77 French Transition Phrases From Aussi to Pourtant and Past
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Studying to communicate French isn’t the simplest activity. Probably the greatest methods to sound extra fluent in dialog is so as to add transition phrases. These phrases and phrases can help you join your ideas and concepts extra successfully. From easy conjunctions to extra advanced connectors, learn on to be taught which French transition phrases you should utilize in dialog to sound extra pure.
Fundamental French transition phrases: easy (coordinating) conjunctions
A coordinating conjunction is a a part of speech in French that connects two phrases. Easy phrases like “and”, “or”, and “however” are all coordinating conjunctions. These phrases can do lots to rework your French!
French | English |
et | and |
mais | however |
ou | or |
A key part of a coordinating conjunction is that the phrases on both facet may dwell independently from one another as easy sentences:
- J’ai faim et j’ai soif. = I’m hungry and I’m thirsty.
- Il pleut mais je vais y marcher. = It’s raining however I’m going to stroll there.
In each of those examples, the phrases on both facet of “and” and “however” may exist as their very own sentences. These are the simplest so as to add to any dialog. If you would like extra, discover all of the phrases within the French Dictionary!
Transition phrases to checklist issues so as
Whether or not you’re telling a narrative or describing your morning routine, this checklist of French transition phrases can assist you be extra particular in your conversations. Phrases like “first”, “subsequent”, and “then” can assist you higher describe the order of occasions.
French | English |
d’abord | first/to start with |
pour commencer | to start out |
en premier | first/firstly |
puis | then |
ensuite | then/subsequent |
après | after |
enfin | lastly/lastly |
finalement | lastly |
In Canadian French, they usually shorten puis to pis. That is very generally utilized in Quebec with spoken French however not written French.
Linking phrases for expressions of similarity
Whereas it’s important to start out with fundamental French phrases, it may be useful to know extra than simply the phrases “and” and “additionally”. Understanding extra of those transition phrases and phrases so as to add to your conversations can assist you sound extra fluent.
French | English |
aussi | additionally |
de la même façon | equally/in the identical manner |
de plus | moreover/as well as |
également | additionally/equally |
en outre | furthermore |
In Quebec, they usually use the phrase avec (with) as an alternative of aussi to imply “additionally”:
- Il va à l’école avec ? = Is he going to high school additionally?
French transition phrases to specific opinions and opposition
A cornerstone of speaking in French is with the ability to have vigorous (and respectful) debates on a wide range of matters. It’s essential to know the right way to specific your personal opinions and provides opposing views. Past utilizing the phrase mais (however), you are able to do this in French by making an attempt one of many transition phrases beneath:
French | English |
à mon avis / dans mon opinion | in my view |
à savoir | specifically |
c’est-à-dire | that’s to say |
cependant | nevertheless |
considérons | let’s contemplate |
d’ailleurs | in addition to |
d’une half, d’autre half | on one hand, however |
de temps en temps | once in a while |
en revanche | however |
occasionnellement | sometimes |
or | however/but |
par contre | nevertheless |
par exemple | for instance |
pourtant | but/nevertheless |
sans doute | for sure |
selon moi / d’après moi | in keeping with me |
Phrases to specific causation past “as a result of”

In on a regular basis conversations and arguments alike, expressing causation is a key part of communication. These French linking phrases can assist you clarify the “why” behind a wide range of matters.
French | English |
à trigger de | due to |
ainsi | thus |
automobile / parce que | as a result of |
c’est pourquoi | that’s why |
en effet | as/since |
grâce à | due to |
par conséquent | because of this/consequently |
puisque | since/as a result of |
Notice that whereas puisque means “since”, it’s not used to mark time. It is just used for causation:
- Puisque j’ai raté le bus, je serai en retard. = Since I missed the bus, I’m going to be late.
Filler transition phrases in French like “so”
Though generally additionally used to specific causation, “so” can be utilized in some ways in dialog. You possibly can sprinkle in another French transition phrases that imply the identical factor however make you sound extra pure.
French | English |
alors | effectively/so then |
bref | briefly |
de toute façon | in any case/anyway |
donc | so/subsequently |
du coup | so |
en fait | in truth |
In Canadian French, it’s common to listen to fait que instead of du coup to imply “so”. Alors and donc are each generally utilized in France and Quebec.
Casual transition phrases in French
Simply as in English, there are lots of phrases that come up in dialog that don’t essentially have grammatical objective. In English, “like” and “you understand” are sometimes utilized in casual conversations with out the unique meanings (I’m like, the place are you?). Add in a few of these transition phrases in French to sound such as you’ve been talking it your complete life!
French | English |
ben | effectively/um |
bon | actually “good”, used as “alright” |
d’accord | OK |
tu sais | you understand (casual) |
tu vois | you see (casual) |
Additionally it is frequent to mix bon and ben initially of a sentence:
- Bon, ben, j’ai la dalle ! = Alright, effectively, I’m ravenous!
Ben is commonly used with quoi (what) as a query between pals:
- Ben quoi ? Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ? = So? What’s it?
Ben may also be used with oui / non (sure/no) to emphasise your reply.
- Tu veux sortir ce soir ? = Do you wish to exit tonight?
- Ben oui ! = After all!
- Ben non ! = After all not!
Moreover, in Quebec, tu sais (you understand) is shortened to tsé, most frequently on the finish of a sentence. That is solely for use in spoken, casual conversations.
Expressions that require the subjunctive (and a few that don’t)
There are all kinds of transitions which might be extraordinarily helpful in French conversations; nevertheless, there’s a catch. You want to have the ability to use the French subjunctive! Whereas not not possible, the subjunctive temper in French will be tough for English audio system at first. Use the next phrases in French with le subjonctif to actually sound fluent.
French | English |
à situation que | supplied that / so long as |
afin que | in order that |
bien que | though |
encore que | regardless that / though |
jusqu’à ce que | till |
pour que | in order that |
pourvu que | supplied that |
quoi que | it doesn’t matter what |
Bear in mind that not each expression that ends in que is adopted by the French subjunctive. Beneath are some frequent French transitions that finish in que however don’t want the subjunctive:
French | English |
alors que / lorsque | whereas / when |
dès que | as quickly as |
peut-être que | maybe |
plutôt que | moderately than / as an alternative of |
tandis que | whereas / whereas |
Transition phrases to conclude a thought
Wrap up your French conversations neatly with a wide range of phrases to conclude your ideas. Whether or not you’re ending a narrative or summarizing an opinion, degree up your French talking abilities with the next phrases:
French | English |
à la fin | in the long run |
au complete | in complete |
autrement dit | in different phrases |
en conclusion | in conclusion |
en somme | briefly/all in all |
pour conclure | in conclusion/to conclude |
tout bien réfléchi | all issues thought of |
Observe utilizing French transition phrases with Rosetta Stone
Utilizing transition phrases in French is an effective way to sound extra fluent in any dialog. Whether or not you’re ordering espresso or conversing with French-speaking pals, including these phrases will make it easier to sound like a pure irrespective of the place you journey.
Transition phrases are only one piece of talking French extra fluently. Rosetta Stone additionally provides its TruAccent speech recognition engine that can assist you enhance your French pronunciation. It’s straightforward to construct confidence and communicate French with ease utilizing the Rosetta Stone App.