What does devant in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word devant in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use devant in French.

The word devant in French means in front of, in front of, in front of, before, in front, in front, front, have to, must, must, be bound to do, owe, owe , owe to, owe , owe to, duty, homework, homework, owe to, be supposed to do , be meant to do, owe to, have to do, owe each other , owe one another, anticipate, go to meet, be heading for serious danger, face serious difficulties, head for serious difficulties, be heading for trouble, have a rosy future, have a bright future, have your whole life ahead of you, put your own house in order, Mind your backs!, ci-devant, former, run serious risks, before God, before the Court, before the Court, before your eyes, straight ahead, straight ahead of you, be in awe of , stand in awe of, adore, feel deflated, in front of, far in front, far ahead, present with a fait accompli, not be afraid of anything, in front of, go out feet first, pass before the disciplinary committee, get married, go before a committee, appear before a committee, foreleg, front leg, front door, bring charges, bring a case to court, linger in front of, viva, in the foreground, be pulled up short by, point at, front view. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word devant

in front of

préposition (en face de [qch])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Il y avait devant moi une voiture qui avançait à deux à l'heure. On se retrouve devant le restaurant à midi, d'accord ?
I'll meet you outside the restaurant at 12, if that's OK?

in front of

préposition (avant, en tête)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Mon grand frère, qui connaissait le quartier, marchait devant nous.
My big brother, who knew the neighbourhood, was walking in front of us.

in front of

préposition (en présence de)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Ne parle pas comme ça devant ton père !
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. There are some things that shouldn't be discussed in the presence of children.

before

préposition (à l'égard de [qch])

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
Tous les hommes sont égaux devant la loi.
All men are equal before the law.

in front

adverbe (en face)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il y avait une jolie maison, et devant, un grand jardin.
There was a pretty house and, in front, a large garden.

in front

adverbe (en avant)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Mon grand frère, qui connaissait le quartier, marchait devant.
My big brother, who knew the neighbourhood, was walking in front.

front

nom masculin (partie antérieure)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le devant de la voiture est cabossé.
The front of the car is dented.

have to

verbe transitif (avoir l'obligation de faire [qch])

Je dois aller chercher mon petit frère à l'école.
I have to collect my little brother from school.

must

verbe transitif (avoir la nécessité de)

(auxiliary verb: Helping verb--for example, "She is running." "It has been lost.")
Je dois travailler si je veux avoir de bonnes notes.
I need to work if I want to get good grades.

must

verbe transitif (exprime la probabilité)

(auxiliary verb: Helping verb--for example, "She is running." "It has been lost.")
Marc n'est pas arrivé : il doit être dans les embouteillages.
Mark isn't here yet; he must be stuck in traffic.

be bound to do

verbe transitif (exprime le caractère inéluctable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les enfants se sont faits mal en se bagarrant : ça devait arriver !
The kids hurt each other fighting. That was bound to happen!

owe

verbe transitif (avoir de l'argent à donner à [qqn])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je dois 5 euros à mon frère.
I owe my brother 5 euros.

owe , owe to

verbe transitif (être l'obligé de [qqn], être redevable)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je vous dois des remerciements pour votre aide.
I owe you a big thank you for your help.

owe , owe to

verbe transitif (avoir obtenu grâce à [qqn])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
C'est à vous que je dois ce nouveau poste.
I owe this new job to you.

duty

nom masculin (obligation morale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous avons le devoir de nous occuper de notre mère.
We have a duty to take care of our mothers.

homework

nom masculin (exercice scolaire) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
J'ai un devoir de maths à rendre pour demain. Je ne comprends pas comment Tania a pu me rendre un devoir aussi mauvais, elle qui est si bonne en allemand d'habitude !
I have a math assignment due tomorrow.

homework

nom masculin pluriel (exercices scolaires chez soi) (uncountable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'instituteur a donné beaucoup de devoirs à ses élèves aujourd'hui. De temps à autre, le Ministre de l'éducation remet en cause le bien-fondé des devoirs.
The teacher gave his pupils a lot of homework today. Every so often, the Education Minister calls the merits of homework into question.

owe to

(posséder [qch] grâce ou à cause de)

Michel doit cet opiniâtreté à son père. La myrtille doit sa couleur aux anthocyanes.
Michael gets this stubbornness from his father.

