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dans
/dɑ̃/
in
Je suis dans la maison.
I am in the house.
formal
Indicates location inside or within something.
Les clés sont dans le tiroir.
The keys are in the drawer.
Il vit dans une grande ville.
He lives in a big city.
Used for both physical locations and abstract states (e.g., 'dans l'embarras' = in trouble).
formal
Indicates time within a period.
Je viendrai dans une heure.
I will come in an hour.
Il est né dans les années 90.
He was born in the 90s.
Commonly used with expressions of time.
formal
Indicates manner or state.
Il a agi dans la précipitation.
He acted in haste.
Often used in fixed expressions.
Collocations
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: 'dans' vs 'en'
'Dans' is used for physical locations (e.g., 'dans la maison' = in the house), while 'en' is used for feminine countries or abstract states (e.g., 'en France' = in France, 'en colère' = angry).
Gold Rule
Rule 1: Physical Location
Use 'dans' to indicate being inside a physical space (e.g., 'dans la voiture' = in the car, 'dans le parc' = in the park).
Rule 2: Time Expressions
Use 'dans' with time expressions to indicate 'within' a period (e.g., 'dans deux jours' = in two days).
Rule 3: Abstract States
Use 'dans' for abstract states or conditions (e.g., 'dans le doute' = in doubt, 'dans l'embarras' = in trouble).
Word Origin
From Old French 'dedans', from Latin 'de intus' (from within), combining 'de' (from) and 'intus' (within). Evolved from a phrase to a standalone preposition.
Usage Notes
Always followed by a noun or noun phrase. Do not confuse with 'en' (used for feminine countries, materials, or abstract concepts) or 'à' (used for cities, some feminine countries, and specific locations).
Word Breakdown
d'
contraction of 'de' (from)
prefixans
related to 'inside' or 'within'
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais