au lieu de

French

Etymology

From the classical Latin expression (in) locō (“in place (of)”), consisting of the ablative of locus (“place”), preceded or followed by a genitive, as in “parentis locō esse”, Cicero, Div. in Caecil., 19.61.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /o ljø də/

• Audio

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Preposition

au lieu de

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see au,‎ lieu,‎ de.

   Nous arriverons au lieu de rendez-vous une heure tôt ― We'll arrive at the location of the meeting an hour early.

2. instead of

   Synonym: à la place de

Descendants

• → English: in lieu of (calque)