Learning how to express the concept of from in French is one of the first hurdles English speakers encounter, yet it is fundamental to building natural-sounding sentences. Unlike English, which relies heavily on this single preposition to indicate origin, source, material, time, or distance, French distributes these meanings across several distinct words—primarily de, depuis, d’où, and à partir de. Mastering the nuances between them transforms your French from textbook exercises into fluid communication. This guide breaks down every major usage, provides clear rules, and offers practical examples so you can choose the right word with confidence.
Most guides skip this. Don't Most people skip this — try not to..
The Primary Translations: De vs. Depuis
The vast majority of the time, you will choose between de and depuis. Now, while both can translate to "from," their grammatical functions are mutually exclusive in most contexts. Understanding the core distinction—origin/possession versus duration/starting point—is the key to unlocking this grammar point Practical, not theoretical..
Using De for Origin, Source, and Possession
De (and its contractions du, des, de la, de l') is the workhorse preposition. It indicates where someone or something comes from originally, what something is made of, or who owns an object. It answers the question "Where is it from?" or "Whose is it?" rather than "Since when?"
1. Geographic Origin (Cities, Countries, Regions) When stating where you are from (venir de) or where an object originates, use de.
- Cities: Use de (or d’ before a vowel). Je viens de Paris. (I come from Paris.) *Elle est **d’*Amsterdam. (She is from Amsterdam.)
- Feminine Countries/Regions/Continents: Use de + la → de la. Il revient de la France. (He returns from France.) Nous venons de la Bretagne. (We come from Brittany.)
- Masculine Countries (starting with consonant): Use de + le → du. Il vient du Canada. (He comes from Canada.) Nous arrivons du Japon. (We arrive from Japan.)
- Masculine Countries (starting with vowel): Use de + l’ → de l’. *Elle revient **de l’*Iran. (She returns from Iran.)
- Plural Countries/Regions: Use de + les → des. Ils viennent des États-Unis. (They come from the USA.) Nous sommes des Pays-Bas. (We are from the Netherlands.)
2. Material and Composition If an object is made from a specific material, de is mandatory.
- Une table de bois. (A table made from wood.)
- Un pull de laine. (A sweater from wool.)
- Un jus de pomme. (Juice from apple / Apple juice.)
3. Possession and Relationships English often uses "from" for possession (a friend from work), but French prefers de to show the relationship.
- Un ami de Pierre. (A friend of/from Pierre.)
- Le livre de l’étudiant. (The student’s book / The book from the student.)
4. Partitive Articles (Some/Any) While technically "some" in English, this structure derives from de + definite article. It implies taking a portion from a whole.
- Je veux du pain. (I want some bread / bread from the loaf.)
- *Elle boit **de l’*eau. (She drinks water.)
Using Depuis for Time and Duration
Depuis translates to "from," "since," or "for" when referring to a starting point in time that continues into the present. It answers "Since when?" or "For how long?" This is where English speakers frequently make mistakes, trying to use de or pour instead.
1. Actions Continuing in the Present French uses the present tense + depuis to describe an action that started in the past and is still happening. English uses "have been + -ing."
- J’habite ici depuis 2010. (I have lived here since 2010 / for 14 years.)
- Nous attendons depuis une heure. (We have been waiting for an hour.)
2. Specific Starting Points (Dates, Events)
- Il travaille là-bas depuis son diplôme. (He has worked there since his graduation.)
- Elle ne fume plus depuis janvier. (She hasn’t smoked since January.)
3. Spatial "From" (Starting Point of Movement) Less commonly, depuis can indicate the spatial starting point of a journey or movement, emphasizing the departure location Surprisingly effective..
- Le train part depuis la gare Montparnasse. (The train leaves from Montparnasse station.)
- Vu depuis la tour Eiffel, Paris est magnifique. (Seen from the Eiffel Tower, Paris is magnificent.)
Crucial Distinction: Je viens de Paris (I come from Paris / My origin is Paris). Je viens depuis Paris (I am coming from Paris right now / My journey started in Paris) The details matter here..
Expressing "From... To..." Ranges
When defining a range—whether temporal, spatial, or numerical—French uses specific pairs. You cannot simply use de... à in every situation.
De... à... (Standard Ranges)
This is the most common pair for "from... to..." covering time, distance, and numbers Most people skip this — try not to. Worth knowing..
- Le magasin est ouvert de 9h à 18h. (The shop is open from 9 to 6.)
- Il y a 50 km de Lyon à Grenoble. (It is 50 km from Lyon to Grenoble.)
- Les enfants de 6 à 12 ans. (Children from 6 to 12 years old.)
Du... au... (Contractions for Masculine Nouns)
When de and à meet the masculine definite article le, they contract. This happens frequently with dates, days, and masculine locations.
- De + le = Du | À + le = Au
- Je suis en vacances du 1er au 15 août. (I am on vacation from the 1st to the 15th of August.)
- Il travaille du lundi au vendredi. (He works from Monday to Friday.)
- Nous allons du bureau au restaurant. (We go from the office to the restaurant.)
De... jusqu'à... (Emphasizing the Endpoint)
Use jusqu'à (until/up to) when you want to stress the limit or the effort required to reach the end point.
- J’ai couru de la maison jusqu'au parc. (I ran from the house all the way to the park.)
- Le cours dure de septembre jusqu'à juin. (The class lasts from September **right
to June.) This phrasing often implies a journey or a significant span.
Numerical and Quantitative Ranges
For numbers, quantities, and scores, de... à is standard, but the articles will contract based on the noun.
- Les notes varient de 10 à 20. (The grades range from 10 to 20.)
- Il a gagné de 50 à 100 euros. (He won between 50 and 100 euros.)
- J'ai appelé de une fois à trois fois. (I called from one time to three times.)
Note: When the range involves a quantity of a plural noun, de is used alone without an article (des), as it is part of a partitive construction. J'ai mangé de trois à quatre pommes. (I ate three to four apples.
Exceptions and Special Cases
Time of Day
When stating a range for hours, use de and à without the article h (hour).
- Nous travaillons de 9 à 17h. (We work from 9 to 5 p.m.)
"From... Until" in Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, the structure can change. The preposition jusqu'à is often used for the endpoint, while de marks the start.
- Je ne suis pas disponible de lundi jusqu'au mercredi. (I am not available from Monday until Wednesday.)
Conclusion
Mastering the French prepositions depuis, de, and their associated range structures (de... à, du... au) is fundamental to expressing time, origin, and movement with precision. While depuis pinpoints a starting point in time, the de... That's why à family elegantly defines the boundaries of any journey, whether spatial, temporal, or numerical. On the flip side, the key is to pay close attention to the grammatical gender of nouns, which dictates the necessary contractions, and to choose jusqu'à when you wish to stress the endpoint. By understanding these distinctions, you move beyond simple translation and begin to capture the nuanced meaning and flow of the French language, ensuring your expressions are both accurate and idiomatic.
