What do the words "DU" and "DES" mean in French?

Question

I'm on Rosetta Stone, what do the words "DU" and "DES" mean in French?

Then what's the feminine version of "of the"

Answer 1

It can mean two different things:

1) article (=some):

DU pain (masculine : some bread)
DE LA farine (feminine: some flour)
DE L'eau (before a vowel: some water)
DES pommes (plural: some apples)

2) the contraction of DE + LE = DU (of the, masculine)
the contraction of DE + LES = DES (of the, plural)
the feminine form does not get contracted: DE LA

Answer 2

Most of the time du and des mean "some"

Answer 3

du is the prepositional phrases meaning "of the" which is only before masculin nouns.

du lait, du beurre, du riz, ect. All are masculin nouns

Des can mean some but in most cases is it used exactly like "du" except it is plural.

tu veux DES crevettes?

i hope this helped

Answer 4

du : singular for some
des : plural for some

DU indicates an unknown quantity of something, usually food or drink
Nous voudrions du lait. : We'd like some milk.
J’ai du chocolat : I have some chocolate
DES (plural) refers to something plural uncountable.
Il a mangé des épinards. : He ate some spinach.
Peux-tu me donner des conseils ? : Could you give me some advice?
DES is also for more than one countable thing in an indefinite sense.
Il a des livres intéressants : He has some interesting books.
J'ai acheté des chaussettes. : I bought some socks.

Hope it helps

Answer 5

"Du" means "of the", referring to a masculin singular object.
"Des" is "of the", referring to a plural object, either gender.

Answer 6

defunts = late, dead "Triste lyre qui soupire, je reve aux amours defunts" = "Sad lyre that sobs, I dream of late flames" As for "tressaillir", it is a single word and it means quiver or shiver.

Answer 7

for the additional:
although it has already been answered: fem. form is "de la"