/syʁ/
Translation
on, on top of, about, over (preposition); also 'sure, certain' as the adjective sûr/sûre
Word origin
The preposition is from Latin super ('above, over'), via Old French sur. The unrelated adjective sur or sure ('certain') comes from Latin securus ('free from care, safe').
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- super
- English cognates
- super, superior
Examples
.
The book is on the coffee table.
économique.
He wrote an article about the economic crisis.
, .
Two times out of three, it doesn't work.
.
Put your coat over the back of the chair.
sûre ' .
She is self-assured when she speaks in public.
Sur is the everyday preposition for "on" or "about": sur la table (on the table), un article sur le climat (an article about the climate), deux fois sur trois (two times out of three). It also forms compound expressions: sur place (on the spot), sur le moment (at the time), compter sur quelqu'un (to count on someone).
A separate but identically-spelled (in ASCII) word is the adjective sûr (with a circumflex), meaning "sure, certain, safe": je suis sûr (I am sure), en lieu sûr (in a safe place), bien sûr (of course). Forms: sûr / sûre / sûrs / sûres. The circumflex distinguishes the two in writing; in unaccented input both collapse to sur.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(10)Cuisiner ensemble
3 min read · Core 1000
La fête surprise
3 min read · Core 1000
Le nouveau docteur
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Un après-midi de pluie
3 min read · Core 1000
Clara trouve sa place
4 min read · Core 1000
Un message pour Hélène
4 min read · Core 1000
Un voyage difficile
4 min read · Core 1000
Une rencontre au marché
4 min read · Core 1000
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Grammar articles
(11)French Advanced Grammar (C1-C2): The Constructions That Sound Native
French Demonstrative Pronouns: celui, celle, ceux, celles
dont in Depth: The French de Relative Pronoun
French Intermediate Grammar (B1-B2): The Things That Stop You at the Plateau
Sequencing French Past Tenses: Passé Composé, Imparfait and Plus-que-parfait Together
French Prepositions: à, de, en, dans, sur, chez and the Mandatory Contractions
French Pronouns Y and EN: there, some, of it, of them
French Relative Pronouns After a Preposition: lequel, auquel, duquel
French Relative Pronouns: qui, que, dont, où and How to Glue Clauses Together
French Stressed Pronouns: moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles
The French Subjunctive After Superlatives and Exclusives
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sur: worksheet, infographic and listicle
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