Languages › French Choosing Between the French Prepositions Vers and Envers Print Jon Boyes / Getty Images French Grammar Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Resources For Teachers By ThoughtCo Team Updated on August 27, 2018 Do you know the difference between the prepositions vers and envers? They both mean "toward," but in different circumstances. Meaning of Vers Vers means "toward" literally, as in movement toward something or the direction something faces: Read More Differences Between Après vs. Derrière and Avant vs. Devant By Camille Chevalier-Karfis Nous allons vers Rouen. We're going toward Rouen.Tournez vers la droite. Turn to(ward) the right.La fenêtre regarde vers le nord. The window faces north. Vers can indicate proximity (synonymous with près de): J'étais vers Provence. I was around (near) Provence.Habites-tu vers ici? Do you live around here? Vers can also mean "around a certain time." Nous y allons vers midi. We're going around noon.J'arriverai vers 15h00. I'll arrive around 3 pm. Meaning of Envers Envers is used only figuratively, as in acting on or thinking about something. Il est cruel envers les chiens. He is cruel toward dogs.Son attitude envers les enfants. His attitude toward children.Ses pensées envers l'argent. His thoughts on money. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Team, ThoughtCo. "Choosing Between the French Prepositions Vers and Envers." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/vers-vs-envers-1368971. Team, ThoughtCo. (2023, April 5). Choosing Between the French Prepositions Vers and Envers. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/vers-vs-envers-1368971 Team, ThoughtCo. "Choosing Between the French Prepositions Vers and Envers." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/vers-vs-envers-1368971 (accessed May 6, 2024). copy citation