{"id":1061,"date":"2018-01-04T21:45:22","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T21:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=1061"},"modified":"2018-05-08T20:39:20","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T20:39:20","slug":"french-transition-words-boost-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/french-transition-words-boost-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"40+ French Transition Words to Boost Your Vocabulary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"French<\/p>\n

For anyone learning a language, transition words usually aren\u2019t first on the list. But after you\u2019ve mastered nouns and common French phrases<\/a>, transition words are key for stringing your sentences together. <\/span>In fact, transition words are what transform your broken French into the smooth, swoon-worthy language you\u2019ve 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Comme<\/span><\/h3>\n

Comme<\/em> has a variety of definitions depending on the context, making it an important transition word to learn. First off, comme<\/em> can be used to mean like<\/em> or as<\/em> when you\u2019re comparing or contrasting two things or ideas. It can also mean since<\/em>\u00a0when used at the beginning of a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puisque<\/span><\/h3>\n

Puisque<\/em> has a similar meaning to comme<\/em>, meaning because<\/em> or since<\/em>. It\u2019s a great tool for offering an explanation in the middle of a sentence, or justifying a thought or action in response to a question.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puis<\/span><\/h3>\n

Translating directly to then<\/em>, puis<\/em> makes its way into many conversations and stories. The best part about puis<\/em> is that its simple and easy to remember when you\u2019re searching for a transition word in conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

En outre <\/span><\/h3>\n

Also<\/em> is one of the most commonly used words in modern English, popping up across written and verbal language. En outre<\/em> is its French equivalent. <\/span><\/p>\n

Parce que<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is a handy term that you\u2019re bound to use in everyday conversation. It means because<\/em> and it can be used to respond to questions or transition between phrases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Car<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

Pour que<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

Quand<\/span><\/h3>\n

Quand<\/em> is an additional word that works well at the beginning of sentences. It means when<\/em>. This word can also be combined with other words for a slightly more complex definition. For example, quand<\/em> meme<\/em> means even so,<\/em> and n\u2019importe quand<\/em> (literally meaning\u00a0it\u2019s not important when<\/em>) means whenever.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lorsque<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lorsque<\/em> is a more formal version of one of the most common French transition words:\u00a0quand. G<\/em>enerally, it has the same meaning. <\/span><\/p>\n

Alors que<\/span><\/h3>\n

The word que<\/em> is a multidimensional tool that can change a word\u2019s meaning and transform it into a transition word. This is seen with alors que<\/em>. Here’s how that works: alors<\/em> means so<\/em>, but adding que<\/em> changes the meaning to whereas \u2013 an important transition word. <\/span><\/p>\n

Donc<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of the word so<\/em>, you\u2019re going to love its French translation. Donc<\/em> can be used as a filler word, a question, or to explain things, among many other uses. <\/span><\/p>\n

Je soutiens donc que<\/span><\/h3>\n

After you’ve mastered the art of donc<\/em>, see how it can be added to other phrases to mix things up. With je soutiens donc que<\/em>, you can express something like I maintain that<\/em>. It\u2019s a more polite way to share your strong beliefs with someone, especially around strangers or colleagues where the conversation is more formal. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bref<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

Consid\u00e9rons<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another helpful transition word for polite conversations is consid\u00e9rons<\/em>. This means let\u2019s consider<\/em> 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. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Important<\/p>\n

Enfin<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

\u00e0 la fin<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u00e0 la fin<\/em> is also used to express the end of something. However, it is used in a more specific way to mean at the end<\/em>, and can\u2019t be used as a filler word like enfin<\/em>. It is best used when recounting a story, or when describing the plot of a book or movie.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pour commencer<\/span><\/h3>\n

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

En fait<\/span><\/h3>\n

Not to be confused with enfin<\/em>, en fait<\/em> is easy to remember because it has quite a literal translation in English. En<\/em> means in<\/em> and fait<\/em> means fact<\/em>. En fait<\/em> = In fact<\/em>. Easy, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Cependant<\/span><\/h3>\n

This word looks a little like depending<\/em> or dependent<\/em> in English, but it instead means however<\/em> or nevertheless.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Par contre<\/span><\/h3>\n

