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33 French Conversational Connectors For Smooth Spoken French

As you learn French and begin using longer sentences to express your ideas, you need to know the connectors in French that allow everything to flow together.

Connectors will turn disjointed phrases into joined up sentences, making your French sound more smooth, natural and fluent.

Let’s have a look at an example in English first:

Yesterday, I went for a walk in the park. I arrived at the park. It started raining. I didn’t have an umbrella. I was starting to feel hungry. I decided to take the bus home. I had wasted my day off. It’s always a bad idea to go out without an umbrella in spring. It serves me right.

Compare that with:

Yesterday, I went for a walk in the park. However , when I arrived at the park, it started raining, and unfortunately, I didn’t have an umbrella. Furthermore, I was starting to feel hungry, so I decided to take the bus home instead – but I had wasted my day off. In fact , it’s always a bad idea to go out in spring without an umbrella, so I guess it serves me right.

Which one sounds more natural? Of course it’s the second one. Why? Thanks to the connectors! 

So, to help you out and save you a bit of time, here’s my list of the most important French conversational connectors to get you started.

By the way, if sounding more fluent in French fast is one of your goals, I recommend French Uncovered, which teaches you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

33 French Conversational Connectors

These are some of the very first words you will learn in French and are essential when forming even the simplest joined-up sentences.

Most of these words work just like their English counterparts.

#1 Et – And

• Example: Je ne veux pas y aller et c’est tout ! – I don’t want to go and that’s that!

#2 Mais – But

• Example: Je ne veux pas y aller, mais tu peux me convaincre – I don’t want to go, but you can convince me

#3 Parce que – Because

• Example: Je ne veux pas y aller parce que ça m’ennuie – I don’t want to go because it bores me

#4 Peut-être – Perhaps, Maybe

• Example: Peut-être qu'on peut y aller après-demain – Perhaps we can go the day after tomorrow

#5 Comme – As, Since

This word in French has several meanings, including “like” (as in “similar”) and “as” (“he’s dressed as a monk”). But here, as a connector, it means “as” or “since”, a meaning that is close to “because”.

• Example: Comme ça m’ennuie, je ne veux pas y aller – Since it bores me, I don’t want to go

#6 Donc – Therefore

This is a useful word and is very common – it’s slightly more formal than alors , which we’ll come to in a moment.

• Example: Je n’ai pas d’argent donc je ne veux pas y aller – I don’t have any money, therefore I don’t want to go
• Example: Je pense donc je suis – I think therefore I am

It's also used in the following expression:

• Example: Quoi donc ? – What then?

Multipurpose Connectors In French To Sound Like A Native

Here are a couple of words that are super-common in French and that have lots of meanings.

Learning how to use them correctly can help make your French sound much more natural. And because they have so many uses, they’re extremely useful words to know.

In fact, I could probably write a whole post just about number 7. But I'll just give you an overview for now!

#7 Alors – So, Then, Therefore

This is a word that can seemingly be made to mean almost anything.

But its primary sense is “so” or “therefore”. It’s often used instead of donc and sounds less formal – the difference between the two is similar to the difference between “so” and “therefore” in English.

Note that when it isn’t being used to connect two parts of a sentence, alors can be placed at the beginning or end of what you say.

In English, we use “so” at the start of the sentence or replace it with “then” – which can go at the start or at the end. See the third example below to see how this works.

• Je n’ai pas d’argent alors je ne veux pas y aller – I don’t have any money, so I don’t want to go
• Je ne le voulais pas alors pourquoi tu l’as acheté ? – I didn’t want it so why did you buy it?
• Alors pourquoi tu l’as acheté?/Pourquoi tu l’as acheté alors ? – So/then why did you buy it?/Why did you buy it then?

Alors can also be used when in English you might say “so” or “well”. And just like in English, it has the full range of nuances, depending on how and when you say it.

Here are just a couple of examples:

• Alors ? – So? Well? (with a rising, questioning intonation – could mean “what do you want?” “how did it go?” “did you find it?” etc. depending on the context)
• Alors ! – Well then! (with a falling intonation, kind of like “I told you so!”)
• Bah alors ! – Well then! There, there! (depending on how you say it, it could mean anything from “well what did you expect?” or “serves you right” to “there, there” said to comfort someone!)

#8 Quand Même – All The Same, Anyway

I remember hearing this expression a lot when I was first learning French. Then – and when I finally worked out how to use it myself, I felt that my French had suddenly made a big jump forward.

It’s such a typically French expression that’s more than just another vocabulary item. And sometimes its meaning defies translation.

The basic sense is something like “all the same”. But you'll hear it used in all kinds of situations with varying nuances. Check out these examples:

• Je ne veux pas y aller mais je vais y aller quand même – I don’t want to go but I will go all the same (the meaning is close to “anyway” – I will go even though I don’t want to)
• Il est quand même un bon jouer – He’s a good player all the same (perhaps some doubt has been expressed about the player’s abilities and the speaker accepts the point but wants to stress that he’s still a good player – ‘yes, sometimes he’s lazy, but he’s a good player all the same’)
• C’est cher mais c’est bon quand même ! – It’s expensive, but it’s good though! (here, the idea being expressed is that although the food is expensive, it’s very good so it’s worth the money)

Quand même can also be used alone as a kind of exclamation to express the idea that something is impressive or considerable.

• Example: C’était combien ? 1.300€. Quand même ! – How much was it? €1,300. Wow, not exactly cheap! (the meaning is that the price is quite considerable – try to imagine it being said with a Gallic rise of the eyebrows, a slight tilt of the head, a little exhalation and a facial “shrug”!)

Other Useful Connectors In French

Most of these words are similar to the English equivalents.

#9 Pourtant – Yet, Still

Similar to “yet” or “still” in English.

• Example: Il est pourtant venu – Yet he came/he still came/yet he still came
• Example: Et pourtant, il est quand même venu – And yet he still came

#10 Cepandant – However

• Example: Il est beau. Cepandant je le trouve très bête – He’s handsome. However, I find him very stupid

#11 (Tout) D’abord – First (Of All)

• Example: D’abord, je vais chercher mon manteau – First, I’m going to fetch my coat

#12 En Général – In General

• Example: En général, ils sont tous comme ça – In general, they’re all like that

#13 En fait – In fact, Actually

Also, see actuellement in the “False Friends” section at the end.

• Example: En fait, je préfère la bière – In fact, I prefer beer

#14 Quant à – As For, Concerning

• Example: Quant à mes amis, ils préfèrent le vin – As for my friends, they prefer wine

#15 D’ailleurs – Moreover, Furthermore

• Example: Non, je ne l’ai pas invité. Et d’ailleurs, je lui ai dit de ne pas venir – No, I didn’t invite him. And moreover, I told him not to come

#16 Au Contraire – On The Contrary

• Example: Au contraire, ce n’est pas du tout ce que je voulais dire – On the contrary, that’s not what I meant at all

#17 Malgré – Despite

• Example: Malgré tout, elle l’aime toujours – Despite everything, she still loves him

#18 Sinon – Otherwise

• Example: Tu lui diras. Sinon il va oublier – Tell him. Otherwise he’ll forget

#19 Dès Que – As Soon As

• Example: On va partir dès qu’il arrive – We’ll leave as soon as he arrives

#20 Quoique – Whatever

This expression is always followed by a subjunctive verb in French .

• Example: Il ne me croit pas, quoique je dise – He doesn’t believe me, whatever I say

#21 Sans Doute – Without

• Example: Sans doute, c’est pour ça – Without doubt, that’s why

#22 Par Contre – On The Other Hand

• Example: S’il fait beau, j’irai. Par contre, s’il pleut, je reste ici – If the weather is good, I’ll go. On the other hand, if it rains, I’ll stay here

#23 En Plus – Furthermore, Additionally, As Well

• Example: Il a volé mon portefeille, et en plus, il m’a insulté ! – He stole my wallet, and furthermore, he insulted me!

#24 Surtout – Above All

• Example: Et surtout, il ne faut pas le dire à personne ! – And above all, you mustn’t tell it to anyone!

#25 De Toute Façon – Anyway

• Example: De toute façon, je vais lui dire – I’m going to tell him anyway

Connectors In French For Expressing Your Opinion

These are words and phrases for when you need to express your opinion.

#26 Je Pense Que… – I Think That…

• Example: Je pense que tu as tort – I think you’re wrong

#27 À Mon Avis – In My Opinion

• Example: À mon avis, ce n’est pas le cas – In my opinion, that’s not the case

#28 Pour Moi – For Me

• Example: Pour moi, ce n’est pas la peine – For me, it’s not worth it

#29 Selon – According To

• Example: Selon mon professeur, ça se dit comme ça – According to my teacher, that’s how it’s said

Connectors In French: False Friend Alert!

To finish, here are a couple of connecting words that many English speakers get wrong – as do many French speakers when they use the English versions.

#31 and #32 are slightly different from English and are easy to confuse. The last is one of the most notorious false friends in the French language.

#30 En Effet – Indeed, Actually

This doesn’t quite mean ‘in effect’. It’s closer to ‘indeed’ or ‘actually’.

• Example: En effet, c’est tout à fait vrai ! – Indeed, it’s completely true!

