Place Adverbs | Adverbs | Parts Of Speech | French

Adverbs of place tell us where something happens or where someone goes, and they often shape the scene in a sentence. This guide covers the most common adverbs of place and useful expressions for location.

Common Place Adverbs

Adverbs like ici, là, ailleurs and partout are short and frequently used. They can modify verbs, signal direction, or emphasize location in a very natural way.

	French Word	English Word
	ici	here
	là	there
	là-bas	over there
	ailleurs	elsewhere
	partout	everywhere
	nulle part	nowhere

Adverbs for Direction and Position

Adverbs such as dedans, dehors, en haut and en bas indicate more precise positions or movement toward a place. They are useful for describing scenes or giving instructions.

	French Word	English Word
	dedans	inside
	dehors	outside
	en haut	upstairs / above
	en bas	downstairs / below
	près	near
	loin	far

Which adverb means 'inside'?

loin

dehors

dedans

en bas

Expressions with Place Adverbs

Set phrases like à côté, au milieu, au bord and en face combine prepositions with adverbs to pinpoint location relative to something else. They often appear in descriptions or when giving directions.

	French Expression	English Expression
	à côté	next to
	à côté de	next to
	au milieu	in the middle
	au milieu de	in the middle of
	au bord	at the edge
	au bord de	at the edge of
	en face	opposite
	en face de	opposite

Usage

Place adverbs usually follow the verb they modify, but they can move for emphasis or style. Short adverbs like ici and là often appear immediately after the verb, while expressions with prepositions can come before or after depending on what you want to highlight.

Summary

Adverbs of place like ici, là, ailleurs and expressions such as à côté de and au milieu de help locate actions and things precisely. Learn a handful of common adverbs and set phrases to make your descriptions and directions clear and natural.

Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025