This transition word is easy to remember because it looks like in contrast<\/em>, which is essentially what it means. This phrase is also used to say on the other hand<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Au contraire<\/span><\/h3>\n

Likewise,\u00a0au contraire <\/em>is one of those French transition words that looks like its English counterpart. It means on the contrary<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

D\u2019un part \/ d\u2019autre part<\/span><\/h3>\n

D\u2019un part<\/em> is used when expressing two varying ideas or points of view. It means on one hand\u2026<\/em> and is best at the beginning of a sentence. Once an idea is introduced with d\u2019un part<\/em>, it should be followed up with d\u2019autre part<\/em>, which is a perfect way to interpret the phrase on the other hand. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ainsi que<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ainsi que<\/em> means as well as<\/em> and it can be used in two different contexts. For the first usage, use it to transition between two items that you\u2019re ordering at a restaurant. Je voudrais le salad ainsi que<\/em> le viande. (I would like the salad as well as the meat). Ainsi que<\/em> can also mean just as <\/em>or as well<\/em>, like when you\u2019re saying the film was just as sad as I thought it\u2019d be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Autrement dit<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you know that dit<\/em> refers to something that was said in discussion, than autrement dit<\/em> should stick well in your mind. It literally translates to another saying and means in other words.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u2019abord<\/span><\/h3>\n

This phrase means first of all<\/em> and it works well when recounting a story or giving directions or instructions. When writing, it\u2019s also helpful when starting a sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

Ensuite<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is also a helpful transition word for giving directions or telling a story. It translates directly to next.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Apr\u00e8s que<\/span><\/h3>\n

You probably know that apr\u00e8s<\/em> means after.<\/em> But apr\u00e8s que<\/em> differs from the word\u00a0apr\u00e8s<\/em> 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 apr\u00e8s<\/em> with the word cela, which means after that. <\/span><\/p>\n

Avant que<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the same vein, avant que<\/em> should be used after a verb. Avant<\/em> by itself simply means before, and it can be used to start a sentence or phrase. <\/span><\/p>\n

Plus tard<\/span><\/h3>\n

Making plans for tonight? Want to set up a date for tomorrow? Learn plus tard<\/em>. As one of the simplest French transition words, it means later. Y<\/em>et it\u2019s used ubiquitously throughout French conversation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bien que<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although this seems like it would mean \u201cgood that\u201d it actually has a different meaning. Use bien que<\/em> to mean even though<\/em> or although<\/em> between thoughts or before a phrase. <\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00e8s que<\/span><\/h3>\n

When making goals or plans, say d\u00e8s que<\/em> to express as soon as<\/em>\u2026 to set up a phrase. Another way to say as soon as<\/em>, albeit longer, is aussitot que.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Quoi que<\/span><\/h3>\n

This fun and subjunctive-friendly phrase will certainly take your French to the next level. It means no matter what<\/em> and is helpful for starting a well-intentioned belief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tant que<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tant que<\/em> falls into the same realm as quoi que,<\/em> meaning as long as.<\/em> Don\u2019t forget to add the que<\/em> onto this phrase, because tant<\/em> by itself is used to express a general quantity, like many. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u2019apr\u00e9s moi<\/span><\/h3>\n

Expressing your ideas and beliefs? Then you should know how to start a sentence correctly. This phrase means according to me.<\/em> You can also say \u00e0 mon avis,<\/em> which means in my opinion.<\/em> For another idea on expressing your opinion, try saying selon moi<\/em> \u2013 which has a tendency to roll off the tongue with ease. <\/span><\/p>\n

Je suis contre<\/span><\/h3>\n

Je suis contre<\/em> is a more direct way to express your opinion about something. It translates directly to I am against<\/em> in English. It\u2019s beneficial to know when someone asks you your beliefs on something. It\u2019s also a good way to get yourself out of an uncomfortable situation when traveling or in unknown surroundings.<\/span><\/p>\n

De toute fa\u00e7on<\/span><\/h3>\n

Sooner or later, you\u2019ll find yourself in a conversation where you\u2019ll want to change the subject. Keep this transition short and light with de toute fa\u00e7on<\/em>, which means anyway\u2026 and provides space for a new topic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boosting Your Vocabulary with French Transition Words <\/span><\/h2>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n