#31 Finalement – In The End, After All

Be careful here – finalement doesn’t mean “finally” as in “he’s finally arrived”. The true meaning is “in the end” and is used, for example, when the final outcome is not what you expected.

• Example: Ah ! Alors finalement tu as décidé de venir ! – Ah! So you decided to come in the end!

#32 Enfin – Finally, At Last, At Least

If you want to say “finally”, the correct word is enfin – it expresses the idea that something you have been waiting for has finally happened.

• Example: Il a enfin réussi à vendre sa maison ! – He’s finally managed to sell his house!

It also has another meaning that is similar to “at least” in English.

• Example: Il a vendu sa maison. Enfin, c’est ce que j’ai entendu – He sold his house. At least, that’s what I heard

#33 Actuellement – At The Moment, Currently, Right Now

Actuellement DOES NOT mean “actually”! If you want to express “actually”, the closest French expression is en fait (in fact).

Actuellement means “currently” or “at the moment”, and this is why sometimes French people will say things like “I’m busy actually” – they really mean “I’m busy right now”.

• Example: Je ne suis pas disponible actuellement – I’m not available right now/currently

Connectors In French: A Quick Way To Improve Your French

Many of these words are invaluable since they can help you express yourself much more clearly and accurately.

Plus, there are no complicated grammar rules to learn. You can sound more natural and fluent with minimal effort.

En plus , by incorporating them into your active French vocabulary, you can make yourself sound much more like a native speaker.

Et finalement , that’s the goal that everyone is hoping to achieve!

This list is a great start point. But now it's over to you. As you read French and listen to French , notice these connectors. Observe how native people use them in their conversations. How do they pronounce them? Where and when do they use them.

This is great preparation for using them in your conversations with French speakers.

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29 Essential French Logical Connectors – When and How To Use Them

Mastering logical connectors is key to communicating clearly in French. This comprehensive guide will teach you 29 essential French logical connectors – what they mean, when to use them, and how to effectively utilize them with example sentences.

Whether you need to express cause and effect, contrast ideas, summarize points or provide examples, this article will explain the most common and useful French connecting words and phrases.

1. Mais (but) 2. Car/Parce que (because) 3. Donc (so/therefore) 4. Or (now/yet) 5. Cependant/Pourtant (however) 6. Ainsi (thus) 7. C’est pourquoi (that’s why) 8. En effet (indeed) 9. De plus (furthermore/moreover) 10. Par conséquent (consequently) 11. En revanche (on the other hand) 12. Autrement dit (in other words) 13. Pour conclure (in conclusion) 14. Certes (admittedly) 15. Sauf que (except that)

16. Vu que (given that) 17. Par ailleurs (moreover) 18. En dépit de (despite) 19. En somme (in summary) 20. En l’occurrence (in this instance/case) 21. Tel que (such as) 22. À savoir (namely) 23. Entre autres (among other things) 24. À moins que (unless) 25. D’ailleurs (moreover/besides) 26. Par ailleurs (furthermore/in addition) 27. Faute de (for lack of) 28. Encore que (although) 29. Étant donné que (given that)

1. Mais (but)

Mais (but) – – Use “mais” to express contrast or opposition between two ideas. Ex: “Il fait beau aujourd’hui, mais il risque de pleuvoir ce soir.” (It’s sunny today, but it might rain tonight).

2. Car/Parce que (because)

Car/Parce que (because) – Use “car” or “parce que” to introduce an explanation or justify a statement. Ex: “Je suis fatigué car je me suis couché tard hier soir.” (I’m tired because I went to bed late last night).

3. Donc (so/therefore)

Donc (so/therefore) – Use “donc” to indicate a conclusion or consequence based on what was stated before. Ex: “Il a beaucoup étudié, donc il a réussi son examen.” (He studied hard, so he passed the exam).

4. Or (now/yet)

Or (now/yet) – “Or” indicates a change or shift in a narrative. It introduces something in contrast or opposition to what precedes it.

Ex: “Paul voulait partir en vacances. Or, il devait travailler ce week-end.” (Paul wanted to go on vacation. Yet, he had to work this weekend).

5. Cependant/Pourtant (however)

Cependant/Pourtant (however) – Use “cependant” or “pourtant” to express contrast or qualification after a statement. Ex: “Cet exercice semblait facile. Pourtant, peu d’étudiants ont réussi.” (This exercise seemed easy. However, few students succeeded).

6. Ainsi (thus)

Ainsi (thus) – “Ainsi” indicates a consequence or result that follows logically. Ex: “L’équipe jouait bien. Ainsi, elle a gagné le match.” (The team was playing well. Thus, they won the game).

7. C’est pourquoi (that’s why)

C’est pourquoi (that’s why) – Use this to justify or explain the cause of something stated previously. Ex:”Les routes étaient glissantes. C’est pourquoi nous sommes rentrés prudemment.” (The roads were slippery. That’s why we drove back carefully).

8. En effet (indeed)

En effet (indeed) – Use “en effet” to confirm or emphasize a statement. Ex:”Il faisait un froid glacial. En effet, le thermomètre indiquait -10°C.” (It was freezing cold. Indeed, the thermometer read -10°C).

9. De plus (furthermore/moreover)

De plus (furthermore/moreover) – Use “de plus” to add supplemental information that reinforces or builds upon a previous statement.

Ex: “Il était déjà en retard. De plus, il n’avait pas terminé son devoir.” (He was already late. Furthermore, he hadn’t finished his homework.)

10. Par conséquent (consequently)

Par conséquent (consequently) – Use this to indicate a consequence or result that follows from what was previously stated. Ex: “L’avion a été annulé. Par conséquent, nous devons reporter notre voyage.” (The plane was cancelled. Consequently, we have to postpone our trip.)

11. En revanche (on the other hand)

En revanche (on the other hand) – This sets up a contrast between two elements or situations.

Ex: “Paul adore la musique rock. En revanche, sa soeur préfère le jazz.” (Paul loves rock music. On the other hand, his sister prefers jazz.)

12. Autrement dit (in other words)

Autrement dit (in other words) – Use this to rephrase an idea in a different way, to clarify the initial statement.

Ex: “Ce film était trop compliqué. Autrement dit, il était difficile à comprendre.” (This movie was too complex. In other words, it was hard to understand.)

13. Pour conclure (in conclusion)

Pour conclure (in conclusion) – This introduces the conclusion or a summary of what was previously stated.

Ex: “Pour conclure, je pense que cette décision est la meilleure solution.” (In conclusion, I think this decision is the best solution.)

14. Certes (admittedly)

Certes (admittedly) – “Certes” concedes or acknowledges a point, while introducing a counterpoint.

Ex: “Certes, il a fait des erreurs, néanmoins je lui fais confiance.” (Admittedly, he made some mistakes, nevertheless I trust him.)

15. Sauf que (except that)

Sauf que (except that) – This introduces a restriction, objection or counters a previous point.

Ex: “J’étais prêt à partir, sauf que j’ai oublié mes clés.” (I was ready to leave, except that I forgot my keys.)

16. Vu que (given that)

Vu que (given that) – “Vu que” provides context or justification for what follows.

Ex: “Vu qu’il pleuvait, nous sommes restés à l’intérieur.” (Given that it was raining, we stayed inside.)

17. Par ailleurs (moreover)

Par ailleurs (moreover) – Use “par ailleurs” to introduce supplemental information.

Ex: “Je n’aime pas courir. Par ailleurs, je préfère nager.” (I don’t like running. Moreover, I prefer swimming.)

18. En dépit de (despite)

En dépit de (despite) – This means “despite” or “in spite of”.

Ex: “En dépit de la pluie, nous sommes allés nous promener.” (Despite the rain, we went for a walk.)

19. En somme (in summary)

En somme (in summary) – Use “en somme” to signal a conclusion or summary of what was stated.

Ex: “En somme, ce fut un bon voyage malgré quelques problèmes.” (In summary, it was a good trip despite some issues.)

20. En l’occurrence (in this instance/case)

En l’occurrence (in this instance/case) – This refers to a precise situation or context.

Ex : En l’occurrence, il faut agir vite. In this case, we need to act quickly.

21. Tel que (such as)

Tel que (such as) – “Tel que” is used to introduce examples or precise elements.

Ex : Certains aliments, tel que les noix, sont allergènes. Some foods, such as nuts, are allergenic.

22. À savoir (namely)

À savoir (namely) – Use “à savoir” to signal key information or specifics.

Ex : Deux points sont à traiter, à savoir la réduction des coûts et l’augmentation des ventes. Two points need to be addressed, namely cost reduction and sales increase.

23. Entre autres (among other things)

Entre autres (among other things) – Use “entre autres” to signal there are other elements in addition to those mentioned.

Ex : Parmi nos projets figurent, entre autres, l’ouverture d’une nouvelle usine et le lancement d’un nouveau produit. Our projects include, among other things, the opening of a new factory and the launch of a new product.

24. À moins que (unless)

À moins que (unless) – “À moins que” sets a condition that must be met for something else to happen.

Ex : Nous irons à la plage, à moins qu’il pleuve. We’ll go to the beach unless it rains.

