GENERAL INFO

Sous is a preposition meaning "under" or "below". It indicates a lower physical or abstract position relative to something else.

USAGE

It describes physical location: "Le chat est sous le lit." (The cat is under the bed.)

It also expresses figurative states like "être sous contrôle" (to be under control) or "travailler sous l'autorité de quelqu'un" (to work under someone's authority).

TRAPS

Avoid confusing "sous" (under/below) with the more complex "en dessous de" (below/underneath of), which often implies a comparative or separate "below". "Sous" is usually a direct equivalent of "under".