Published January 10, 2024 • Updated July 12, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Le côté vs. la côte — Meaning and Pronunciation
Le côté means “the side” and is also used in expressions such as à côté de, meaning “next to.” La côte means “the coast,” “a hill” or “a rib,” depending on the context. Although these two words have similar spellings, they have different meanings and pronunciations.
Le côté is /lə ko.te/ (IPA pronunciation), sounds approximately like “luh koh-tay.”
La côte is /la kot/, sounds approximately like “lah koht.”
Example sentences
Le côté meanings
1. Side
Le carré a quatre côtés.
The square has four sides.
Je dors sur le côté droit du lit.
I sleep on the right side of the bed.
2. Next to
Je dors à côté de mon chien.
I sleep next to my dog.
3. Next-door (d’à côté)
J’aime les voisins d’à côté. Ils sont toujours gentils envers nos enfants.
I like the next-door neighbors. They’re always nice to our kids.
La côte meanings
1. Coast
Nous passons une semaine sur la côte d’Azur.
We’re spending one week on the French Riviera.
2. Ribs
Je voudrais commander une côte de bœuf.
I’d like to order a rib steak.
3. Hill
Le randonneur monte la côte.
The hiker climbs the hill.
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Related words and expressions
Le côté
- à côté de — next to; beside
- mettre de côté — to set aside; to save
- de mon côté — as for me; on my end
- passer à côté de — to miss; to overlook
- voir le bon côté des choses — to look on the bright side
La côte
- sur la côte — on the coast
- la Côte d’Azur — the French Riviera
- monter une côte — to go up a hill
- descendre une côte — to go down a hill
- une côte de bœuf — a rib steak; a bone-in rib steak
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