25. D’ailleurs (moreover/besides)

D’ailleurs (moreover/besides) – Use this to add supplemental information to reinforce a point.

Ex : Il est en retard. D’ailleurs, il n’a pas répondu à nos appels. He’s late. Moreover, he hasn’t answered our calls.

26. Par ailleurs (furthermore/in addition)

Par ailleurs (furthermore/in addition) – “Par ailleurs” introduces an additional point or further information.

Ex : L’entreprise a réduit ses effectifs cette année. Par ailleurs, elle a gelé les salaires. The company downsized this year. Furthermore, it froze wages.

27. Faute de (for lack of)

Faute de (for lack of) – This means “for lack of” or “because of not having”.

Ex : Faute de participants, la réunion a été annulée. For lack of attendees, the meeting was cancelled.

28. Encore que (although)

Encore que (although) – “Encore que” introduces a concession or contrasting element.

Ex : Cette décision est risquée. Encore que le jeu peut en valoir la chandelle. This decision is risky. Although it may be worth it.

29. Étant donné que (given that)

Étant donné que (given that) – Use this to provide context or explanation for what follows.

Ex : Étant donné que tu es malade, tu devrais rester à la maison. Given that you are sick, you should stay home.

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French connectors words

Using connector words in French is essential for creating cohesion and coherence in your writing and speaking.

These words serve as transitions that connect ideas and thoughts, helping to create a more fluid and cohesive communication.

Here is an English-French vocabulary list of some common connector words:

English-French Vocabulary List:

• Therefore – Par conséquent
• However – Cependant
• Moreover – De plus
• Nevertheless – Néanmoins
• Likewise – De même
• In addition – En outre
• Indeed – En effet
• Nonetheless – Toutefois
• In fact – En fait
• Furthermore – En outre
• Similarly – De même
• On the other hand – D’autre part
• Otherwise – Sinon
• As a result – Par conséquent
• Meanwhile – Pendant ce temps
• Although – Bien que
• Thus – Ainsi
• Despite – Malgré
• Consequently – Par conséquent
• Finally – Finalement

Understanding these words and phrases is essential for creating more cohesive and coherent communication in both written and spoken French. With practice and repetition, you will become more comfortable using them in everyday conversations and writing in French.

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French Conjunctions Chart: Guide to French Conjunctions

Do you know what a conjunction is? Many people don’t, even though they use them every day, hundreds of times a day! Stick around to see our French conjunctions charts and more information on important French conjunctions.

Languages are all about connecting people, allowing them to understand each other and bond over a friendly conversation. Similarly, conjunctions connect words together, allowing them to make sense and become more than the sum of their parts.

French connecting words—also called conjunction words—are an important part of the language. You could learn as many vocabulary lists as you can possibly remember, but if you don’t know how to connect them with the right linking words, you’ll quickly feel limited in what you can express.

Is that enough to convince you it’s time to learn French conjunctions?

In this article, you’ll learn the most common French conjunctions and how to use them, with real-life examples. We’ll look at how to list things, how to express conditions and consequences, and much more. Oh, and we’ll also talk about food and love along the way!

Table of Contents

• What are French Conjunctions?
• Common French Conjunctions for Listing Things
• Setting Conditions with Basic French Conjunctions
• Useful French Conjunctions for Expressing Causality
• Objection, Your Honor!
• What is Your Purpose?
• Conjunctive What Now?
• How Frenchpod101 Can Help You Learn More French

1. What are French Conjunctions?

Conjunctions act as links between similar words or groups of words. They can convey various meanings and perform an array of actions, from listing things to expressing conditions or causality. If words were bricks, conjunctions would be the cement holding them together. If they were lasagnas, conjunctions would be the melty layer of cheese binding everything together. I’m sure you get the idea.

Now, I could bore you with the technicalities of French coordinating conjunctions, French subordinating conjunctions, and even French conjunctive phrases, but it wouldn’t help you remember any of them. And knowing the categories or their grammatical origin doesn’t bring much to the table. So why don’t we jump right in?

Here’s our list of common French conjunctions and some examples of French sentences with conjunctions.

2. Common French Conjunctions for Listing Things

Let’s talk about food, and how to list food. These conjunctions can be used to list anything, from dates to people, locations, and ideas, but we’ll stick to edible goodies for now. 🙂

• Des fruits et des légumes “Fruits and vegetables”
• Du pain, du vin et du fromage “Bread, wine, and cheese”
• Fromage ou dessert ? “Cheese or dessert?”
• Des pâtes, du riz ou des frites ? “Pasta, rice, or French fries?”
• Il ne mange ni viande ni poisson. “He eats neither meat nor fish.”

The ni __ ni __ structure is a sort of “neither __ nor __,” but can often be translated with a simple “or,” such as: “He doesn’t eat meat or fish.”

You can use ni anytime you want to say “no” to several listed elements. And I say several, because it can be extended to more than just two: Il ne mange ni viande ni poisson, ni oeufs, ni fromage. “He doesn’t eat meat, fish, eggs, or cheese.”

Another useful expression with ni is ni l’un ni l’autre , which translates to “neither one, nor the other.” It’s a perfect pick when you want to deny two things without repeating them:

– Tu préfères la viande ou le poisson ? “Do you prefer meat or fish?”

– Ni l’un ni l’autre. “Neither.”

Avoir l’embarras du choix (“To be spoilt for choice”)

soit (either.. or)

• Je prépare soit du thé, soit du café. “I’ll make either tea or coffee.”
• Soit des pommes, soit des poires, soit des bananes. “Either apples, or pears, or bananas.”

Soit is the jealous version of ou that makes you choose exclusively. You won’t get any more than one of the items listed, so choose carefully!

Also keep in mind that the word soit can have a different meaning: “very well.”

For instance: Donc, tu préfères du café ? Soit. “So, you prefer the coffee? Very well.”

Don’t worry, though, with the context, there’s little to no chance that you could get them mixed up.

           → To learn more appetizing words and how to pronounce them, make sure to check out our free vocabulary list on Food Utensils and Tableware on FrenchPod101 .

3. Setting Conditions with Basic French Conjunctions

“If,” “then,” and “else” are the bread-and-butter of every programmer, but are also involved in countless situations in our daily lives. They are among the most important conjunctions and, luckily, they behave similarly in French and English.

• S’il n’y a plus de café, je prendrai du thé. “If there is no more coffee, I will have tea.”
• Je ne sais pas si je dois acheter du café ou si nous en avons assez. “I don’t know if I should buy coffee or if we have enough.”

alors (then; so)

• Si tu ne bois rien d’autre, alors essaye au moins le vin. “If you don’t drink anything else, then at least try the wine.”

Whereas si works just like”if,” alors is a mixed bag and can translate to “then” or “so.”

You can use it like “then,” but it gets a bit too formal for conversational style:

• Il y aura alors évidemment un dessert. “Then, obviously, there will be a dessert!”
• Vous oublierez alors tous vos soucis. “You will then forget all your worries.”

Many times, alors can be translated as “so,” and tends to express consequence:

• Je n’ai pas bu, alors je rentre en voiture. “I haven’t drunk, so I’m driving back home.”

Then, you have the cases of alors at the beginning or the end of a sentence:

• Alors, comment tu trouves le vin ? “So, how do you like the wine?”
• Tu reprendras bien un verre, alors ! “You will have another round, then!”

sinon (otherwise; literally “if not” when translated)

• Reprends un café, sinon tu vas t’endormir avant la fin. “Take another coffee, otherwise you will fall asleep before the end.”
• Je ne bois pas de vin, sinon je rentre à pied. “I don’t drink wine, otherwise, I’m walking back home.”

→ Get a good boost of energy with our vocabulary list on Coffee . It has plenty of phrases and recordings to practice your pronunciation!

Un dernier pour la route ! (“One for the road!”)

4. Useful French Conjunctions for Expressing Causality

“Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Just like conjunctions tie words together, causality is what ties the world together: actions causing reactions, and causes having consequences, in an endless domino effect .

But before we collapse under the weight of these philosophical considerations, let’s keep it light and talk about our lame excuses for not doing sports!

car (because) [Formal]

• Je ne peux pas courir car j’ai mal aux pieds. “I cannot run because my feet hurt.”

parce que (because) [Less formal than car ]

• Je ne vais pas à la gym parce qu’il fait trop chaud. “I’m not going to the gym because it’s too hot.”

puisque (since; as)

• Puisque c’est un jour férié, le stade est sûrement fermé. “Since it’s a holiday, the stadium is probably closed.”

comme (as; since)

• Comme je suis fatigué, je suis resté à la maison. “As I’m feeling tired, I have stayed home.”

quand (when)

• Quand j’ai trop mangé, je ne peux faire de l’escalade. “When I have overeaten, I cannot go climbing.”

lorsque (when)

• Lorsqu’il pleut, je ne vais pas m’entraîner. “When it is raining, I’m not going to training.”

Une réaction en chaîne (“A chain reaction”)

donc (so; therefore)

• J’avais mal aux pieds, donc je suis resté chez moi. “My feet were hurting, so I stayed home.”

alors (so; therefore)

• Il pleuvait, alors j’ai eu la flemme. “It was raining, so I got lazy.”

du coup (so; therefore)

• J’étais épuisé, du coup j’ai fait la sieste. “I was exhausted, so I took a nap.”

