Expressing Consequence: "d'où"
In English, we often use words like "hence", "therefore", or "which explains" to show the logical result of a situation. In French, you can express this concisely using d'où.
While d'où literally means "from where", it is frequently used to introduce a noun that is the direct consequence of the previous statement. The structure is simple: make a statement, add a comma, and follow it with d'où + a noun.
| The king discovered a large deposit, hence these emeralds. | Le roi a découvert un grand gisement, d'où ces émeraudes. |
Notice that there is no verb in the second half of the sentence. The phrase d'où directly connects the cause (the discovery of a large deposit) to its result (the emeralds).
| The sapphire has a perfect brilliance, hence its priceless value. | Le saphir a un éclat parfait, d'où sa valeur inestimable. |
Explaining Origins and Reactions
You can also use this structure to explain the origin of a situation, such as a lack of resources or a sudden reaction. It acts as an elegant shortcut for saying "and that is the reason for..."
| This Asian deposit is empty, hence the lack of emeralds. | Ce gisement asiatique est vide, d'où le manque d'émeraudes. |
| The stone I am speaking of changed hue, hence my surprise. | La pierre dont je parle a changé de teinte, d'où ma surprise. |