déroules

Déroules is the second-person singular form of the French verb dérouler in the present indicative, used when the subject is tu. Dérouler primarily means to unroll, lay out, or unfold something that is rolled or folded, but it can also be used figuratively to describe the unfolding or development of events, a plan, or a narrative.

Etymology and sense: the verb derives from the prefix dé- plus rouler (to roll). Rouler itself comes from Old French and ultimately from Latin roots related to rolling or turning; the combination conveys the idea of undoing an enclosure or bringing something into a flat, extended state, whether material or abstract.

Conjugation context: as a regular -er verb, dérouler follows the standard present tense pattern. The present tense forms are: je déroule, tu déroules, il déroule, nous déroulons, vous déroulez, ils déroulent. The form déroules specifically addresses a single, familiar recipient, “you unfold/unroll.”

Usage and nuance: used for physical actions such as unrolling a carpet, a map, or a plan (Tu déroules le tapis; Tu déroules le document). It also covers figurative uses like unfolding a story or sequence of events (le récit se déroule; on peut dérouler les étapes d’un projet). In some contexts, dérouler can be paired with other verbs to indicate progression, such as dérouler une série d’étapes or dérouler un film.

Related terms: synonyms include déplier (to unfold) and étaler (to spread out). The verb dérouler is common in everyday French, in both literal and figurative meanings, and appears in literary, logistical, and narrative contexts.