French word

derrière

Pronunciation

IPA/dɛʁjɛʁ/

Meaning

  • prepositionbehind

Example

Mets la valise derrière la porte.

Put the suitcase behind the door.

Illustration for derrière (behind)

More examples

Le chien dort derrière la voiture.

The dog sleeps behind the car.

Core concept

A person or object on the far side of a reference point, opposite its front and often out of view.

Common phrases

  • derrière la maison

    behind the house

  • derrière la voiture

    behind the car

  • derrière le jardin

    behind the garden

Similar words

devant: In the space in front of a reference point.
à l'arrière de: At the rear of something.
au fond de: At the back of a room or container, away from the entrance.
dans le dos: Behind a person or animal, on the side opposite its front.

Definition in French

Indique qu'une personne ou un objet se trouve à l'arrière d'un point de repère dans l'espace, généralement suivie d'un groupe nominal.

Word origin

The form combines Old French de with arrière, which developed from Old French ariere and ultimately traces to Latin ad retro, meaning backward.

Usage tips

  • As a preposition, derrière is followed directly by a noun phrase, as in derrière la porte, without à or de.

Other meanings

  • rearnoun
  • buttocksnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word