French word

dériver

Pronunciation

IPA/deʁive/

Meaning

  • verbdrift

Example

La discussion dérive rapidement vers des sujets personnels.

The discussion quickly drifts toward personal topics.

Illustration for dériver (drift)

More examples

La réunion a bien commencé, mais elle dérive rapidement hors du sujet.

The meeting started well, but it quickly drifts off topic.

Core concept

A stream leaves its main channel and enters a side course, carrying a discussion away from its original subject.

Common phrases

  • dériver sur

    drift onto ___

  • dériver hors du sujet

    drift off topic

Similar words

digresser: Depart from the main point to discuss a side issue or another topic.
déraper: Suddenly veer in a direction that damages the atmosphere.
se perdre: Lose the thread of an idea or discussion and turn to something else.

Definition in French

Changer de direction par rapport à une idée ou à un thème, souvent employé pour dire qu'une discussion s'écarte.

Word origin

French dériver comes from Latin derivare, built from de- ('away') and rivus ('stream'), with the idea of a flow being led away from its channel.

Usage tips

  • In French, dériver vers marks the new topic or direction, while dériver de commonly means 'to derive from' or 'originate from'.

Other meanings

  • deriveverb
  • floatverb

Opposites

  • se recentrerrefocusverb
  • revenirreturnverb

Related words

  • dérivationderivationnoun
  • dérivéderivedadjective

Word lists with this word