Pronunciation: [da yeur]
Meaning: besides, moreover; for that matter; might I add, by the way
Literal translation: from elsewhere
Register: normal
Notes: The adverbial French expression d'ailleurs literally means "besides" or "moreover," but it also has two other uses:
- It can be used to add a bit of interesting but non-essential information, the way you might say "might I add" or "by the way."
- It's often tacked on to sentences with no real meaning - it's kind of a filler, like the English word "so."
Je n'ai pas réussi à l'examen, et d'ailleurs je dois admettre que je n'ai même pas révisé.
I didn't pass the test, and I have to admit that, moreover, I didn't even study.
Moi non plus, d'ailleurs.
Me neither, for that matter.
J'ai parlé à Jean, d'ailleurs il a maigri, et il va venir vers midi.
I talked to Jean, who has lost weight, by the way, and he'll be here around noon.
D'ailleurs, on y va ?
So anyway, are we going?
D'ailleurs is the required contraction of the preposition de (of, from, about) plus the adverb ailleurs (elsewhere, somewhere else).
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More: Expressions with de | Most common French phrases
