils.Yes, they are very kind.

The building and the home expression

You mean…	Say…
the kind of building	J’habite dans une maison.
where you are	Je suis chez moi.
where you are going	Je rentre chez moi.
one named person’s place	On va chez Nora.
each person’s own home	Chacun rentre chez soi.
a feeling of belonging	Je me sens chez moi ici.

Chez moi identifies whose place it is; the verb tells you whether you are there or going there. Compare Je suis chez moi with Je rentre chez moi. For the building itself, say ma maison or mon appartement. For a warm welcome, you may hear Fais comme chez toi ! — make yourself at home.