French Conversation · Level 55
73 words
French word
dessus
Pronunciation
IPA/dəsy/
Meaning
- adverbon top
Example
Pose le livre dessus.
Put the book on top.
More examples
Il a sauté par-dessus la barrière.
He jumped over the barrier.
Core concept
An object located higher than and resting over a reference object, like a book placed on a table.
Common phrases
au dessus de
above
par-dessus
over
Similar words
au-dessus: In or to a position higher than a particular object or point.
en haut: In or to an upper area, level, or floor.
Definition in French
Répond à la question «où», indiquant que quelque chose est placé au-dessus d'une autre.
Word origin
The French form dessus developed from Old French desus, whose element sus continues Latin sursum, meaning 'upward'.
Usage tips
- When the reference is stated as a noun, French normally uses sur rather than dessus, as in "Le livre est sur la table"; dessus stands alone when the reference is understood.
Opposites
- dessousbelowadverb
- au-dessousbelowadverb
Related words
- par-dessusoveradverb
- au-dessusaboveadverb