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The English word "out" corresponds to several French expressions, primarily dehors (outside, out of doors) and hors (out of, outside of, beyond). Understanding these French equivalents is essential for expressing location, movement, and exclusion in French.
Definition: In French, "dehors" functions as both an adverb and a noun meaning "outside" or "outdoors," while "hors" is a preposition meaning "out of," "outside of," or "beyond." The choice between them depends on the grammatical context and specific meaning intended.
FAQ SchemaQuestion: What does "out" mean in French? Answer: "Out" translates to "dehors" when meaning "outside/outdoors" and "hors" when meaning "out of/beyond." Other expressions include "sorti(e)" (gone out) and "éteint(e)" (out/extinguished for lights).
This lesson explores how French expresses the various meanings of English "out" through 15 natural examples, demonstrating the contextual usage of dehors, hors, and related expressions. You'll learn to navigate the subtle differences between these terms and use them correctly in everyday French conversation.
Educational SchemaType: Language Learning Material Subject: French for English Speakers Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: French equivalents of "out" Format: Construed text with interlinear glossing
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"Dehors" means "outside" as a location or direction -
"Hors" means "out of" or "beyond" as a preposition -
"Sorti(e)" is the past participle meaning "gone out" -
Context determines which French expression to use for "out" -
French often requires more specific expressions than English "out"
59.1 The Le cat chat is est out dehors in dans the le garden jardin
59.2 She Elle went est allée out dehors early tôt this ce morning matin
59.3 Keep Restez out hors of de my ma room chambre!
59.4 The La light lumière went s'est out éteinte suddenly soudainement
59.5 They Ils are sont eating en train de manger out dehors tonight ce soir
59.6 Out Hors of de respect respect, I je remained suis resté silent silencieux
59.7 The Le secret secret is est out révélé now maintenant
59.8 Get Sortez out dehors of de the la house maison immediately immédiatement!
59.9 We Nous ran avons manqué out de of de milk lait yesterday hier
59.10 She Elle lives habite out hors in dans the la countryside campagne
59.11 The Le fire feu has s'est gone est out éteint completely complètement
59.12 Looking Regardant out dehors the par la window fenêtre, he il sighed soupira
59.13 Out Dehors here ici, it's il fait very très cold froid
59.14 The La truth vérité will va come sortir out sortir eventually finalement
59.15 They Ils kicked ont mis him le out dehors of du the le club club
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59.1 Le chat est dehors dans le jardin. The cat is out in the garden.
59.2 Elle est allée dehors tôt ce matin. She went out early this morning.
59.3 Restez hors de ma chambre! Keep out of my room!
59.4 La lumière s'est éteinte soudainement. The light went out suddenly.
59.5 Ils mangent dehors ce soir. They are eating out tonight.
59.6 Hors de respect, je suis resté silencieux. Out of respect, I remained silent.
59.7 Le secret est révélé maintenant. The secret is out now.
59.8 Sortez de la maison immédiatement! Get out of the house immediately!
59.9 Nous avons manqué de lait hier. We ran out of milk yesterday.
59.10 Elle habite dans la campagne. She lives out in the countryside.
59.11 Le feu s'est complètement éteint. The fire has gone out completely.
59.12 Regardant par la fenêtre, il soupira. Looking out the window, he sighed.
59.13 Dehors ici, il fait très froid. Out here, it's very cold.
59.14 La vérité va finalement sortir. The truth will come out eventually.
59.15 Ils l'ont mis dehors du club. They kicked him out of the club.
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59.1 Le chat est dehors dans le jardin.
