What does dessous in French mean?

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

The word dessous in French means on the bottom, under, bottom, downstairs, underwear, underwear, secrets, under, beneath, under, below, below, under, below, lower, dirty, saucy, X-rated, below zero, below freezing, below sea level, come off worst, below-the-belt joke, arm in arm, arm in arm, below, blow below the belt, blow below the belt, low blow, classy underwear, stylish lingerie, coaster, face of the cards, more than meets the eye, coaster, underarm, underarm, table mat, tablemat, place mat, backhander, bottom sheet, underneath, under, below, underneath, below zero, appalling, abysmal, be really down, be beyond everything, be the lowest of the low, be despicable, be a disgrace, mentioned below, given below, underneath, involved, mentioned below, from below, from beneath, from the underside, under, underneath, upside down, down a peg, pay a backhander, live below the poverty line, see below, downstairs neighbour, neighbour down below. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word dessous

on the bottom

adverbe (à la face inférieure)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La référence des appareils est souvent marquée dessous.
The reference number for appliances is often written on the bottom.

under

préposition (familier (sous)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Le facteur a déposé les lettres dessous la porte.
The postman slipped two letters under the door.

bottom

nom masculin (partie inférieure)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le brocanteur retourna l'horloge pour en examiner le dessous.
The second-hand dealer turned over the clock to look at the bottom.

downstairs

nom masculin (appartement de l'étage inférieur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les locataires du dessous sont bruyants.
The tenants who live downstairs are noisy.

underwear

nom masculin (sous-vêtement) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pour son anniversaire, j'ai offert un dessous sexy à mon mari.
I gave my husband some sexy underwear for his birthday.

underwear

nom masculin pluriel (sous-vêtements) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Elle a mis des dessous affriolants pour son anniversaire de mariage.
She put on some sexy underwear for her wedding anniversary.

secrets

nom masculin pluriel (face cachée de [qch])

(plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.")
Tous les dessous de cette affaire ne sont pas encore connus.
We still don't know everything that lies behind this business.

under

préposition (plus bas que)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Les produits ménagers se trouvent au-dessous de l'évier.
The cleaning products are under the sink.

beneath, under, below

préposition (inférieur à, à un rang moins élevé)

(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 suis pas le patron mais j'ai quand même deux personnes au-dessous de moi.
I'm not the boss but I still have two people under me.

below

adverbe (plus bas)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
J'habite au premier et personne n'habite au-dessous pour l'instant.
I live on the first floor and nobody lives below me for the moment.

under, below, lower

adverbe (inférieur, à un rang moins élevé)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
La moyenne est de 12 points, je suis classé au-dessous.
The average is 12 points; I am ranked lower.

dirty, saucy, X-rated

locution adjectivale (figuré (grivois)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
J'en ai assez des blagues au-dessous de la ceinture de Tonton René : il semble oublier qu'il y a des enfants à table !

below zero, below freezing

locution adverbiale (plus froid que 0 °C)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'hiver sibérien affiche des températures largement au-dessous de zéro tout l'hiver.

below sea level

locution adverbiale (plus bas que l'altitude 0)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les ruines de cette ville antique sont au-dessous du niveau de la mer.

come off worst

locution verbale (être dominé, être vaincu) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Lors du dernier match c'est notre équipe qui a eu le dessous.

below-the-belt joke

nom féminin (plaisanterie vulgaire)

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

arm in arm

locution adverbiale (en amoureux)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Et le couple est reparti bras dessus, bras dessous.

arm in arm

locution adverbiale (en bonne camaraderie) (figurative)

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

below

locution adverbiale (plus bas, après)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Vous trouverez les explications ci-dessous.
You will find the details below.

blow below the belt

nom masculin (frappe réalisée sous la taille)

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

blow below the belt

nom masculin (figuré (coup déloyal) (figurative)

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

low blow

nom masculin (figuré (remarque graveleuse) (figurative)

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

classy underwear, stylish lingerie

nom masculin pluriel (sous-vêtements affriolants)

coaster

nom masculin (support pour verre)

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

face of the cards

nom masculin (jeu : partie colorée des cartes)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quand on donne, il ne faut pas montrer le dessous des cartes.

more than meets the eye

nom masculin (familier (ressorts secrets d'une affaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Tu ne peux pas comprendre cet accord si tu ne connais pas le dessous des cartes.
There's more than meets the eye in this business.

coaster

nom masculin (disque de protection)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une fois ouverte, la bouteille est posée sur un dessous-de-bouteille afin qu'une goutte de vin ne tache pas la nappe.

underarm

nom masculin invariable (familier (aisselle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quel déodorant utilises-tu pour tes dessous-de-bras ?

underarm

nom masculin invariable (partie d'un vêtement)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les dessous-de-bras de cette chemise ne sont pas assez amples pour toi.

table mat, tablemat, place mat

nom masculin invariable (support pour plats chauds) (dining table)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les dessous-de-plat évitent de brûler les nappes.

backhander

nom masculin invariable (pot-de-vin)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il y a trop de dessous-de-table dans le bâtiment.

bottom sheet

nom masculin (drap couvrant le matelas)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Lorsqu'un drap de dessous est élastique aux coins, il est appelé drap-housse

underneath

locution adverbiale (plus bas)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Si le stylo n'est pas sur la table, regarde en dessous ! Nos voisins dans l'appartement en dessous sont insupportables à toujours mettre leur musique à fond.
The people in the apartment below are unbearable; they're always putting their music on full blast.

under, below, underneath

(sur le dessous de)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Regarde en dessous de cette pile de papier si ta lettre n'y serait pas.
Look under that pile of paper and see if your letter's there.

below zero

locution adverbiale (à température gélive)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Les citronniers n'aiment pas trop lorsque les températures passent en dessous de zéro.

appalling, abysmal

locution adverbiale (figuré (particulièrement mauvais)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Sa gestion de cette crise est en dessous de zéro !

be really down

locution verbale (être bouleversé) (colloquial)

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

be beyond everything

locution verbale (se comporter de la pire des manières)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il n'a même pas présenté ses excuses, il est vraiment au-dessous de tout !

be the lowest of the low, be despicable, be a disgrace

locution verbale (être minable)

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

mentioned below, given below

locution adjectivale (mentionné plus bas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La signature indiquée ci-dessous vient valider l'accord.

underneath

adverbe (sous [qch])

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il paraît qu'il y a un trésor là-dessous.
Apparently, there is treasure below.

involved

adverbe (dans cette affaire)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il y aurait une petite vengeance là-dessous que ça ne m'étonnerait pas !
I wouldn't be surprised if there was some revenge in all this.

mentioned below

locution adjectivale (cité plus bas)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Les informations mentionnées ci-dessous sont confidentielles.

from below, from beneath, from the underside

locution adverbiale (à partir du dessous de [qch])

under

locution adverbiale (sous)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Par-dessous le lit, il y a de la poussière.

underneath

locution adverbiale (dessous)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
La porte est bloquée : passez le courrier par-dessous.

upside down

locution adjectivale (chamboulé, en grand désordre)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Après la bagarre, la pièce était sens dessus dessous.

down a peg

locution adverbiale (à un niveau inférieur, moins bon)

You will move down a peg after the merger.

pay a backhander

(corrompre) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet entrepreneur a versé un dessous-de-table au maire afin d'obtenir le marché.

live below the poverty line

locution verbale (vivre misérablement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
De plus en plus de gens vivent en dessous du seuil de pauvreté.

see below

locution adverbiale (mentionné plus bas)

Pour plus d'informations, voir ci-dessous.

downstairs neighbour, neighbour down below

(voisin de l'étage inférieur) (UK)

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

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