Keep in mind that you’ll usually have to choose whether you use a conjunction for the cause or the consequence, not both.

For example—back to philosophy—in the famous quote from René Descartes (or Gomez Pereira, depending on who you ask): Je pense, donc je suis. (I think, therefore I am.) You wouldn’t say “Because I think, therefore I am.” The same goes for French.

In this sentence, you have two possible slots for a conjunction: 1 je pense, 2 je suis. And you can fill soit 1, soit 2 (either 1 or 2).

Therefore, you could rephrase this famous quote like this:

• Puisque je pense, je suis. “Because I think, I am.”
• Comme je pense, je suis. “As I think, I am.”
• Parce que je pense, je suis. “Since I think, I am.”

Or like this:

• Je pense, alors je suis. “I think, then I am.”
• Je pense, du coup je suis. “I think, so I am.”

If Descartes could read that last one, he would be spinning in his grave.

Or even put it upside down:

• Je suis car je pense. “I am because I think.”
• Je suis parce que je pense. “I am because I think.”

A.I.s think. Therefore, are they?

5. Objection, Your Honor!

Next stop: how to use French conjunctions to attach two conflicting ideas by expressing an opposition or objection.

• J’ai un faible pour Leah mais elle est fiancée. “I have a thing for Leah but she’s engaged.”
• Il travaille lentement mais sûrement. “He’s working slowly but steadily.”

The next two words, cependant and or , are best used in professional and formal speech or you may sound too stiff. I, for one, never use them in conversations, but only for formal writing.

cependant (however) [Formal]

• Je voudrais cependant lui parler. “However, I would like to talk to her.”

or (now; but; however) [Formal]

This one can be used in two distinct ways:

1- or can introduce new information that will change the situation and have consequences, whether they are directly mentioned or not.

For instance:

• Elle partit seule dans les bois. Or, le loup y rôdait. “She went alone through the woods. However, the wolf was lurking around.”

This new information about the wolf is important for what comes next in the story.

2- or can also introduce a new piece of information into reasoning and allow a conclusion to be drawn.

For example:

• La victime a été étranglée. Or, notre principal suspect est manchot. Donc, il ne peut pas être l’assassin. “The victim was strangled. However, our prime suspect is a one-handed man. Therefore, he cannot be the killer.”

Objection ! (“Objection!”)

6. What is Your Purpose?

pour (for; to; so that)

• Je m’entraîne pour devenir plus fort. “I train to grow stronger.”
• C’est bon pour ta santé. “It is good for your health.”
• Un pour toi et un pour moi. “One for you and one for me.”
• Parle plus fort pour que je t’entende. “Speak louder so that I can hear you.”

par (by; out of; with; using)

• Je te prends par la main. “I take you by the hand.”
• Les fruits sont mangés par des vers. “The fruits are eaten by worms.”
• Il a fait un choix par colère. “He made a choice out of anger.”
• La réunion commence par un discours. “The meeting starts with a speech.”

7. Conjunctive What Now?

We’re almost done with our French conjunctions list, but before we can wrap it up, I need to tell you about “that.” Indeed, the French conjunction que (that) is so ubiquitous that I can’t stress enough how useful and important it is!

First, let’s have a look at its raw form, and then you’ll see how it combines with nearly half of the words from the French dictionary to create as many expressions. It’s quite similar to how phrasal verbs operate in English, but much simpler.

• Tu penses qu’il va pleuvoir? “Do you think that it will rain?”
• Je sais que tu es là. “I know that you are here.”

/!\ In English, you could omit “that” and say “Do you think it will rain?” or “I know you are here.” However, in French, you can never leave it out. The sentences above without que would not be grammatically correct.

You’ll also use que to compare two things. For example:

• Je bois plus de bière que d’eau. “I drink more beer than water.”
• La bière n’est pas aussi chère que le vin. “Beer is not as expensive as wine.”

If you’re doubling up on conditions, you have to use que before the second condition:

• Comme je suis fatigué et que j’ai mal aux pieds, je ne vais pas à la gym ce soir. “Since I’m tired and my feet hurt, I’m not going to the gym tonight.”

And if you’re not convinced yet, here’s a short list of the most common expressions including que . I can’t list them all here, but believe me, there are many.

Let’s talk about love, for a change!

Give some love to your French grammar book!

French conjunctions chart about love:

           → Warm the romantic cockles of your heart with our free vocabulary list on Love ! You’ll find many great quotes in French with audio recordings.

8. How Frenchpod101 Can Help You Learn More French

In this guide, you’ve learned everything about French conjunctions, from how to list things to causality, conditions, and objection. You should have a much better idea now of French conjunctions and their meanings, as well as how to use a conjunction in French.

Did I forget any important linking words that you know? Do you feel ready to give more meaning to your words and bond with your French friends?

A good French conjunctions practice is to make phrases of your own, using each of them. Don’t hesitate to warm up with easy sentences and gradually add more complexity:

• Lorsque (when)
• Lorsque je te vois (when I see you)
• Lorsque je te vois, mon coeur s’emballe. (When I see you, my heart is racing.)

If you take it easy and go at your own pace, you’ll get used to conjunctions and it will open a whole new world of meaningful sentences.

FrenchPod101 also has tons of vocabulary lists with audio recordings and free resources to boost your studies and keep your French learning fresh and entertaining!

Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher , to get personal one-on-one coaching. You can practice conjunctions, and more, with your private teacher , using assignments, personalized exercises, and recorded audio samples to help improve your pronunciation. Happy learning on FrenchPod101 !

About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

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How to use french linking words (39 examples + anki file).

• Sam Denishin
• June 26, 2020

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Do you want to know how to use French linking words?

Are you tired of just being able to use the same (boring) linking words such as: et, mais, quand, parce que, and ou ? Or, do you simply want to improve your vocabulary?

Well good luck, in this lesson I present to you the definitive list of French linking words.

This lesson provides an overview of all the linking words in French in all of the different categories.

I will explain each category and give examples of words you can use. The words will then be used in a sentence so you can see it in a proper context.

Furthermore, I put all of them in an Anki File called “how to use French linking words” which you can download and add to you collection.

Also, at the end you will find a graph which contains all of the French linking words. I advise you to download this so you can always have something to fall back to when you need to use French linking word.

Once you are done with this lesson you will know exactly how to use French linking words!

Table of Contents

Overview of all french linking words.

In this lesson regarding how to use French linking words you will find 17 categories of French linking words.

Every category will be explained and then examples will be added so you can understand it.

There are 78 sentences in 39 examples to show you how to use French linking words.

I made all examples myself except one which is from a famous book – let’s see if you can figure out which one it is!

The words in the category deal with addition, or summations in sentences.

• Aurélie et Jean se promènent avec leur chien.
• Aurélie and Jean are walking their dog.
• puis = then
• Je vais à Boston et puis à New York.
• I am going to Boston and then to New York.

Alternative

When you are dealing with many choices the words in this category are used.

• Je voudrais aller à Paris ou à Rome cette année.
• I would like to go to Paris or Rome this year.

Please don’t confuse this with où which means where.

• soit … soit … = either … or…
• Elle aime soit se reposer, soit se promener.
• She likes either relaxing or taking walks.

When you are talking about a purpose or a goal the words in this category are used.

• Je m’entraîne pour pouvoir gagner.
• I’m training so I can win.
• afin de = in order to
• Je vous écris afin de postuler pour le poste de directeur.
• I’m writing to you in order to apply for the job of director.
• afin que = so that/ in order to
• Je te donne mes clés afin que tu puisses entrer.
• I’m giving you my keys so that you can come in.

A lot of the words in this category require the use of the subjonctif. In the picture I have highlighted which ones require the subjonctif.

The first two examples ( pour and afin de ) only require the indicatif. So you can just use them if you don’t know the subjonctif.

If you want to talk about why something happened or what the cause of something was then the words in this category are used.

In speaking people often use parce que , and in writing car .

• parce que = because
• I am feeling good because I just ate.
• Je me sens bien parce que je viens de manger.
• car = because
• Je t’écris car tu me manques.
• I’m writing to you because I miss you.

When something happens due to a positive thing one uses grâce à . However, when something happens due to a negative thing one uses à cause de .

• grâce à … (positif) = thanks to … (positive)
• Grâce à vous, nous avons réussi!
• Thanks to you we made it!
• à cause de … (négatif) = due to … (negative) / because of … (negative)
• La fête a été annulée à cause de la tempête.
• The party was cancelled because of the storm.

Comparaison

If you want to make a comparison then the words in this category are used.

For comparisons using adjectives one can use the following linking words.

• plus (adjectif) que = (adjective)-er than/more (adjective) than
• Tokyo est plus grand que Toulouse.
• Tokyo is bigger than Toulouse.
• aussi (adjectif) que = as (adjective) as  
• Ma mère est aussi intelligente que mon père.
• My mom is as smart as my father.
• moins (adjectif) que = less (adjective) than       
• Elle est moins grande que moi.
• She is less tall than me.

For comparisons using adverbs  one can use the following linking words.

