French word

du

Pronunciation

IPA/dy/

Meaning

  • articlesome

Example

Il y a du pain sur la table.

There is some bread on the table.

Illustration for du (some)

More examples

Je voudrais du café, s'il te plaît.

I would like some coffee, please.

Core concept

Some portion taken from a larger supply without counting individual units.

Common phrases

  • du pain

    some bread

  • du fromage

    some cheese

  • du café

    some coffee

Similar words

de: An article used after negation before an unspecified quantity or part.
des: An indefinite article referring to several unspecified things.
un: An indefinite article indicating a single thing.
le: An article referring to a particular person or thing.

Definition in French

Formé par la contraction de de et le, se place devant un nom masculin singulier pour marquer une quantité non précisée d'une matière ou d'un aliment.

Word origin

The form du developed when the preposition de combined with the masculine singular article le, with the older sequence del gradually reduced to du.

Usage tips

  • After quantity expressions such as beaucoup or assez, French normally uses de rather than du, as in beaucoup de pain.

Other meanings

  • of thepreposition

Opposites

Word lists with this word