derrière
/dɛ.ʁjɛʁ/
The English phrase 'behind' is translated into French as derrière.
derrière is used as a preposition to indicate that something or someone is at the back of a certain object or person.
Meaning: at the back of (prep)
Which one should you use?
Use derrière to describe a physical position. Do not use it to describe a temporal sequence, such as 'after' in time. For temporal order, use après instead. If you need to express being 'at the rear of' in a more formal context, you may use À l'arrière de.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When used as a noun, derrière is a polite or euphemistic way to refer to one's buttocks, similar to the English words 'bottom' or 'rear'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The preposition derrière is invariable, meaning it does not change its form regardless of the gender or number of the noun that follows it.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɛ.ʁjɛʁ/
Did you know?
- French speakers avoid using derrière in the expression 'behind the scenes', instead using en coulisses which refers specifically to theater wings.
- Because it comes from the Latin word retrō, derrière is a direct linguistic cousin to the English word 'retro'.
- While derrière describes a position, the phrase en arrière is often used to describe a movement moving backwards.
Examples in context
- Il est derrière moi.He's behind me.This sentence is useful for seeing derrière used with a pronoun.Tatoeba #1916387 by sacredceltic, translation #8478463 by CH
- Je suis derrière lui.I'm behind him.This sentence shows how to use derrière with a masculine pronoun.Tatoeba #1126920 by sacredceltic, translation #403370 by CK
- Je suis derrière Tom.I'm behind Tom.This sentence shows how to use derrière with a proper name.Tatoeba #9129779 by Julien_PDC, translation #8398779 by CK
- Le chat est derrière la tableThe cat is behind the table
- La maison est à l'arrière du jardinThe house is at the rear of the garden
- J'ai trouvé un trésor caché derrière ce rocher.I found a hidden treasure behind this rock.
- Le parc de stationnement est à l'arrière de l'immeuble.The parking lot is behind the building.
- 472 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are looking for a lost ball in the garden.
- EmmaOù est le ballon, Gabriel ?Where is the ball, Gabriel?
- GabrielIl est derrière l'arbre.It is behind the tree.
- EmmaJe ne le vois pas.I don't see it.
- GabrielRegarde bien derrière le gros buisson.Look closely behind the big bush.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “behind” translations and entries derrière, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries derrière, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