• plus (adverbe) que = more (adverb) than / (adverb)-er than
• Elle court plus vite que moi.
• She runs faster than I do.
• aussi (adverbe) que = as (adverb) as    
• Je pratique aussi bien que mon frère.
• I practice as well as my brother.
• moins (adverbe) que = less (adverb) than         
• Paul mange moins fréquemment que Charles.
• Paul eats less frequently than Charles.

When talking about a concession the words in this category are used.

• même si = even if
• Je continuerai à essayer même si j’échoue.
• I will keep trying even if I fail.
• malgré + nom = despite + noun
• Je t’aime malgré le fait que tu aimes la fin de Game of Thrones.
• I love you despite the fact that you like the ending of Game of Thrones.

When you conclude an argument the words in category are useful – especially when you write an essay.

• en conclusion = in conclusion
• En conclusion , nous devons investir dans l’énergie nucléaire.
• In conclusion , we must invest in nuclear energy.
• pour conclure = to conclude
• Monsieur le Président, je voudrais formuler quelques brèves observations pour conclure le débat.
• Mr Speaker, I would like to make a few brief comments to conclude the debate.

When you want to express a conditional thought or idea then this category is used. Please note the use of the conditional.

• si (imparfait), + (conditionel) = if (imperfect), + (conditional)
• Si j’étais riche, j’achèterais un bateau pour voir le monde.
• If I were rich I would buy boat to see the world.
• au cas où + (conditionnel) = if + (conditional)
• Appelle-moi au cas où tu aurais besoin de conseils.
• Call me in case you need advice.

Conséquence

When speaking about consequences these linking words are used. Generally people in France use du coup to talk about consequences.

• Alors , Emmanuel est allé à Nice quand l’été a commencé.
• So , Emmanuel went to Nice when the summer began.
• Jean est parti tôt, donc j’ai dû faire la lessive moi-même.
• Jean left early, so I had to do the laundry myself.

Classification

This is useful when you need to write an essay. Generally you will give three arguments for or against something.

• premièrement = firstly
• Premièrement , nous devons investir dans l’éducation pour améliorer notre pays.
• Firstly , we need to invest in education to improve our country.

You can use deuxièmment and troisièmement to start your second and third argument.

Explication

If you wish to clarify something then these linking words are used.

• c’est-à-dire = that is to say
• Une fête aura lieu vendredi prochain, c’est-à-dire le 19 juin.
• A party will be held next Friday, that is to say , on the 19 th of June.

Illustration

If you wish to further illustrate your point, or provide an example then these linking words are used.

• par exemple = for example
• Elle aime regarder des films romantiques, par exemple Titanic.
• She loves to watch romantic films, for example Titanic.
• notamment = especially
• Vincent van Gogh est bien connu, notamment pour son impact sur le post-impressionnisme.
• Vincent van Gogh is well known, especially for his impact on post-impressionism.

Justification

If you want to justify an idea or an argument then you can use the words in this category.

• Je ne peux pas venir parce que je suis très fatigué.
• I cannot come because I am very tired.
• puisque = since
• Aide-moi puisque tu sais cuisiner.
• Help me since you can cook.

When you like to connect ideas/arguments with each other these linking words are used.

• en effet = as a matter of fact/ indeed
• Je vous écris car j’ai un problème dans l’appartement. En effet , il y a une fuite d’eau.
• I’m writing to you because I have a problem in the apartment. As a matter of fact , there is a water leak.
• en fait = in fact
• Il est vraiment bon aux échecs. En fait , il est le champion du monde.
• He is really good in playing chess. In fact he is the world champion.

When you want to provide a contrast between two things then these linking words are used.

• Normalement, je devrais aller au match, mais demain je suis occupé.
• Normally I would go to the match, but tomorrow I am busy.
• alors que = whereas
• Je suis timide alors que mon frère est extraverti.
• I am shy whereas my brother is an extravert.

Restriction

When speaking about restrictions or exceptions these linking words are used.

• sauf = except
• Vous pouvez tout filmer sauf le palais royal.
• You can film everything except the royal palace.
• cepedant = however/but
• Mon Uber a du retard. Cependant , j’y serai assez tôt.
• My Uber’s running late. However , I’ll be there soon enough.

When talking about time these linking words are used.

• quand = when
• Quand pouvez-vous nous rejoindre ?
• When can you join us?
• lorsque = when
• Lorsque j’avais six ans j’ai vu, une fois, une magnifique image, dans un livre sur la Forêt Vierge qui s’appelait “Histoires Vécues”
• When I was six years old I once saw a magnificent picture in a book about the virgin forest called “Stories Lived”

Final Comments

That was it, now you know how to use French linking words!

Regarding the other words in the list please don’t think that you need all of them to speak French.

It is helpful to widen your vocabulary though therefore I made this lesson on how to use French linking words.

Please use linguee to see the other words in the proper context if you are curious about them.

Also I hope you were able to figure out which sentence belonged to a famous book! Please let me know if you have any other questions!

If you want to know how to use French linking words in practice then downloading and using the Anki File on this subject is incredibly important.

If you don’t know why you should use Anki, or don’t know how to use Anki or merge Anki files please click  here .

Now I will describe the process to download the “how to use French linking words” Anki File. If you haven’t already, please download Anki from here .

• Click the link on the right to download the file.
• After you have downloaded it, please double click on the file and it will open in Anki.
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Graph With All Of The French Linking Words

This is the graph which I made which contains all of the linking words. If you want to know how to use French linking words then saving this will help you a lot.

Some words are written in blue. This means that you have to use the subjonctif if you use them.

Other words are written in green. This means that if the condition has been met, or the event has already happened then you use the indicatif. Otherwise you have to use the subjonctif.

You can right click on the image and then save it to your computer.

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Resources and Lessons for French Learners and Teachers

Advanced French Connecting Words

As you become a more advanced learner of French you will find yourself needing connecting words or linking words to help make your point and seamlessly transition from one sentence to another.  These French connecting words will enrich your vocabulary,  speaking, and writing skills. ​

SINON – otherwise

Fais tes devoirs, sinon tu vas rater ton examen.

Do your homework, otherwise you are going to fail your exam.

EN REVANCHE – on the other hand; then again

Je ne sais pas parler chinois.  En revanche, je parle couramment le français!

I don’t know how to speak Chinese.  On the other hand, I speak French fluently!

PAR CONTRE – on the other hand; however

Tu n’aimes pas les champignons.  Moi, par contre, je les adore.

You don’t like mushrooms.  I, however, love them.

DE TOUTE FAÇON – anyway; anyhow

De toute façon, on se verra ce week-end.

Anyway, we’ll see each other this weekend.

D’AILLEURS – incidentally; by the way

Tu n’as pas fait le dîner.  D’ailleurs, tu n’as même pas fait les courses.

You didn’t make dinner.  Incidentally, you didn’t even go grocery shopping.

NÉANMOINS – nevertheless

Nous n’avons pas envie de déménager.  Néanmoins, il faut le faire.

We don’t feel like moving house.  Nevertheless, we have to do it.

EN FAIT – in fact; actually

En fait, ce que tu dis est faux.

Actually, what you’re saying is wrong.

AU FAIT – by the way; now that I think about it

Au fait, j’aime beaucoup ton parfum.

By the way, I really like your perfume.

PUISQUE – since; because; as

Puisque c’est comme ça, je ne viendrai pas ce soir.

Since it’s like that, I won’t come tonight.

C’EST-À-DIRE – that is; in other words

Je suis professeur de français, c’est-à-dire j’enseigne la langue française.

I am a French teacher, in other words I teach the French language.

EN EFFET – indeed

En effet, je voudrais bien y aller avec toi.

Indeed, I would like to go (there) with you.

JUSTEMENT – exactly; precisely; actually; as it happens

C’est justement ce que je te disais.

That’s precisely what I was telling you.

ACTUELLEMENT – currently; at the moment

Actuellement je travaille pour mon père.

At the moment I’m working for my father.

À LA FOIS – at the same time; at once

Je fais à la fois une soupe aux poireaux et du pain.

I’m making leek soup and bread at the same time.

SUBITEMENT – suddenly; abruptly

Mon oncle est décédé subitement l’année dernière.

My uncle died suddenly last year.

FINALEMENT – after all; in the end; at the end of the day

Finalement, j’ai décidé de croire son histoire.

In the end, I decided to believe his story.

POURTANT – yet; however

On nous a servi du champagne, et pourtant nous n’avions pas prévu de rester.

They served us champagne yet we had not planned on staying.

ENFIN – finally; at long last

Enfin ils se sont mariés.

They finally got married.

EN PLUS – then; on top of that

On a très bien mangé dans ce restaurant, et en plus le propriétaire est très aimable.

We ate very well at this restaurant, and on top of that the owner is very friendly.

Level B2: French Connecting Words

As you become a more advanced learner of French you will find yourself needing  connecting words  or  linking words  to help make your point and seamlessly transition from one sentence to another. These French connecting words will enrich your vocabulary, speaking, and writing skills.

➯ STEP 1:  Lesson guide – Download your list of 20 French connecting words. See the words in French with English translations, then read the example sentences for each word also in French with English translations.