be supposed to do , be meant to do

locution verbale (être censé faire [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tu ne devais pas aller voir ta sœur aujourd'hui ?

owe to

locution verbale (posséder [qch] grâce ou à cause de)

Je dois à ma grand-mère d'aimer la musique. Je dois à mon obstination d'avoir obtenu ce poste.
I have my grandmother to thank for my love of music. I have my obstination to thank for having obtained this post.

have to do

verbe pronominal (se sentir obligé de)

Je me devais de vous dire la vérité.
I have to tell you the truth.

owe each other , owe one another

verbe pronominal (devoir réciproquement)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Les époux se doivent secours et fidélité.
Married couples have a duty to support each other and stay faithful to each other.

anticipate

locution verbale (anticiper [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Ces grands-parents vont au-devant des moindres désirs de leurs petits-enfants.

go to meet

locution verbale (aller à la rencontre de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ils ne connaissent pas le quartier, je vais au-devant d'eux.

be heading for serious danger

locution verbale (devoir affronter des dangers)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
En partant à l'ascension de ce sommet par ce temps, ces alpinistes vont au-devant de graves dangers.

face serious difficulties, head for serious difficulties

locution verbale (devoir affronter des problèmes)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec l'arrivée de ce concurrent, l'entreprise va au-devant de graves difficultés.

be heading for trouble

locution verbale (s'exposer aux problèmes) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a rosy future, have a bright future

locution verbale (avoir un avenir radieux)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have your whole life ahead of you

locution verbale (avoir tout le temps)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

put your own house in order

locution verbale (figuré (se critiquer déjà soi-même) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Mind your backs!

(Laissez-moi passer !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

ci-devant

nom masculin et féminin invariable (littéraire (noble dépossédé) (Historical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nombre de ci-devant se sont fait décapiter durant la Terreur.

former

adjectif invariable (littéraire, vieilli (ancien, dépossédé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Le ci-devant roi a comparu devant le tribunal révolutionnaire.

run serious risks

locution verbale (risquer beaucoup)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

before God

locution adverbiale (devant Dieu)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

before the Court

locution adverbiale (au tribunal)

before the Court

locution adverbiale (au tribunal, en justice)

before your eyes

locution adverbiale (ici pour vous)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

straight ahead

locution adverbiale (tout droit)

straight ahead of you

locution adverbiale (emphase pour devant soi)

be in awe of , stand in awe of

locution verbale (considérer avec ravissement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Julie a toujours été en admiration devant son frère.

adore

locution verbale (avoir affection, grand amour pour)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Les fans sont en adoration devant leur idole.

feel deflated

locution verbale (vieilli (rester penaud)

in front of

adverbe (là en face de)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")
La brouette se trouve là-devant.
The wheelbarrow is in front of you.

far in front, far ahead

locution adverbiale (devant de beaucoup)

present with a fait accompli

locution verbale (être devant un état de fait)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not be afraid of anything

locution verbale (tout oser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

in front of

préposition (Droit : en présence de)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le témoin a affirmé par-devant le tribunal vous avoir vu à cet endroit hier soir !
The witness has stated in front of the court that he saw you at that location last night!

go out feet first

locution verbale (être mort) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

pass before the disciplinary committee

locution verbale (être jugé pour indiscipline)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les troublions passèrent devant la commission de discipline.

get married

locution verbale (se marier)

go before a committee, appear before a committee

locution verbale (être étudié par un comité)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

foreleg, front leg

nom féminin (jambe antérieure de l'animal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette vache s'est blessée aux pattes de devant.

front door

nom féminin (entrée principale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La porte de devant est bloquée : passez par celle de derrière.

bring charges, bring a case to court

locution verbale (s'en remettre à la justice)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

linger in front of

locution verbale (s'arrêter devant [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je restais en arrêt devant les derniers modèles automobiles.

viva

nom féminin (exposé devant jury) (UK)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

in the foreground

locution adverbiale (au premier plan)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cet acteur revient sur le devant de la scène.

be pulled up short by

locution verbale (figuré (être captivé par)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les enfants tombèrent en arrêt devant les vitrines.

point at

locution verbale (chien de chasse : se figer) (dog)

Le chien tomba en arrêt devant une biche.

front view

nom féminin (panorama de face)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La vue de devant de cet appartement contraste fortement avec sa vue de derrière.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of devant in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.