What does sur mean?
Sur is a French preposition meaning “on” or “upon.” It is not a standard English preposition, although French phrases containing it are sometimes encountered in English, especially in specialized contexts such as fashion, where “sur mesure” means “made to measure” and “sur place” means “in place” or “on the spot.” Its ordinary French uses include describing the position of an object, as in “sur la table” (“on the table”), and expressing other relationships that English may render with “on,” “upon,” “over,” or “at,” depending on the context. Because sur belongs primarily to French, its function and pronunciation should be understood in that language unless it appears in a retained French phrase. In French, sur is pronounced /syʁ/, with a single voiced uvular fricative at the end of the word.
prepositionIn French, a preposition meaning “on” or “upon,” used in phrases such as sur la table (“on the table”) and sur mesure (“made to measure”).
- In French, “on” or “upon.”
- In French, “on” or “upon,” as in the expressions “sur place” and “sur mesure.”
"Le livre est posé sur la table."
"The key is hanging sur the hook."
"The tailor makes all of his clothes sur mesure."
French “sur” survives in English mainly through useful expressions such as “sur mesure,” meaning made to measure.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sur come from?
Sur comes from Old French sur, meaning “on” or “over.” It developed from Latin super, which had related spatial meanings and also gave rise to forms such as “super-” in English. The modern French form ultimately reflects the contraction of Latin super with an unstressed element in Old French, while the final /ʁ/ reflects a later pronunciation change in French.
How sur is actually used
This is a French preposition rather than a standard English word. The expressions in which it occurs should normally be understood in their French context; French sur generally corresponds to English “on,” “upon,” “over,” or “at,” depending on context.