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sur
/syʁ/
on
Le livre est sur la table.
The book is on the table.
neutral
Indicates physical position above or in contact with a surface.
L'avion vole sur la ville.
The plane is flying over the city.
J'ai posé mon sac sur le lit.
I put my bag on the bed.
Used for surfaces, areas, or general locations.
neutral
About, concerning (used to indicate topic or subject).
Un livre sur l'histoire de France.
A book about French history.
Parler sur un sujet précis.
To speak about a specific topic.
Common in titles, discussions, or written contexts.
neutral
During (indicating a time period).
Il a dormi sur tout le film.
He slept during the whole movie.
Often used with time expressions.
neutral
Based on (indicating foundation or source).
Une décision sur des faits avérés.
A decision based on proven facts.
Common in formal or analytical contexts.
Collocations
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Mastering 'sur' with verbs
Many French verbs require 'sur' to indicate direction or dependency. Examples: 'compter sur' (to rely on), 'tomber sur' (to come across), 'insister sur' (to insist on). Memorize these verb-preposition pairs as chunks.
Gold Rule
Position vs. Topic
Use 'sur' for physical positions (e.g., 'sur la table') and for topics (e.g., 'un livre sur Paris'). Do not confuse with 'dans' (in) or 'à' (at/to).
Time expressions
For time periods, 'sur' often translates to 'during' or 'throughout' (e.g., 'sur tout le voyage' = 'throughout the trip').
Word Origin
From Old French 'sor', from Latin 'super' (over, above). Related to English 'super-' and 'over'.
Usage Notes
The preposition 'sur' is highly versatile and context-dependent. It is one of the most frequently used prepositions in French, appearing in both spatial and figurative contexts. Pay attention to its use with verbs like 'compter sur' (to rely on) or 'tomber sur' (to come across).
Word Breakdown
sur
over/above/on
prepositionDictionnaire Français-Anglais