s'éloigner de
Il s'éloigne de la fenêtre pour éviter le soleil.
He moves away from the window to avoid the sun.
to move away from someone or something, physically or metaphorically
Elle s'éloigne de ses amis depuis qu'elle a déménagé.
She has been moving away from her friends since she moved.
Ce sujet s'éloigne du thème principal de la discussion.
This topic is moving away from the main theme of the discussion.
Can be used literally (physical distance) or figuratively (emotional, thematic, or conceptual distance).
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Avoid confusing 's'éloigner de' with 's'éloigner à' (which does not exist in standard French). Always use 'de' after 's'éloigner'.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. Figurative
Use 's'éloigner de' for physical distance (e.g., 'La voiture s'éloigne de la ville') and figurative distance (e.g., 'Il s'éloigne de ses responsabilités').
Word Origin
From Old French 'esloignier' (to distance), derived from Latin 'elongare' (to lengthen, remove), from 'longus' (long). The reflexive form 's'éloigner' emphasizes the action directed toward oneself.
Usage Notes
Common in both literal and figurative contexts. In figurative use, it often implies a gradual or unintentional separation rather than an abrupt one.