General meaning:
* à côté de: This is the most common and general translation, meaning "next to" or "by the side of".
* Example: "Le chat est assis à côté du chien." (The cat is sitting next to the dog.)
Meaning "in addition to":
* en plus de: This means "in addition to" or "besides".
* Example: "J'ai besoin d'un stylo, en plus de du papier." (I need a pen, besides the paper.)
Meaning "alongside":
* à côté de: This can also be used to mean "alongside" or "by the side of".
* Example: "Il a marché à côté de moi." (He walked alongside me.)
Other phrases:
* auprès de: This means "near" or "close to", and can sometimes be used for "beside" in specific contexts.
* Example: "Elle s'est assise auprès de son ami." (She sat beside her friend.)
It's important to consider the context and choose the most appropriate translation.