French word

demeurer

Pronunciation

IPA/dəmœʁe/

Meaning

  • verblive

Example

Il demeure dans cette maison.

He lives in this house.

Illustration for demeurer (live)

More examples

Elle demeure chez ses parents pendant les vacances.

She stays at her parents' home during the holidays.

Core concept

A settled residence where someone continues to have an established presence.

Similar words

habiter: To occupy a house or other building as a home.
vivre: To live day by day in a particular place.
résider: To make one's home in a place for many years.
emménager: To move into a new dwelling and begin living there.

Definition in French

Habiter un lieu et y être établi de manière durable ; au registre littéraire ou administratif, indiquer aussi l'adresse.

Word origin

The verb demeurer developed from Old French demeurer, from Latin demorari, whose sense of remaining led to the French meanings of dwelling and staying.

Usage tips

  • In administrative or legal writing, demeurer can introduce an address, while everyday speech usually prefers habiter or vivre.

Other meanings

  • stayverb
  • remainverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word