du

Meaning

Contraction

Contraction of de + le (“of the”)

Article

Forms the partitive article.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dy/

Etymology

Inherited from Old French del. The expected modern form would be *deau, but it underwent stronger contraction. Akin to Galician do, Portuguese do, Sicilian dû, Italian and Spanish del.

Sentences

Je puis faire du bruit ?

May I make some noise?

A droite , la cour du lycée .

On the right, the high school courtyard.

Il se trouve dans le même bâtiment que le musée du transport .

It is in the same building as the Transport Museum.

Un vieil escalier de bois occupe la tour ronde du Sud .

An old wooden staircase occupies the southern round tower.

Ces deux routes se rejoignent à du sommet du col .

These two roads meet at the top of the pass.

Elle obtient à cette occasion une nomination au César du meilleur espoir féminin .

On this occasion, she received a Cesar nomination for the best female hopeful.

Pour l’instant , je suis sur le banc du prisonnier .

For now, I'm on the prisoner's bench.

Porto Seguro est le berceau du Brésil .

Porto Seguro is the birthplace of Brazil.