rester dehors
To stay out in French is rester dehors.
The phrase is used to describe the act of remaining in an outdoor area instead of going inside a building.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb rester (to stay or remain) and the adverb dehors (outside or outdoors).
Which one should you use?
While rester dehors is the standard way to express this, rester à l'extérieur is a slightly more formal or precise alternative. Conversely, rester à l'intérieur is the direct antonym, meaning to stay inside.
Did you know?
- The word dehors shares a common ancestor with the English word 'doors'. Both come from the Latin 'foris' meaning 'the door' or 'the open air'.
- In French, the adverb dehors can be used to mean 'crazy' or 'out of one's mind' in certain slang contexts, much like 'out of one's head' in English.
- While rester dehors means to stay outside, the phrase mettre dehors means to kick someone out or evict them from a home.
Examples in context
- Tom conseilla à Mary de ne pas rester dehors tard la nuit.Tom advised Mary not to stay out late at night.This sentence shows how to use rester dehors when advising someone against staying out late at night.Tatoeba #6139935 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #6139888 by CK
- J'ai décidé de bafouer les règles et de rester dehors après le couvre-feu.I decided to flout the rules and stay out past curfew.This sentence illustrates using rester dehors in the context of flouting rules like a curfew.Tatoeba #9772064 by lbdx, translation #9772062 by shekitten
- Je n'ai pas le droit de rester dehors après 10 heures.I am forbidden to stay out after 10 o'clock.This sentence shows the use of rester dehors when expressing that one is not allowed to stay out after a certain time.Tatoeba #7529 by Hel, translation #252408 by Eldad
- Ne pas entrer, s'il vous plaît. C'est une zone réservée aux clients. Merci.Please don't enter. This area is reserved for guests. Thank you.
- Reste dehors, on ne veut pas de problème avec les voisins!Stay out, we don't want any trouble with the neighbors!
- Ne viens pas ici, c'est dangereux. Reste dehors avec les autres enfants.Don't come here, it's dangerous. Stay out with the other kids.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are deciding whether to go into a cafe or stay at a sidewalk table.
- LéaIl fait très beau, on peut rester dehors ?The weather is lovely, can we stay outside?
- GabrielOui, je préfère rester dehors avec toi, Léa.Yes, I prefer to stay outside with you, Léa.
- LéaParfait, je vais commander nos boissons.Perfect, I'm going to order our drinks.
- GabrielD'accord, je cherche une place sur la terrasse.Okay, I'll look for a seat on the terrace.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dehors, rester, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
