French word

vers

Pronunciation

IPA/vɛʁ/

Meaning

  • prepositiontoward

Example

Le chat va vers la porte.

The cat is going toward the door.

Illustration for vers (toward)

More examples

Les enfants courent vers moi.

The children are running toward me.

Core concept

A movement or point aimed toward a destination, including an approximate point in time.

Common phrases

  • marcher vers le centre-ville

    walk toward downtown

  • regarder vers le ciel

    look toward the sky

  • venir vers moi

    come toward me

Similar words

à: To a specific destination or position, indicating a definite endpoint.
chez: To a person or their home or workplace as the destination of a visit.
jusqu'à: Up to a stated limit, endpoint, or stopping point.
près de: Near or close to a place, object, or approximate amount.

Definition in French

S'utilise pour indiquer une direction vers quelque chose ou un repère temporel approximatif, et placée devant un nom ou un groupe nominal.

Word origin

French vers comes through Old French from Latin versus, related to vertere, 'to turn', and developed as a preposition for direction and approximate time.

Usage tips

  • With a time expression, vers means approximately, as in vers 5 heures, rather than at exactly five o'clock.

Other meanings

  • aroundpreposition
  • versenoun

Word lists with this word