French Phrase
Choisis un endroit sûr dehors.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct instruction telling someone to pick a location that is both safe and situated outdoors. It can be used in emergency situations, during outdoor activities, or whenever you want to steer someone away from an unsafe indoor environment.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to advise a person to move to a secure outdoor spot – for example during a fire drill, a storm warning, a school recess, or when meeting a friend in a public park and you want to emphasize safety.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Choisisunendroitsûrdehors
Choisis (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of choisir; the subject pronoun ‘tu’ is omitted.
un (indefinite article)
Masculine singular article used before a noun that is not previously identified.
endroit (noun)
Masculine noun meaning ‘place’ or ‘spot’; the core of the noun phrase.
sûr (adjective)
Adjective meaning ‘safe’; it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (masc. sing.).
dehors (adverb)
Adverb meaning ‘outside’; placed after the noun phrase to indicate location.
🗨In Conversation
Il y a du danger à l'intérieur, que vas‑tu faire ?
There's danger inside, what will you do?
Choisis un endroit sûr dehors.
Choose a safe place outside.
✕Common Mistakes
Choisis un endroit dehors sûr.
Adjectives normally precede the noun in French; the correct order is ‘un endroit sûr’.
Choisissez un endroit sûr dehors.
‘Choisissez’ is the plural/formal imperative; use ‘Choisis’ when speaking to one person informally.
Choisis un endroit sûr à l'intérieur.
The preposition should be ‘dehors’ (outside) not ‘à l'intérieur’ (inside) for the intended meaning.
↔Alternatives
Trouve un lieu sûr à l'extérieur.
Find a safe place outside.
Opte pour un site sécurisé à l'extérieur.
Opt for a secure site outdoors.
Choisis un coin sûr dehors.
Pick a safe corner outside.
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘dehors’ is the everyday word for ‘outside’, while ‘à l'extérieur’ sounds a bit more formal or written. Both are correct, but native speakers often prefer ‘dehors’ in spoken commands. Also, the adjective ‘sûr’ must stay before the noun (un endroit sûr) – placing it after sounds unnatural.