derouler

Dérouler, in its infinitive form, is a French verb meaning to unroll, unfold, or spread out something that is rolled or curled, and to unfold or reveal a sequence, plan, or narrative. The unaccented variant derouler is common in informal writing or contexts where diacritics are omitted, but the standard spelling uses the acute accent: dérouler.

Etymology and form: Dérouler is formed from the prefix dé- (undo, reverse) plus rouler (to roll). It is a regular -er verb and follows standard conjugation patterns for this group. Present tense forms include je déroule, tu déroules, il déroule, nous déroulons, vous déroulez, ils déroulent. Other tenses follow typical -er conjugation endings, such as j’ai déroulé (passé composé), je déroulais (imperfect), je déroulerai (future), and que je déroule (subjonctif).

Usage: The literal sense covers physical actions, such as dérouler une carte, dérouler un tapis, dérouler une pellicule, or dérouler un film—essentially, to unroll, unfurl, or unwind material. The figurative sense covers presenting or revealing a sequence, as in dérouler un récit, dérouler un plan, or dérouler une démonstration, meaning to unfold, develop, or lay out step by step. In logistics, manufacturing, or media, it can refer to the process of releasing or deploying content or materials in a controlled sequence.

Related forms: The noun déroulement denotes the unfolding or progression of events. The device or mechanism that unwinds material is called un dérouleur or, in some contexts, une dérouleuse. The opposite action is enrouler, to roll up.

See also: enrouler, déroulement, dérouleur. Dérouler is widely used across both everyday language and formal contexts to describe unrolling physical things or unfolding sequences.