59.2 Elle est allée dehors tôt ce matin.
59.3 Restez hors de ma chambre!
59.4 La lumière s'est éteinte soudainement.
59.5 Ils mangent dehors ce soir.
59.6 Hors de respect, je suis resté silencieux.
59.7 Le secret est révélé maintenant.
59.8 Sortez de la maison immédiatement!
59.9 Nous avons manqué de lait hier.
59.10 Elle habite dans la campagne.
59.11 Le feu s'est complètement éteint.
59.12 Regardant par la fenêtre, il soupira.
59.13 Dehors ici, il fait très froid.
59.14 La vérité va finalement sortir.
59.15 Ils l'ont mis dehors du club.
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The English word "out" requires careful translation into French because it serves multiple grammatical functions and carries various meanings. Here are the primary French equivalents:
1. DEHORS (adverb/noun) -
Used for location: being outside -
Used for direction: going outside -
Can function as a noun with articles: le dehors (the outside)
2. HORS (preposition) -
Always followed by "de" + noun -
Means "out of," "outside of," "beyond" -
Used in fixed expressions: hors de question (out of the question)
3. SORTI(E) (past participle) -
From the verb "sortir" (to go out) -
Agrees in gender and number with the subject -
Elle est sortie (she went out)
4. ÉTEINT(E) (past participle) -
Specifically for lights, fires going out -
From "éteindre" (to extinguish) -
Le feu s'est éteint (the fire went out)
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Using "dehors" with "de" -
WRONG: Il est dehors de la maison -
CORRECT: Il est hors de la maison OR Il est dehors -
Forgetting agreement with "sorti" -
WRONG: Elle est sorti -
CORRECT: Elle est sortie -
Using "out" literally in all contexts -
WRONG: Nous sommes dehors de lait -
CORRECT: Nous n'avons plus de lait / Nous avons manqué de lait -
Confusing "dehors" and "hors" -
Dehors = outside (location/direction) -
Hors de = out of (exclusion/beyond)
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Identify the meaning of "out" in English -
Location? → dehors -
Exclusion? → hors de -
Movement? → sortir -
Extinguished? → éteindre -
Check the grammatical context -
After a verb of movement? → dehors or sortir -
Before "of"? → hors de -
Describing state? → appropriate past participle -
Apply French grammar rules -
Agreement with past participles -
Proper preposition usage -
Correct word order
Dehors: -
Adverb: Il est dehors (He is outside) -
Noun: le dehors (the outside) -
No agreement needed as adverb
Hors: -
Always + de: hors de la ville (out of town) -
Fixed expressions: hors service (out of order)
Sortir conjugation (present): -
je sors -
tu sors -
il/elle sort -
nous sortons -
vous sortez -
ils/elles sortent
Past participle agreement: -
Masculine singular: sorti, éteint -
Feminine singular: sortie, éteinte -
Masculine plural: sortis, éteints -
Feminine plural: sorties, éteintes
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Understanding how French expresses "out" reveals important cultural differences between French and English-speaking contexts.
Social Space: The French distinction between "dehors" (outside) and "dedans" (inside) reflects a cultural emphasis on defined spaces. French homes traditionally maintain clearer boundaries between public and private spaces than Anglo-American homes. Being "dehors" implies being in public space, while "dedans" suggests intimacy and privacy.
Dining Culture: "Manger dehors" (eating out) in France often means dining on a terrace or in a garden, not necessarily at a restaurant. The French café culture celebrates outdoor dining, with terraces being prime social spaces. This differs from the English "eating out," which primarily means dining at a restaurant.
Expressions of Exclusion: "Hors de" carries a stronger sense of exclusion than English "out of." In French culture, being "hors du groupe" (out of the group) has significant social implications, reflecting the importance of belonging in French society.
Idiomatic Differences: French uses specific verbs where English uses "out" + verb combinations. For example, "to find out" becomes "découvrir" (to discover), not a literal translation. This reflects French preference for precise, single verbs over phrasal constructions.
Spatial Metaphors: The French use of "sortir" (to exit/come out) for revealing information ("la vérité va sortir") parallels English but emphasizes the movement from hidden to revealed, reflecting French appreciation for dramatic revelation in literature and conversation.
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From "Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943):
"Le petit prince, qui assistait à l'installation d'un bouton énorme, sentit bien qu'il en sortirait une apparition miraculeuse, mais la fleur n'en finissait pas de se préparer à être belle, à l'abri de sa chambre verte."
Le The petit little prince prince, qui who assistait was witnessing à to l'installation the installation d'un of a bouton bud énorme enormous, sentit felt bien well qu'il that it en from it sortirait would come out une an apparition apparition miraculeuse miraculous, mais but la the fleur flower n'en not from it finissait finished pas not de of se herself préparer preparing à to être be belle beautiful, à in l'abri the shelter de of sa her chambre room verte green.
"Le petit prince, qui assistait à l'installation d'un bouton énorme, sentit bien qu'il en sortirait une apparition miraculeuse, mais la fleur n'en finissait pas de se préparer à être belle, à l'abri de sa chambre verte."
The little prince, who was witnessing the installation of an enormous bud, felt sure that a miraculous apparition would come out of it, but the flower went on endlessly preparing herself to be beautiful, in the shelter of her green room.
This passage demonstrates the French use of "sortir" (to come out) in "il en sortirait" (would come out of it). Saint-Exupéry employs the conditional form to express anticipation of the flower's emergence. The verb "sortir" here conveys both physical emergence and metaphorical revelation, as the flower will reveal her beauty.
The phrase "n'en finissait pas" (wouldn't finish) uses "en" to refer back to the preparation process, showing how French handles concepts that English might express with "out" differently. The flower prepares "à l'abri de" (in the shelter of), using a construction that implies being enclosed rather than out.
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"sortirait": conditional form of sortir, showing future-in-the-past -
"en": pronoun replacing "de ce bouton" (from this bud) -
"à l'abri de": idiomatic expression meaning "sheltered in" -
Agreement: "elle" (the flower) is feminine, affecting adjective agreement
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59.16 "Are "Est-ce que you tu going vas out sortir tonight?" ce soir?" asked demanda Marie Marie
59.17 "No, "Non, I'm je staying reste in dedans because parce que it's il fait too trop cold froid out" dehors"
59.18 "Come "Allez, on, viens let's on go va out sortir for pour dinner dîner at dans that ce new nouveau restaurant" restaurant"
59.19 "I'm "Je suis out à court of d' money argent this ce month," mois," he il replied répondit
59.20 "Check "Regarde out dehors the par la window fenêtre - - it's il snowing!" neige!"
