dessus

/də.sy/
adverbIntermediate
general

On or to the upper surface or part of something

Il a mis ses clés dessus.

He put his keys on top.

💡

Often used with the preposition 'de' to indicate origin or derivation (e.g., 'de dessus' = from above).

informal

In addition to, as well as

Je vais prendre ça, et dessus, un café.

I'll take that, and on top of that, a coffee.

💡

In informal contexts, it can mean 'in addition to' or 'on top of that.'

Collocations

de dessusfrom abovepar-dessusover

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

par-dessusphrase
over, above
de dessusphrase
from above

💡Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Usage

In formal contexts, prefer 'au-dessus' or 'par-dessus' over 'dessus.' In informal speech, 'dessus' is common.

Gold Rule

Prepositional Use

When used as a preposition, it typically requires the preposition 'de' (e.g., 'de dessus').

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'desus,' from Latin 'de super,' meaning 'from above.'

📝Usage Notes

Can be used as an adverb or preposition depending on context. In formal writing, 'au-dessus' is often preferred.

Word Breakdown

de
of, from
prefix
+
sus
above
root
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais