Dessus is a French noun meaning the upper part or surface of something, such as the top or exterior side. It is typically used in architectural, textile, or garment contexts to denote the outside or upper layer. In some phrases it functions as a definite noun referring to the upper side in a given setting.
"Le dessus du meuble est gravement rayé; il faut le réparer."
"Elle porte une chemise bleue sur le dessus et une veste noire."
"Nous avons remplacé le dessus du toit après l’orage."
"Le tissu est résistant à l’usure sur le dessus mais fragile à l’intérieur."
Dessus originates in French, derived from the preposition dessus, meaning 'on top of' or 'upon'. The word can act as a noun when referring to the upper face of an object, built on the adverbial phrase dessus. In medieval and early modern French, divers termes synonymously signified the exterior surface, often tied to architecture and textiles. As a noun, its usage crystallized to denote the upper surface or exterior aspect, distinct from dessous (the underside). Cross-linguistically, the concept of top vs bottom exists in Romance languages with cognate forms built from sur/dessus combined with a noun, but the standalone noun usage of dessus is particularly French and widely understood in English-speaking fashion, architecture, and design discussions. First known uses appear in 16th–17th century French texts, aligned with a growing vocabulary for describing spatial orientation and fabric faces. Today, dessus is a stable noun in French, commonly encountered in phrases like «le dessus du toit» (the top of the roof) or «dessus de la chaussure» (the upper part of the shoe).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dessus" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Dessus"
-ces sounds
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Dessus is pronounced deh-su with emphasis on the first syllable. In IPA: US/UK/AU: /dɛˈsu/ or /dəˈsu/ depending on speaker. The vowel in the first syllable is a closed-mid front vowel, and the second syllable is a single syllable with a clear 'su' as in sue. Tip: keep the 'ss' as a crisp [s] and avoid an extra vowel at the end; the final 's' is silent in many contexts, so the word finishes with a soft [u].
Common mistakes include over-pronouncing the final 's' (saying /dɛˈsuː/ with a visible plural sound) and misplacing the stress by voicing the second syllable more than the first. Another error is using a closed front rounded vowel in the first syllable; aim for /dɛ/ or /də/ depending on speaker. Correct by practicing the two-syllable rhythm /dɛˈsu/ and keeping the onset crisp with a light breathy release on the second syllable.
In US English pronunciation of the French loanword, you might hear a slightly reduced initial vowel /də/ with less tense /e/ and a softer final /su/. UK speakers tend to approximate with /ˈdeɪsu/ or /ˈdɛsɚ/ depending on anglicization. Australian speakers generally align with UK-like vowel quality but often have a quicker, flatter intonation, keeping the final /u/ close to /uː/. Despite differences, the core is two syllables /des/ + /su/ with rolling bi- syllabic rhythm.
Dessus is tricky because it is a French word with a non-English phonotactic pattern: the vowel in the first syllable is a closed-mid front vowel and the final 'ss' produces a voiceless fricative without adding length. The combination of a short, crisp /d/ onset, a tense /e/ or /ə/ in the first syllable, and the palatalized 'su' at the end can feel unfamiliar. Additionally, the liaison and the near-silent 's' in some contexts require careful ending. Practice the clean two-syllable rhythm and avoid English vowel insertion.
The key to Dessus is balancing the syllable boundary and the French mouth positions: begin with a light alveolar /d/ with a small burst, then the open-mid front vowel /ɛ/ or schwa-like /ə/, followed by an unvoiced /s/ and a short /u/ vowel. The final 's' is often silent when not followed by a vowel, so you end on /u/ rather than /us/. Keep lips rounded for the /u/ and avoid a trailing English 'z' or 's' sound.
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