59.21 "The "Le Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is est out en panne again," encore," she elle complained se plaignit
59.22 "When "Quand will est-ce que the la truth vérité come va out éclater about sur this cette scandal?" affaire?"
59.23 "Get "Sors out d' of ici here ici before avant I que je call n'appelle security!" la sécurité!"
59.24 "We're "On est completely complètement out en rupture of de coffee café beans" en grains"
59.25 "She "Elle moved a déménagé out hors to de the la suburbs banlieue last le year" année dernière"
59.26 "Time "Le temps is est running en train de out s'écouler for pour this ce project" projet"
59.27 "They "Ils threw ont jeté him l' out dehors of du the le bar" bar"
59.28 "Figure "Trouve out trouve the la solution solution yourself!" toi-même!"
59.29 "Look "Attention out attention for aux cars voitures when quand crossing!" tu traverses!"
59.30 "I'm "Je suis heading en train de out sortir now maintenant - - see à you tout à later!" l'heure!"
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59.16 "Est-ce que tu vas sortir ce soir?" demanda Marie. "Are you going out tonight?" asked Marie.
59.17 "Non, je reste dedans parce qu'il fait trop froid dehors." "No, I'm staying in because it's too cold out."
59.18 "Allez, viens, on va sortir pour dîner dans ce nouveau restaurant." "Come on, let's go out for dinner at that new restaurant."
59.19 "Je suis à court d'argent ce mois," répondit-il. "I'm out of money this month," he replied.
59.20 "Regarde dehors par la fenêtre - il neige!" "Check out the window - it's snowing!"
59.21 "Le Wi-Fi est en panne encore," se plaignit-elle. "The Wi-Fi is out again," she complained.
59.22 "Quand est-ce que la vérité va éclater sur cette affaire?" "When will the truth come out about this scandal?"
59.23 "Sors d'ici avant que je n'appelle la sécurité!" "Get out of here before I call security!"
59.24 "On est complètement en rupture de café en grains." "We're completely out of coffee beans."
59.25 "Elle a déménagé en banlieue l'année dernière." "She moved out to the suburbs last year."
59.26 "Le temps est en train de s'écouler pour ce projet." "Time is running out for this project."
59.27 "Ils l'ont jeté dehors du bar." "They threw him out of the bar."
59.28 "Trouve la solution toi-même!" "Figure out the solution yourself!"
59.29 "Attention aux voitures quand tu traverses!" "Look out for cars when crossing!"
59.30 "Je sors maintenant - à tout à l'heure!" "I'm heading out now - see you later!"
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59.16 "Est-ce que tu vas sortir ce soir?" demanda Marie.
59.17 "Non, je reste dedans parce qu'il fait trop froid dehors."
59.18 "Allez, viens, on va sortir pour dîner dans ce nouveau restaurant."
59.19 "Je suis à court d'argent ce mois," répondit-il.
59.20 "Regarde dehors par la fenêtre - il neige!"
59.21 "Le Wi-Fi est en panne encore," se plaignit-elle.
59.22 "Quand est-ce que la vérité va éclater sur cette affaire?"
59.23 "Sors d'ici avant que je n'appelle la sécurité!"
59.24 "On est complètement en rupture de café en grains."
59.25 "Elle a déménagé en banlieue l'année dernière."
59.26 "Le temps est en train de s'écouler pour ce projet."
59.27 "Ils l'ont jeté dehors du bar."
59.28 "Trouve la solution toi-même!"
59.29 "Attention aux voitures quand tu traverses!"
59.30 "Je sors maintenant - à tout à l'heure!"
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In contemporary French dialogue, "out" appears in many idiomatic expressions that don't translate literally:
1. Movement and Location -
"sortir" (to go out): Most common for social activities -
"dehors" (outside): For location or weather references -
"partir" (to leave): Sometimes replaces "go out"
2. Idiomatic Expressions -
"à court de" (out of/short of): For lacking something -
"en panne" (out/broken): For malfunctioning devices -
"en rupture de" (out of stock): Commercial contexts -
"éclater" (come out/explode): For revelations or scandals
3. Informal vs. Formal -
Informal: "Sors d'ici!" (Get out of here!) -
Formal: "Veuillez sortir" (Please go out) -
Colloquial: "On se casse" (We're out of here)
4. Phrasal Verb Equivalents -
Look out → Faire attention -
Find out → Découvrir/Trouver -
Work out → Résoudre/Marcher -
Check out → Regarder/Vérifier
Common Dialogue Patterns -
Questions about going out: "Tu sors ce soir?" -
Invitations: "On sort prendre un verre?" -
Warnings: "Attention!" (not "Regarde dehors!") -
Time expressions: "Le temps s'écoule" (Time is running out)
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