➯ STEP 2:   Download and complete five exercises in short paragraph form. Fill in the blanks with connecting words that are provided in a word bank. For each exercise, don’t use any word more than once. Answer keys are provided. 

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Make Your French Fluent with These Transition Words

Learn the most common transition words in the French language and make sure your speech is always fluid.

Intermediate

Different Types of Transition Words

D’abord – first of all, ensuite – next, ainsi que – as well as, après que – after/when, avant que – before, puis – then, comme or puisque – since, en outre/en plus – besides/also, à mon avis – in my opinion, bien que – although, parce que/car – because, tant que – as long as, cependant – however/nonetheless, lorsque/quand – when, par conséquent – therefore, au contraire – on the contrary, enfin – finally, some final notes on french connecting words.

When learning a foreign language, one of the most important things to understand is how to connect clauses together in order to create longer and more complex sentences. This is especially true for French, a language that relies heavily on transition words in order to create fluid speech.

In many languages, connecting words are also necessary for connecting different sentences in a paragraph, or paragraphs in larger pieces of writing like essays or other academic papers.

In this article, let’s discuss the various types of transition words available in the French language, and how they can be used to make your French – both oral and written – sound more fluent. We'll also provide some examples so you can see how these words work in practice and take your vocabulary to the next level. Read on!

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There are a variety of transition words that can be used in French, each with its own unique purpose. Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of transition phrases used in French. Don’t worry about the translations, we'll get to those in the next section. Let’s dive in:

1. Introducing a topic

"D'abord, je voudrais parler de... "

This is perhaps the most common type of transition phrase in French. Use it to introduce a new topic or idea. It is a great way to start off a sentence if you’re writing a scientific paper or presenting at a conference, as well as starting an informal conversation you want to keep organized.

2. Adding information

"De plus, il est important de... "

The type of transitional phrase is used to add additional information to what has already been said. They exist to provide extra detail in your sentences and can be really helpful if you want to add additional thoughts to an argument.

3. Showing cause and effect

"Par conséquent, en outre…"

You can use phrases like this to show that one event is the result of another. They are a great way to connect two ideas together.

4. Concluding a topic

"Enfin, Finalement... "

These kinds of phrases wrap up a topic, smooth over the ending, and show ways of opening new topics related to the subject. You can use them both in formal as well as informal speech: for example, to conclude an essay or to wrap up the conversation or argument you had with your friends.

Of course, these are not the only groups of connecting words in French: there are also the ones used to generalize a conversation, contrast or oppose a topic, or express an opinion, among others. Let’s take a look at them as well as some other basic transition words in more detail and see how they are used in practice.

D’abord is one of the most common French transition words, it introduces a new point or idea. It can be translated as “first of all”, writers often use it to start off a sentence or paragraph, as well as to emphasize the first key point of your speech. For example:

D’abord, je voudrais remercier tout le monde.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone.

Ensuite is another common transition word in French, and the English equivalents are “next”, “after that” or “then”. The French use this phrase to introduce a new point or idea, and can be used at the beginning of a sentence or paragraph. Here’s what it can look like:

Ensuite, nous allons discuter de nos options.

Next, we will discuss our options.

Ainsi que is a French transition word that translates to “as well as”. This phrase can introduce a new point or idea, and can be inserted at various points within a sentence. For example:

Je parle anglais et espagnol, ainsi que le français.

I speak English and Spanish, as well as French.

Après que is a French transition word and a compound conjunction that translates to “after” or “when”. It is usually followed by a verb, and connects with another clause via que . Here’s a sample sentence:

Nous allons faire une promenade après que nous avons mangé.

We will go for a walk after we have eaten.

You may already be familiar with the après (after) you can use that on its own in a sentence. In that case, it will usually start a sentence or a new clause:

Après, nous ferons une promenade.

After, we will go for a walk.

Avant que is a French transition word that means “before”. Much like many of the other phrases, you use it to bring up a new point or idea, and the phrase is generally followed by a verb. It is quite similar to the grammar construction après que , so the sentence with it usually looks something like:

• The first clause + avant que + the second clause which starts with a verb

Here’s that in a sentence:

Je vais préparer le repas avant que tu arrives.

I will prepare the meal before you arrive.

Just like with the après que , we can use the preposition avant (before) on its own in a sentence:

Réfléchissez avant de faire quelque chose.

Think before you do something.

Puis is a common French transition word which the French use the way English speakers use “then” – it appears in various literary and scientific works. Look out for it: it can appear in many French conversations with native speakers and is a necessary French word to know for French learners.

Usually we use it to connect two clauses together in a sentence, or make a smoother, more specific transition between two sentences. For instance:

Puis, il a rompu avec moi.

Then, he broke up with me.

Comme and puisque both function the same way “since” or “as” do in English There’s a difference between them, though: if you want to show the cause and result in one sentence, use comme ; and if you need to just give an explanation, use puisque .

Another difference is that comme usually comes at the beginning of the sentence, while puisque can go in the middle of the sentence if necessary.

S'il te plaît, lave la vaisselle puisque tu as déjà fini de manger.

Please wash the dishes since you finished lunch already.

Comme tu ne peux pas boire de lait, j'ai acheté du jus de fruit pour le petit-déjeuner.

Since you can't drink milk, I bought some juice for breakfast.

Besides being a great way to start off a sentence or paragraph, en outre is also one of the more common transition words in French – you can encounter it in many written French sentences. **Its alternative, en plus , is more common in spoken French conversations.

Both en outre and en plus translate to “besides”, “also,” “in addition” or “furthermore”, and are used to add something to the sentence – for example, a new argument you forgot about.

En outre, je n'aime pas trop les gens qui sont toujours en retard.

Besides, I don't really like people who are always late.

Donc is a French transition word that means “therefore” or “so”. Use it to introduce a new point or idea, and is usually followed by a subject and a verb.

It is also one of the most common transition words in the French language, so you will hear it everywhere – from advanced French speakers, intermediate students, native speakers, and basically everyone who knows French at a conversational level.

Il pleuvait, donc je suis resté à la maison.

It was raining, so I stayed home.

A great way to state your own point of view, à mon avis is the French equivalent of “in my opinion”. You can use it at the beginning of a sentence followed by your own idea or suggestion, or you can insert it in the middle of a conversation to show that you strongly believe in what you’re saying.

You can also say pour moi tif you want to avoid formality and express an opinion in a simpler way. Selon moi / Pour ma part / Pour moi are another less formal alternatives.

À mon avis, il est temps de partir.

In my opinion, it's time to leave.

We use the conjunction “although” to connect two contrasting ideas or phrases. In French, the conjunction “although” is bien que , which is often followed by a new clause.

Bien que je te voie souvent, je te manque.

Even though I see you often, I miss you.

The words parce que and car both mean “because” in French, and can be used interchangeably. Parce que is a little bit more formal than car , but both are correct. They are usually followed by a clause, and can stand at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

Parce que je n'aime pas les légumes, je ne mange jamais de salades.

Because I don't like vegetables, I never eat salads.

French people use the conjunction tant que to express the idea of “as long as”, and is often followed by a new clause, just like other transition phrases ending in que . It can show up at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, and is a great way to connect two ideas that are related to each other.

Tant que tu es heureux, c'est tout ce qui compte.

As long as you are happy, that's all that matters.

Cependant is a French adverb that functions as a transition word and means “however”, “nevertheless” or “nonetheless”. You can use it at the beginning of the sentence to show a contradiction or opposition. For example:

Cependant, je dois étudier aujourd'hui.

However, I have to study today.

You might already be familiar with the word quand in French, which means “when” – with lorsque being its formal alternative. When talking about time, they are interchangeable.However, these two words have their own different translations: quand can also mean “whenever,” and lorsque can mean “whereas.”

Both these transition words are usually followed by a clause, and can stand at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

J'étudiais quand tu m'as appelé.

I was studying when you called me.

Par conséquent is another great transition word that can translate to “therefore”, “consequently” or “as a result.” Use it to show a logical consequence of what has been said before, and is usually followed by a new clause or a new sentence.

J'ai eu une mauvaise note, par conséquent je dois étudier plus.

I got a bad grade, therefore I have to study more.

Au contraire is the French translation of “on the contrary,” and expresses the opposite of what has been said or what is generally accepted. It might show up at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, or on its own as an answer to the question.

Tu n'as pas étudié? Au contraire, j'ai étudié toute la journée!

You didn't study? On the contrary, I studied all day long!

Enfin is a French adverb that can be translated as “finally” or “after all.” You can use it to conclude your argument, or to show that you have finished talking about a certain subject. Just like other transition words, you can use it at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle.

Enfin, je suis désolé.

Finally, I'm sorry.

You can also use another transition word à la fin as an alternative to this one: the meaning is the same.

By using these connecting phrases, you'll be able to create more complex sentences with ease – and sound like a true francophone during any French conversation.

Of course, there are so many other important transition words worth knowing in French that we haven’t mentioned above, so don’t stop learning. Keep practicing and improving your vocabulary, and before you know it, you'll be able to speak and write French fluently. Bonne chance !

