French Conversation · Level 146
30 words
French word
côtoyer
Pronunciation
IPA/kotwaje/
Meaning
- verbassociate with ___
Example
Au travail, je côtoie des artistes.
At work, I associate with artists.
More examples
Dans ce quartier, on côtoie des personnes de tous âges.
In this neighborhood, we come into contact with people of all ages.
Core concept
People or places kept alongside at close range, with repeated contact but no intimacy.
Common phrases
côtoyer des artistes
associate with artists
côtoyer des collègues
associate with colleagues
côtoyer le danger
be exposed to danger
Similar words
fréquenter: Deliberately spend time with a particular person or regularly visit a place.
rencontrer: Meet someone by arrangement or chance.
voir: See a person or thing.
croiser: Pass someone by unexpectedly on the street or elsewhere.
Definition in French
Se trouver à proximité immédiate d'une personne ou d'un lieu, ou fréquenter régulièrement un milieu, sans relation intime.
Word origin
Côtoyer comes from French côte, meaning side, with a verb-forming suffix, and developed from the idea of being or moving alongside something.
Usage tips
- Côtoyer takes a direct object without à, as in côtoyer des artistes for regularly being around artists.