desservir

to serve (a route)

verb deh-ser-VEER Rare

Origin: From 'des-' (un-) + 'servir' (to serve), Latin 'deservire'.

Also means

to clear (a table)

Usage Note

Desservir has two distinct senses: in transport, desservir une ville means a train or bus 'serves' (stops at) a town; at the table, desservir means to clear the dishes after a meal. A third figurative sense — cela te dessert (that works against you) — is also common. It conjugates like servir.

Examples

"Ce train dessert toutes les gares de la région."

Natural Translation

This train serves all the stations in the region.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Tu vs Vous: When to Use Each in French

Tu vs vous in French: use tu for one friend, family, or child, and vous for strangers, elders, your boss, and any group. A clear etiquette guide.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Café Culture: How to Order Like a Local

In a French café, un café means espresso, one drink rents the table for an hour, and you must ask for the bill. Order coffee like a local with these phrases.

June 4, 2026 7 min read

FrenchNow

French Numbers 70, 80, 90 Made Simple

French numbers 70, 80, 90 are soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, and quatre-vingt-dix. Learn three build formulas to make any number 70-99 on the fly.

June 3, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read