Beata Hardzei

Beata Hardzei loves languages and shares this passion through her writing. Speaking English, Polish, Russian, and French, she explores the nuances of foreign languages, aiming to make learning feel more like a journey than a task. Beata's background as a teacher and translator enriches her insights, helping you see language learning as an accessible, enriching experience.

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How to Write an Essay in French

Have something to say?

When it comes to expressing your thoughts in French , there’s nothing better than the essay.

It is, after all, the favorite form of such famed French thinkers as Montaigne, Chateaubriand, Houellebecq and Simone de Beauvoir.

In this post, I’ve outlined the four most common types of essays in French, ranked from easiest to most difficult, to help you get to know this concept better. 

Why Are French Essays Different?

Must-have french phrases for writing essays, 4 types of french essays and how to write them, 1. text summary (synthèse de texte).

• 2. Text Commentary (Commentaire de texte)

3. Dialectic Dissertation (Thèse, Antithèse, Synthèse)

• 4. Progressive Dissertation (Plan progressif)

And one more thing...

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Writing an essay in French is not the same as those typical 5-paragraph essays you’ve probably written in English.

In fact, there’s a whole other logic that has to be used to ensure that your essay meets French format standards and structure. It’s not merely writing your ideas in another language .

And that’s because the French use Cartesian logic (also known as Cartesian doubt) , developed by René Descartes , which requires a writer to begin with what is known and then lead the reader through to the logical conclusion: a paragraph that contains the thesis. Through the essay, the writer will reject all that is not certain or all that is subjective in his or her quest to find the objective truth.

Sound intriguing? Read on for more!

Before we get to the four main types of essays, here are a few French phrases that will be especially helpful as you delve into essay-writing in French:

Introductory phrases , which help you present new ideas.

Connecting phrases , which help you connect ideas and sections.

Contrasting phrases , which help you juxtapose two ideas.

Concluding phrases , which help you to introduce your conclusion.

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The text summary or synthèse de texte  is one of the easiest French writing exercises to get a handle on. It essentially involves reading a text and then summarizing it in an established number of words, while repeating no phrases that are in the original text. No analysis is called for.

A  synthèse de texte  should follow the same format as the text that is being synthesized. The arguments should be presented in the same way, and no major element of the original text should be left out of the  synthèse.

Here is an informative post about writing a synthèse de texte , written for French speakers. 

The text summary is a great exercise for exploring the following French language elements:

• Synonyms , as you will need to find other words to describe what is said in the original text.
• Nominalization , which involves turning verbs into nouns and generally cuts down on word count.
• Vocabulary , as the knowledge of more exact terms will allow you to avoid periphrases and cut down on word count.

While beginners may wish to work with only one text, advanced learners can synthesize as many as three texts in one text summary. 

Since a text summary is simple in its essence, it’s a great writing exercise that can accompany you through your entire learning process.

2. Text Commentary  (Commentaire de texte)

A text commentary or commentaire de texte   is the first writing exercise where the student is asked to present an analysis of the materials at hand, not just a summary.

That said, a  commentaire  de texte  is not a reaction piece. It involves a very delicate balance of summary and opinion, the latter of which must be presented as impersonally as possible. This can be done either by using the third person (on) or the general first person plural (nous) . The singular first person (je) should never be used in a  commentaire de texte.

A commentaire de texte  should be written in three parts:

• An introduction , where the text is presented.
• An argument , where the text is analyzed.
• A conclusion , where the analysis is summarized and elevated.

Here is a handy in-depth guide to writing a successful commentaire de texte,  written for French speakers.

Unlike with the synthesis, you will not be able to address all elements of a text in a commentary. You should not summarize the text in a commentary, at least not for the sake of summarizing. Every element of the text that you speak about in your commentary must be analyzed.

To successfully analyze a text, you will need to brush up on your figurative language. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Here’s an introduction to figurative language in French.
• This guide to figurative language  presents the different elements in useful categories.
• This guide , intended for high school students preparing for the BAC—the exam all French high school students take, which they’re required to pass to go to university—is great for seeing examples of how to integrate figurative language into your commentaries.
• Speaking of which, here’s an example of a corrected commentary from the BAC, which will help you not only include figurative language but get a head start on writing your own commentaries.

The French answer to the 5-paragraph essay is known as the  dissertation .  Like the American 5-paragraph essay, it has an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The stream of logic, however, is distinct.

There are actually two kinds of  dissertation,  each of which has its own rules.

The first form of  dissertation  is the dialectic dissertation , better known as  thèse, antithèse, synthèse . In this form, there are actually only two body paragraphs. After the introduction, a thesis is posited. Following the thesis, its opposite, the antithesis, is explored (and hopefully, debunked). The final paragraph, what we know as the conclusion, is the  synthesis , which addresses the strengths of the thesis, the strengths and weaknesses of the antithesis, and concludes with the reasons why the original thesis is correct.

For example, imagine that the question was, “Are computers useful to the development of the human brain?” You could begin with a section showing the ways in which computers are useful for the progression of our common intelligence—doing long calculations, creating in-depth models, etc.

Then you would delve into the problems that computers pose to human intelligence, citing examples of the ways in which spelling proficiency has decreased since the invention of spell check, for example. Finally, you would synthesize this information and conclude that the “pro” outweighs the “con.”

The key to success with this format is developing an outline before writing. The thesis must be established, with examples, and the antithesis must be supported as well. When all of the information has been organized in the outline, the writing can begin, supported by the tools you have learned from your mastery of the synthesis and commentary.

Here are a few tools to help you get writing:

• Here’s a great guide to writing a dialectic dissertation .
• Here’s an example of a plan for a dialectic dissertation , showing you the three parts of the essay as well as things to consider when writing a dialectic dissertation.

4. Progressive Dissertation ( Plan progressif)

The progressive dissertation is slightly less common, but no less useful, than the first form.

The progressive form basically consists of examining an idea via multiple points of view—a sort of deepening of the understanding of the notion, starting with a superficial perspective and ending with a deep and profound analysis.

If the dialectic dissertation is like a scale, weighing pros and cons of an idea, the progressive dissertation is like peeling an onion, uncovering more and more layers as you get to the deeper crux of the idea.

Concretely, this means that you will generally follow this layout:

• A first, elementary exploration of the idea.
• A second, more philosophical exploration of the idea.
• A third, more transcendent exploration of the idea.

This format for the dissertation is more commonly used for essays that are written in response to a philosophical question, for example, “What is a person?” or “What is justice?”

Let’s say the question was, “What is war?” In the first part, you would explore dictionary definitions—a basic idea of war, i.e. an armed conflict between two parties, usually nations. You could give examples that back up this definition, and you could narrow down the definition of the subject as much as needed. For example, you might want to make mention that not all conflicts are wars, or you might want to explore whether the “War on Terror” is a war.

In the second part, you would explore a more philosophical look at the topic, using a definition that you provide. You first explain how you plan to analyze the subject, and then you do so. In French, this is known as  poser une problématique  (establishing a thesis question), and it usually is done by first writing out a question and then exploring it using examples: “Is war a reflection of the base predilection of humans for violence?”

In the third part, you will take a step back and explore this question from a distance, taking the time to construct a natural conclusion and answer for the question.

This form may not be as useful in as many cases as the first type of essay, but it’s a good form to learn, particularly for those interested in philosophy. Here’s an in-depth guide  to writing a progressive dissertation.

As you progress in French and become more and more comfortable with writing, try your hand at each of these types of writing exercises, and even with other forms of the dissertation . You’ll soon be a pro at everything from a synthèse de texte to a dissertation!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

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40+ French Transition Words to Boost Your Vocabulary

For anyone learning a language, transition words usually aren’t first on the list. But after you’ve mastered nouns and common French phrases , transition words are key for stringing your sentences together. In fact, transition words are what transform your broken French into the smooth, swoon-worthy language you’ve always dreamed of speaking. So what are you waiting for? Master this list of French transition words and take your vocabulary to the next level.

Comme has a variety of definitions depending on the context, making it an important transition word to learn. First off, comme can be used to mean like or as when you’re comparing or contrasting two things or ideas. It can also mean since  when used at the beginning of a sentence.

Puisque has a similar meaning to comme , meaning because or since . It’s a great tool for offering an explanation in the middle of a sentence, or justifying a thought or action in response to a question.

Translating directly to then , puis makes its way into many conversations and stories. The best part about puis is that its simple and easy to remember when you’re searching for a transition word in conversation.

Also is one of the most commonly used words in modern English, popping up across written and verbal language. En outre is its French equivalent.

This is a handy term that you’re bound to use in everyday conversation. It means because and it can be used to respond to questions or transition between phrases.

This can mostly be interchanged with parce que for a shortened version of because . However, more advanced French speakers use this word as something slightly more like since or for in conversation.

Similarly to puis and car , this go-to transition term is great for moving between multiple thoughts in a sentence. Pour que means so that when explaining why you did or thought something. It can also be used to support a proposition or plan.

Quand is an additional word that works well at the beginning of sentences. It means when . This word can also be combined with other words for a slightly more complex definition. For example, quand meme means even so, and n’importe quand (literally meaning  it’s not important when ) means whenever.

Lorsque is a more formal version of one of the most common French transition words:  quand. G enerally, it has the same meaning.

