What does derrière in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word derrière in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use derrière in French.

The word derrière in French means behind, after, behind, after, behind, behind that, behind it, behind it, behind that, after, afterwards, behind, back, have something in mind, from under the counter, ( that) you've been keeping up your sleeve, on your hind legs, up on your hind legs, behind bars, behind the turntables, talk about behind his/her back, speak ill of behind his/her back, behind, leave behind, leave behind, with your hands behind your head, hind leg, back door, service door, go back over, sink a drink, knock back a drink, stick it where the sun doesn't shine, cannot get it up, tackle from behind. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word derrière

behind

préposition (de l'autre côté de [qch])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
L'employé de banque se tient derrière le guichet. Il y a des ronces derrière ce mur.
The bank clerk stands behind the counter. There are brambles behind this wall.

after

préposition (après)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Elsa est arrivée derrière Pierre.
Elsa arrived after Peter.

behind

préposition (caché par)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Je ne sais pas ce qui se cache derrière ce sourire.
I don't know what is hidden behind that smile.

after

préposition (familier (après [qch])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Il boit un verre de vin rouge derrière un verre de vin blanc.
He drinks a glass of red wine after a glass of white wine.

behind

adverbe (en arrière)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il fallait tout le temps qu'on attende mon petit frère qui traînait derrière.
We were always having to wait for my little brother who trailed behind.

behind that, behind it

adverbe (de l'autre côté)

Vous voyez le muret là-bas ? Je suis sûr qu'Olivier se cache derrière.
See the low wall over there? I'm sure Oliver's hiding behind it.

behind it, behind that

adverbe (caché)

Il sourit tout le temps, mais j'aimerais bien savoir ce qui se cache derrière.
He smiles all the time, but I'd like to know what is hidden behind that.

after, afterwards

adverbe (familier (après [qch])

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il boit un verre de vin rouge et un verre de vin blanc derrière.
He drinks a glass of red wine and a glass of white wine afterwards.

behind

nom masculin (fesses)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il a glissé et est tombé sur son derrière.
He slipped and fell on his behind.

back

nom masculin (partie opposée à la façade)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le derrière de cet immeuble est entièrement végétalisé.
The back of this building is completely covered in plants.

have something in mind

locution verbale (tenir un projet secret)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si Julie t'a demandé ça, c'est qu'elle avait une idée derrière la tête.

from under the counter, ( that) you've been keeping up your sleeve

locution adjectivale (familier (gardé précieusement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

on your hind legs, up on your hind legs

locution adverbiale (en appui sur ses jambes postérieures)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'ours se mit debout sur ses pattes de derrière pour accéder à la ruche.
The bear stood up on its hind legs to reach the beehive.

behind bars

locution adverbiale (en prison)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Après son cambriolage raté, il s'est retrouvé derrière les barreaux.

behind the turntables

locution adverbiale (au poste de disc-jockey)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

talk about behind his/her back, speak ill of behind his/her back

(médire de [qqn] auprès d'autres)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

behind

adverbe (à l'arrière de là)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Tes lunettes ont dû tomber là-derrière.

leave behind

locution verbale (ne plus se préoccuper de [qch])

leave behind

locution verbale (abandonner [qqn])

with your hands behind your head

locution adverbiale (avec les mains jointes sur la nuque)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

hind leg

nom féminin (patte postérieure)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

back door, service door

nom féminin (porte de service)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

go back over

locution verbale (corriger le travail de [qqn])

sink a drink, knock back a drink

(figuré, argot (boire un verre d'alcool)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stick it where the sun doesn't shine

(figuré (perdre un espoir) (slang, figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

cannot get it up

(figuré (homme : ne pas pouvoir faire l'amour)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

tackle from behind

nom masculin (tacle dans le dos) (sports)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le tacle par derrière est interdit car dangereux.

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So now that you know more about the meaning of derrière in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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