derrière/dɛ.ʁjɛʁ/
preposition / adverb / noun · A2 · Frequency 731
preposition
Meanings
behind
Used to indicate a positional relationship, typically paired with nouns.
behind (secretly responsible)
Can be used metaphorically to indicate covert responsibility for something.
Examples
Le vélo est derrière la maison.
The bicycle is behind the house.
Nous avons garé la voiture derrière le bâtiment.
We parked the car behind the building.
La police cherche à savoir qui est derrière cette fraude.
The police are trying to find out who is behind this fraud.
Collocations
- se cacher derrière un arbrehide behind a tree
- la maison derrière la collinethe house behind the hill
- être derrière un projetbe behind a project (covertly)
Common mistakes
Je suis derrière de la maison.
Je suis derrière la maison.
The preposition 'derrière' should be directly followed by the noun without 'de'.
Il est caché derrière moi-même.
Il est caché derrière moi.
After 'derrière', reflexive pronouns like 'moi-même' are incorrect; use personal pronouns like 'moi'.
Related words
Grammar note
The preposition derrière is followed by a noun phrase, indicating spatial position "behind".
adverb
Meanings
behind
Indicates spatial position, meaning something or someone is located at the back of another object or person.
to the back, backward
Indicates direction, meaning movement or action toward the back.
Examples
Je marche devant et ma sœur vient derrière.
I walk in front and my sister follows behind.
Le vélo est rangé devant, et la poussette reste derrière.
The bicycle is stored in front, and the stroller remains behind.
Ne reste pas derrière quand le groupe avance.
Don't stay behind when the group moves forward.
Collocations
- être derrièreto be behind
Common mistakes
Il est derriere.
Il est derrière.
derrière is the adverb meaning “behind”; do not omit the grave accent on è when spelling derrière.
Related words
nounmasculine
Meanings
rear of an object
Typically used to describe the structure or position of an object.
bottom, bum, backside
Commonly used in spoken language, with an informal tone.
Examples
Le derrière de l'armoire est couvert de poussière.
The rear of the cupboard is covered in dust.
Il a réparé le derrière du meuble avec une nouvelle planche.
He repaired the back of the piece of furniture with a new board.
Le chien s'est assis sur son derrière après la promenade.
The dog sat down on its backside after the walk.
Collocations
- le derrière d’une voiturethe rear of a car
- avoir mal au derrièrehave a sore bottom
Common mistakes
avoir mal à le derrière
avoir mal au derrière
Before the noun derrière, à le must contract to au; the fixed phrase is avoir mal au derrière.
Related words
synonymarrièreback; rear
nounmasculine
Meanings
rear of an object
Typically used to describe the structure or position of an object.
bottom, bum, backside
Commonly used in spoken language, with an informal tone.
Examples
Les derrières des armoires sont recouverts d'une fine couche de poussière.
The rears of the cupboards are covered with a thin layer of dust.
Le menuisier a renforcé les derrières des cadres avec une plaque de bois.
The carpenter reinforced the backs of the frames with a wooden board.
Les enfants ont essuyé leurs derrières avant de sortir de la salle de bain.
The children wiped their bottoms before leaving the bathroom.