The word que is a multidimensional tool that can change a word’s meaning and transform it into a transition word. This is seen with alors que . Here’s how that works: alors means so , but adding que changes the meaning to whereas – an important transition word.

If you’re a fan of the word so , you’re going to love its French translation. Donc can be used as a filler word, a question, or to explain things, among many other uses.

Je soutiens donc que

After you’ve mastered the art of donc , see how it can be added to other phrases to mix things up. With je soutiens donc que , you can express something like I maintain that . It’s a more polite way to share your strong beliefs with someone, especially around strangers or colleagues where the conversation is more formal.

Similarly to donc , you might enjoy using the word bref . It means in short when summarizing an event or occurrence. Since bref looks similar to the English word brief , this is an easy one to pull out in a bind.

Considérons

Another helpful transition word for polite conversations is considérons . This means let’s consider and is used at the beginning of a phrase that expresses an alternate point of view. It is an important word for engaging in deeper dialogue that proposes multiple points of view.

Enfin is a multi-purpose word with many meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. On a basic level, it means end . Beyond that, enfin can be sort of a filler word (albeit more sophisticated than um ). Think of it more like the way we say well or I mean before we express an opinion in English.

à la fin is also used to express the end of something. However, it is used in a more specific way to mean at the end , and can’t be used as a filler word like enfin . It is best used when recounting a story, or when describing the plot of a book or movie.

Pour commencer

Now that you know how to express the concept of ending something, how about touting the start of something? Pour commencer means to start with or for starters and is best used at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Not to be confused with enfin , en fait is easy to remember because it has quite a literal translation in English. En means in and fait means fact . En fait = In fact . Easy, right?

This word looks a little like depending or dependent in English, but it instead means however or nevertheless.

This transition word is easy to remember because it looks like in contrast , which is essentially what it means. This phrase is also used to say on the other hand .

Au contraire

Likewise,  au contraire is one of those French transition words that looks like its English counterpart. It means on the contrary .

D’un part / d’autre part

D’un part is used when expressing two varying ideas or points of view. It means on one hand… and is best at the beginning of a sentence. Once an idea is introduced with d’un part , it should be followed up with d’autre part , which is a perfect way to interpret the phrase on the other hand.

Ainsi que means as well as and it can be used in two different contexts. For the first usage, use it to transition between two items that you’re ordering at a restaurant. Je voudrais le salad ainsi que le viande. (I would like the salad as well as the meat). Ainsi que can also mean just as or as well , like when you’re saying the film was just as sad as I thought it’d be.

Autrement dit

If you know that dit refers to something that was said in discussion, than autrement dit should stick well in your mind. It literally translates to another saying and means in other words.

This phrase means first of all and it works well when recounting a story or giving directions or instructions. When writing, it’s also helpful when starting a sentence.

This is also a helpful transition word for giving directions or telling a story. It translates directly to next.

You probably know that après means after. But après que differs from the word  après because it is supposed to be used after a verb. It is also used to talk about something that definitely happened in the past, rather than when proposing uncertain future terms. You can also use après with the word cela, which means after that.

In the same vein, avant que should be used after a verb. Avant by itself simply means before, and it can be used to start a sentence or phrase.

Making plans for tonight? Want to set up a date for tomorrow? Learn plus tard . As one of the simplest French transition words, it means later. Y et it’s used ubiquitously throughout French conversation.

Although this seems like it would mean “good that” it actually has a different meaning. Use bien que to mean even though or although between thoughts or before a phrase.

When making goals or plans, say dès que to express as soon as … to set up a phrase. Another way to say as soon as , albeit longer, is aussitot que.

This fun and subjunctive-friendly phrase will certainly take your French to the next level. It means no matter what and is helpful for starting a well-intentioned belief.

Tant que falls into the same realm as quoi que, meaning as long as. Don’t forget to add the que onto this phrase, because tant by itself is used to express a general quantity, like many.

D’aprés moi

Expressing your ideas and beliefs? Then you should know how to start a sentence correctly. This phrase means according to me. You can also say à mon avis, which means in my opinion. For another idea on expressing your opinion, try saying selon moi – which has a tendency to roll off the tongue with ease.

Je suis contre

Je suis contre is a more direct way to express your opinion about something. It translates directly to I am against in English. It’s beneficial to know when someone asks you your beliefs on something. It’s also a good way to get yourself out of an uncomfortable situation when traveling or in unknown surroundings.

De toute façon

Sooner or later, you’ll find yourself in a conversation where you’ll want to change the subject. Keep this transition short and light with de toute façon , which means anyway… and provides space for a new topic.

Boosting Your Vocabulary with French Transition Words

Learning to speak and write French is a challenging endeavor with long lasting benefits. Amp up your knowledge and become an impressive smooth talker by keeping these French transition words in your back pocket.

Want to learn how to use these transition words in context? Check out Clozemaster – thousands of sentences to help you learn French faster.

3 thoughts on “40+ French Transition Words to Boost Your Vocabulary”

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I’ve been studying French for 2 months now, this content is great for beginers! Thanks for posting!

It’s really helpful to summarize these transition words! I feel I have learned some difficult words in an easier way than I expected! Though I cannot say I understand them well since I’m a beginner, I feel l’ll definitely be more concentrated whenever I meet with them in my future learning of French! Great thanks!

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Connecting Phrases to improve your GCSE French Results

Introduction.

Are you looking to improve your GCSE French results? If so, you are in the right place.  

In this article, we will explore how to use connecting phrases to improve your French comprehension and fluency. We’ll look at which phrases are most useful, how to use them in conversation and writing, and how they can help you to get the best possible results in French. So, read on to find out more!  

Understanding Connecting Phrases  

When writing in French, understanding connecting phrases is an essential skill for success. Connecting phrases, also known as transitional phrases, help to keep writing coherent and ensure that ideas flow logically from one to the next. They can also be used to indicate relationships between ideas or concepts, such as comparison and contrast, cause and effect, or emphasis.  

Transitional phrases can come in the form of conjunctions, adverbs, prepositions and even pronouns. For example, the conjunction ‘mais’ (but) is used to contrast two ideas or points of view, while adverbs such as ‘toutefois’ (however) provide balance and add nuance to a sentence. Prepositions such as ‘à cause de’ (because of) provide logical links between clauses and can help to show the cause-and-effect relationship between two ideas.  

Finally, pronouns such as ‘cependant’ (nevertheless) are used to add emphasis to an idea or argument.  

In GCSE French, understanding how to use connecting phrases is key to achieving a higher grade. This is because connecting phrases help to show that you have a good understanding of the language and can express yourself fluently. To start with, it is important to learn the most common connecting phrases and understand what they mean in context. It is also helpful to practise using them in writing exercises and practice conversations.  

Overall, connecting phrases are a vital part of writing in French. By understanding their purpose and learning to use them correctly, students can demonstrate their mastery of the language and improve their marks in GCSE French.  

Practicing Connecting Phrases  

The ability to use connecting phrases in French is essential for any student preparing for their GCSE exams. Connecting phrases are used to link ideas together, helping to create a cohesive and well-structured essay. Practicing these phrases can help students develop their written language skills and will be beneficial when it comes to their exam.  

To begin, students should try and learn the most commonly used connecting phrases. This could include ‘de plus’, ‘d’autre part’ and ‘à la fin’. Once students have a list of phrases, they should try to incorporate them into their everyday language. This could include writing essays in French or even using them in conversations with native French speakers.  

It is important that students practice using these phrases in context. An effective way to do this is by reading examples of essays which use connecting phrases. This will give students an understanding of how these phrases can be used to link ideas and create structure. Additionally, students should try to use the phrases in their own writing, as this will help them understand how they fit into a sentence.  

Overall, practicing connecting phrases is an essential part of preparing for GCSE French exams. By learning the most commonly used phrases and practicing them in context, students will be able to create essays that are well structured and cohesive. This will help them achieve success in their exams.  

Here are some connecting phrases you can learn  

Conclusion  .

By practicing and applying connecting phrases to your French writing, you can make your GCSE exam answers more cohesive and effective. With the right strategies, you can boost your French results and achieve your goals.  

As you can see, connecting phrases are not only useful for understanding spoken French, but also for writing it. With practice and perseverance, you can take your French writing skills to the next level.  

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GCSE French connectives for essay writing

Subject: French

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

15 June 2016

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Connectives.

There are words in the English language that act like glue to help you stick your sentences together and show the relationships between the ideas that you want to express. These words are called 'connectives' (or 'linking words'). Connectives help your essay 'flow' and read more coherently. More specifically, connectives help you:

• illustrate a point,
• compare and contrast ideas,
• sequence ideas,
• conclude or summarise ideas,
• show a causal relatioship.

Are you in the process of proof-reading your essay? See if you can add a few of these words, especially at the beginnings of sentences.

• as a result of
• at the same time
• consequently
• echoing this
• even though
• firstly... secondly...
• following on from this
• for instance / for example
• for this reason
• furthermore
• in addition
• in conclusion
• in spite of 
• in the same vein 
• nevertheless
• nonetheless
• not only... but also...
• notwithstanding
• now we look at
• on the one hand
• on the other hand
• one reason why...