French Prepositions of Place: Sur, Sous, Dessus, Dessous, Au-dessus de, and More
French prepositions of place help you describe where things are located and how they move in relation to other objects. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use sur, sous, dessus, dessous, au-dessus de, en-dessous de, par-dessus, and par-dessous.
What’s the difference between sur and dessus? When should you use au-dessus de instead of en-dessous de? And how do you use par-dessus and par-dessous to describe movement?
I’ll explain each expression with examples so you can understand when to use them correctly.
You can download a free PDF of this lesson and other prepositions in my private French Grammar Library.
These prepositions help us convey precise details about position, movement, and orientation.
1. SUR (On, upon, over)
Meaning: Indicates that something is positioned on or upon another object. It can also imply being over an area or surface.
Usage: Always followed by a noun or pronoun.
SUR is often used to describe physical placement or attachment to a surface. For example, “sur la table” means directly on the table.
It can also be used metaphorically: “Il travaille sur un projet” (He is working on a project).
Example:
- French: La pomme est sur la table.
- English: The apple is on the table.
2. DESSUS (Above, over)
Meaning: Indicates that something is above or on top but without repeating the noun. It refers back to a previously mentioned object.
Usage: Not followed by a noun or pronoun; used when the object is already understood from context.
Use dessus when you want to avoid redundancy. For instance, “La pomme est dessus” avoids repeating “sur la table.”
Example:
- French: La pomme est dessus.
- English: The apple is on (it).
3. AU-DESSUS DE (Above, over)
Meaning: Indicates that something is higher than or above another object. Unlike dessus, this preposition introduces a new object.
Usage: Followed by a noun or pronoun.
Often used to describe relative positioning, such as one object being placed higher than another.
Example:
- French: Le grille-pain est au-dessus du micro-ondes.
- English: The toaster is above the microwave.
4. PAR-DESSUS (Across, over)
Meaning: Indicates movement or action across or over something. It emphasizes the motion involved.
Usage: Can stand alone or be followed by a definite article and noun.
Use par-dessus to describe dynamic actions, such as jumping or throwing.
Adding an article and noun specifies what is being crossed or moved over.
Without a noun:
French: Il a sauté par-dessus.
English: He jumped over (it).
With a noun:
French: Il a sauté par-dessus la barrière.
English: He jumped over the fence.
5. SOUS (Under, beneath)
Meaning: Indicates that something is positioned below or underneath another object.
Usage: Always followed by a noun or pronoun.
Sous is used for direct, physical relationships between objects where one is beneath the other.
Example:
- French: Le chien est sous la table.
- English: The dog is under the table.
6. DESSOUS (Below, underneath)
Meaning: Indicates something is under or below, but without repeating the noun. It refers back to a previously mentioned object.
Usage: Not followed by a noun or pronoun; used when the object is already understood from context.
Use dessous to avoid redundancy. For instance, “Le chien est dessous” avoids repeating “sous la table.”
Example:
- French: Le chien est dessous.
- English: The dog is under (it).
7. EN-DESSOUS DE (Below, underneath)
Meaning: Indicates that something is positioned lower than or beneath another object. Similar to sous, but often used for relative positioning.
Usage: Followed by a noun or pronoun.
Use en-dessous de when emphasizing relative placement, such as layers or levels.
Example:
- French: Le micro-ondes est en-dessous du grille-pain.
- English: The microwave is under the toaster.
8. PAR-DESSOUS (Underneath, from)
Meaning: Indicates movement or action coming from beneath something. It emphasizes the motion involved.
Usage: Can stand alone or be followed by a definite article and noun.
Without a noun:
French: L’eau est entrée par-dessous.
English: The water entered from underneath.
With a noun:
French: L’eau est entrée par-dessous la porte.
English: The water came in under the door.
Par-dessous highlights the motion or direction involved in the action.
What’s the Difference Between Sur, Dessus, Sous, and Dessous?
The French words sur, dessus, sous, and dessous are often confusing because they all describe the position of something. The main difference is whether you name the object or refer to it without repeating its name.
| Expression | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sur | On something | Le livre est sur la table. (The book is on the table.) |
| dessus | On it / on top of it | Le livre est dessus. (The book is on it.) |
| sous | Under something | Le chat est sous la table. (The cat is under the table.) |
| dessous | Under it / underneath it | Le chat est dessous. (The cat is underneath it.) |
Remember these differences:
- Sur and sous are followed by a noun or a pronoun that identifies the object. For example, sur la table (on the table) and sous le lit (under the bed).
- Dessus and dessous are used without naming the object again when it is already understood from the context. For example, Il est dessus (It’s on it) and Il est dessous (It’s underneath it).
What About Au-dessus de and En-dessous de?
The expressions au-dessus de and en-dessous de also describe the position of something in relation to another object. Unlike dessus and dessous, they are followed by a noun or pronoun.
- Au-dessus de = above / over something
Le tableau est au-dessus du canapé. (The painting is above the sofa.) - En-dessous de = below / underneath something
Le parking est en-dessous de l’immeuble. (The parking garage is below the building.)
You can also use au-dessous de to mean below or underneath. Both au-dessous de and en-dessous de are correct.
Use sur and sous when you name the object. Use dessus and dessous when the object is already understood. Use au-dessus de and en-dessous de when describing the relative position of one thing in relation to another.
| SUR On, upon, over | FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LA POMME EST SUR LA TABLE. The apple is on the table. |
| DESSUS Above, over | NOT FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LA POMME EST DESSUS. The apple is on it. |
| AU-DESSUS DE Above, over | FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LE GRILLE-PAIN EST AU-DESSUS DU MICRO-ONDES. The toaster is above the microwave. |
| PAR-DESSUS Across, over | ACTION IS INVOLVED | IL A SAUTÉ PAR-DESSUS. He jumped over (it). |
| PAR-DESSUS LE / LA / LES Across (the), over (the) | ACTION IS INVOLVED + DEFINITE ARTICLE + NOUN | IL A SAUTÉ PAR-DESSUS LA BARRIÈRE. He jumped over the fence. |
| SOUS Under, beneath | FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LE CHIEN EST SOUS LA TABLE. The dog is under the table. |
| DESSOUS Below, underneath | NOT FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LE CHIEN EST DESSOUS. The dog is under (it). |
| EN-DESSOUS DE Below, underneath | FOLLOWED BY NOUN OR PRONOUN | LE MICRO-ONDES EST EN-DESSOUS DU GRILLE-PAIN. The microwave is under the toaster. |
| PAR-DESSOUS Underneath, from | ACTION IS INVOLVED | L’EAU EST ENTRÉE PAR-DESSOUS. The water entered from underneath. |
| PAR-DESSOUS LE / LA / LES Underneath (the), from (the) | ACTION IS INVOLVED + DEFINITE ARTICLE + NOUN | L’EAU EST ENTRÉE PAR-DESSOUS LA PORTE. The water came in under the door. |
What is the difference between sur and dessus in French?
Sur is followed by a noun or pronoun, while dessus is used without repeating the object. For example, Le livre est sur la table (The book is on the table) and Le livre est dessus (The book is on it).
What is the difference between sous and dessous in French?
Sous introduces the object that something is underneath, while dessous is used when that object is already understood. For example, Le chat est sous la table and Le chat est dessous.
How do you say above and below in French?
Use au-dessus de for above and en-dessous de or au-dessous de for below. These expressions are followed by a noun or pronoun.
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