au-dessus

/o.də.sy/

above

Le tableau est accroché au-dessus de la cheminée.

The painting is hung above the fireplace.

general

Indicates a position higher than something else, either physically or metaphorically.

Elle vit au-dessus de ses moyens.

She lives above her means.

Les nuages sont au-dessus des montagnes.

The clouds are above the mountains.

Can also be used metaphorically to indicate superiority or dominance.

Collocations

above all

over

While 'au-dessus' often refers to physical height, it can also express abstract superiority (e.g., 'au-dessus de la loi' = 'above the law').

'Au-dessus' is typically followed by 'de' when referring to a specific object or location.

From Old French 'a desus', from Latin 'de' (from) and 'superus' (upper).

Often used with 'de' to indicate a specific reference point (e.g., 'au-dessus de la table').

preposition

dessus

above

adverb

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais