descendre/de.sɑ̃dʁ/
verb · A2 · Frequency 541
verb
Meanings
to go down; to descend
Used when a person or thing moves downward; also used for abstract decrease or decline.
to take down; to lower
Used for bringing something down from a higher place or lowering it.
to disparage; to tear apart critically
Often used for harshly criticizing a work, person, or idea.
to kill
Slang use, mainly colloquial; not a neutral or formal sense.
to stay; to lodge
Often found in more formal usage, especially for staying in a hotel or temporary lodging.
Examples
Nous devons descendre avant la fermeture des portes.
We have to go down before the doors close.
Je vais descendre les cartons du grenier.
I am going to bring the boxes down from the attic.
Il est facile de descendre un film sans avoir vu toute la série.
It is easy to tear a film apart without having seen the whole series.
Le groupe avait reçu l'ordre de descendre le témoin.
The group had been ordered to kill the witness.
Collocations
- descendre l'escalierto go down the stairs
- descendre la valiseto take down the suitcase
- descendre un filmto disparage a movie
Common mistakes
Je suis descendu la valise.
J'ai descendu la valise.
When descendre means “to take or lower something” and has a direct object, it is transitive and uses avoir in the passé composé, not être.
Related words
Grammar note
When used intransitively to indicate directional movement, descendre forms compound tenses with être; when used transitively, it forms compound tenses with avoir.
verb
Meanings
to go down; to descend
Used when a person or thing moves downward; also used for abstract decrease or decline.
to take down; to lower
Used for bringing something down from a higher place or lowering it.
to disparage; to tear apart critically
Often used for harshly criticizing a work, person, or idea.
to kill
Slang use, mainly colloquial; not a neutral or formal sense.
to stay; to lodge
Often found in more formal usage, especially for staying in a hotel or temporary lodging.
Examples
En descendant l'escalier, elle a entendu la sonnette.
While going down the stairs, she heard the doorbell.
En descendant la valise du grenier, il s'est fait mal au dos.
While bringing the suitcase down from the attic, he hurt his back.
En descendant le nouveau spectacle, le critique a provoqué une vive réaction.
By tearing apart the new show, the critic provoked a strong reaction.
En descendant le fugitif, le policier a mis fin à la poursuite.
By shooting the fugitive, the police officer ended the chase.
Grammar note
When used intransitively to indicate directional movement, descendre forms compound tenses with être; when used transitively, it forms compound tenses with avoir.
verb
Meanings
to go down; to descend
Used when a person or thing moves downward; also used for abstract decrease or decline.
to take down; to lower
Used for bringing something down from a higher place or lowering it.
to disparage; to tear apart critically
Often used for harshly criticizing a work, person, or idea.
to kill
Slang use, mainly colloquial; not a neutral or formal sense.
to stay; to lodge
Often found in more formal usage, especially for staying in a hotel or temporary lodging.
Examples
Il est descendu du train à la dernière station.
He got off the train at the last station.
J'ai descendu les cartons à la cave.
I took the boxes down to the cellar.
Le critique a descendu ce film dans sa chronique.
The critic tore this film apart in his review.
Le suspect a été descendu pendant la fusillade.
The suspect was killed during the shootout.
Grammar note
When used intransitively to indicate directional movement, descendre forms compound tenses with être; when used transitively, it forms compound tenses with avoir.
verb
Meanings
to go down; to descend
Used when a person or thing moves downward; also used for abstract decrease or decline.
to take down; to lower
Used for bringing something down from a higher place or lowering it.
to disparage; to tear apart critically
Often used for harshly criticizing a work, person, or idea.
to kill
Slang use, mainly colloquial; not a neutral or formal sense.
to stay; to lodge
Often found in more formal usage, especially for staying in a hotel or temporary lodging.
Examples
Tu descends l'escalier sans faire de bruit.
You go down the stairs without making a sound.
Tu descends le store avant de quitter le bureau.
You lower the blind before leaving the office.
Tu descends toujours mes idées devant l'équipe.
You always tear my ideas apart in front of the team.
Dans le film, tu descends le garde d'un seul coup.
In the film, you kill the guard with a single shot.
Collocations
- descendre l'escalierto go down the stairs
- descendre la valiseto take down the suitcase
- descendre un filmto disparage a movie
Common mistakes
Je suis descendu la valise.
J'ai descendu la valise.
When descendre means “to take or lower something” and has a direct object, it is transitive and uses avoir in the passé composé, not être.
Related words
Grammar note
When used intransitively to indicate directional movement, descendre forms compound tenses with être; when used transitively, it forms compound tenses with avoir.
verb
Meanings
to go down; to descend
Used when a person or thing moves downward; also used for abstract decrease or decline.
to take down; to lower
Used for bringing something down from a higher place or lowering it.
to disparage; to tear apart critically
Often used for harshly criticizing a work, person, or idea.
to kill
Slang use, mainly colloquial; not a neutral or formal sense.
to stay; to lodge
Often found in more formal usage, especially for staying in a hotel or temporary lodging.
Examples
Il descend l'escalier sans faire de bruit.
He goes down the stairs without making a sound.
Le soleil descend derrière les collines en fin de journée.
The sun goes down behind the hills at the end of the day.
Elle descend la valise du placard avant le voyage.
She takes the suitcase down from the closet before the trip.
Le critique descend ce spectacle dans sa chronique.
The critic tears this show apart in his column.
Collocations
- descendre l'escalierto go down the stairs
- descendre la valiseto take down the suitcase
- descendre un filmto disparage a movie
Common mistakes
Je suis descendu la valise.
J'ai descendu la valise.
When descendre means “to take or lower something” and has a direct object, it is transitive and uses avoir in the passé composé, not être.
Related words
Grammar note
When used intransitively to indicate directional movement, descendre forms compound tenses with être; when used transitively, it forms compound tenses with avoir.