Trying to speak formal French learned in school essays might lead to funny looks from native speakers.
However, spoken French differs significantly from written language. For example, formal words like “cependant” or “néanmoins” aren’t commonly used in everyday conversations.
Let’s use that formal vocabulary as a springboard to explore more simple, modern language.
C’est parti!
Index:
1 – Adverbs and conjunctions of written French
2 – Simpler Alternatives
3 – Even more alternatives
4 – Quick Recap
1) Adverbs and Conjunctions of written French
Some adverbs and conjunctions are too elegant for everyday spoken French.
- Cependant = however.
- Néanmoins = nevertheless.
- Toutefois = however.
- Nonobstant = notwithstanding.
They’re not all simply longer adverbs. “Or” only has two letters but is quite formal!
– Or (conjunction) = however.
Don’t mix it up with the English Or, which means “ou” in French.
– De l’or = gold.
Like “cependant“, adverbs are prevalent in written French, a distinct language from everyday spoken French. While such formal expressions enhance written precision, they aren’t used in casual conversations. In everyday spoken French, people prefer simpler conjunctions like “mais” (= but) or “pourtant” (= yet) to convey opposition, ensuring a natural flow. In specific contexts, such as plays or formal settings, written French may be spoken aloud, making it valuable to recognize and understand these formal expressions.
2) Simpler Alternatives
- Mais
- Par contre
The most direct alternative is “Mais” (= the conjunction “But” with the silent “s”).
You’ll often hear “Par contre” (= on the other hand / by opposition / however).
Je travaille aujourd’hui, par contre je serai pas là demain. = I’m working today, however I won’t be here tomorrow.
Je travaille aujourd’hui, mais je serai pas là demain. = I’m working today, but I won’t be here tomorrow.
Other common alternatives are less direct and often have several meanings. They don’t technically mean “However”, but it’s close.
- Enfin = “Finally, at last”
On est enfin arrivés ! = We finally arrived. - Enfin = “Well, I mean, not really”
Enfin, pas encore. = Well, not yet.
Similar things happen with D’ailleurs and Après.
- D’ailleurs ( silent “s” and “ye” sound) = “by the way, “in fact” or “besides.”
D’ailleurs, je suis pas sûre de ça. = By the way, actually, I’m not really sure about that.
Ils viennent, d’ailleurs ? = Are they coming, by the way? - D’ailleurs = “from somewhere else”.
Ils viennent d’ailleurs. = They’re coming from somewhere else.
- Après (silent “s”) = “After” or “Afterwards”.
Je t’appelle après le déjeuner. = I call you after lunch.
Après = “On the other hand” or “To be clear,”
Après, je peux aussi t’envoyer un mail. = On the other hand, I can also send you an email.
Let’s quickly recap before moving on to the story in French. These four adverbs (mais, par contre, d’ailleurs, après) are enough for you to say what you want.
Let’s play a quick game together! Which one would you pick to complete this sentence?
Alors, j’ai racheté du fromage. ____ on n’a plus beaucoup de pain.
So, I bought some more cheese. ___ we’re short on bread.
OK, did you find the answer?… Yes, we can say:
- Mais on n’a plus beaucoup de pain. → But we’re short on bread.
- Par contre on n’a plus beaucoup de pain. → However, we’re short on bread.
- Après, on n’a plus beaucoup de pain. → On the other hand, we’re short on bread.
Those three all mean the same thing! And you can even say:
- D’ailleurs, on n’a plus beaucoup de pain. → And by the way, we’re short on bread.
And that’s not all! There are a lot of similar French adverbs that we use a lot more than cependant (for example) in everyday spoken French. But first, can you find them in a real spoken French situation? Let’s try it together.
3) Even more alternatives
I’m going to speak French to you. First, without translation. What logical adverbs can you find? Don’t worry, right after, I’ll explain all the everyday spoken French.
C’est parti.
Ça te dirait d’aller randonner samedi ? Je veux dire, il a neigé, ça peut être sympa d’être dans la montagne. D’un autre côté, on peut aussi passer l’aprem à la brocante en ville, ou dans une expo. Et puis voir le marché de Noël, pourquoi pas ? Enfin, surtout s’il fait moche là-haut, quoi. Je dis ça mais si ça se trouve, j’aurais encore des trucs à terminer pour le taf, donc bon… Nan mais je vais m’arranger pour être dispo samedi. Je redis ça jeudi, du coup.
En revanche, on peut se retrouver au resto dimanche soir, de toute façon !
– Ça te dirait d’aller randonner samedi ?Je veux dire, il a neigé, ça peut être sympa d’être dans la montagne.
→ Je veux dire = I mean → it’s an expression that’s very useful to add more nuance and precision!
→ Sympa = nice (informal)
– D’un autre côté, on peut aussi passer l’aprem à la brocante en ville, ou dans une expo.
→ D’un autre côté = “from the other side” (literally) = on the other hand
→ L’aprem = l’après-midi = the afternoon.
→ L’expo = l’exposition = the exhibition.
We often cut the end of words in everyday spoken French.
Click here to learn more:
Essentials of Spoken French – Cutting words
– Et puis voir le marché de Noël, pourquoi pas ? Enfin, surtout s’il fait moche là-haut, quoi.
→ Enfin is used like “Je veux dire” (= I mean), to add an important precision or nuance.
→ The final quoi is also an essential adverb for everyday French: at the end of a sentence, it means “you know” or “that’s all.”
Click here to learn more:
Quoi in French: What It Means and How to Use It
Le truc en plus: When we speak about the weather in French, we often use the verb “faire” (= to do).
- Il fait moche. = There’s ugly weather.
- Il fait beau. = It’s sunny, and the weather is nice.
- Moche = ugly (it’s not slang, but it sounds informal).
- Laid = ugly (more formal).
- Il pleut., Il fait mauvais temps. (a formal way to say “Il fait moche”.)
– Je dis ça mais si ça se trouve, j’aurais encore des trucs à terminer pour le taf, donc bon…
→ Je dis ça, mais… = I say that, but… It’s another expression for “I mean” that’s obviously from spoken French to add more nuance again.
→ Un truc, des trucs = stuff
→ Le taf (informal) = le boulot (informal) = le travail (formal) = work.
→ Donc bon… = So, well… or So, you know…
Sometimes, we simply leave sentences unfinished in spoken French, like here!
– Nan mais je vais m’arranger pour être dispo samedi.
→ Non, mais (literally: “No, but…”) or in everyday French pronunciation, Nan mais, is an expression used to add another perspective, like “however.” It doesn’t mean “No”! It’s more like, “I’m not disagreeing with that / but I want to add something too.” It can be used almost anytime, so it becomes even un tic de langage (= a language tic) for some people.
→ Dispo (informal, cutting the word) = disponible = available.
– Je redis ça jeudi, du coup.
→ Du coup = as a consequence, therefore, is even more of a language tic! As a filler word, it’s used like “you know” or “well.”
Click here to learn more:
- Essentials of Spoken French – French Filler Words
- Understanding Spoken French: La Provence & Filler Words
- Spoken French Rules: 9 Filler Words Slowing Down Your Comprehension (& How To Fix It)
- Learn These “Filler” Words to Speak French Properly — Spoken French vs Written French
– En revanche, on peut se retrouver au resto dimanche soir, de toute façon !
→ En revanche doesn’t mean “in revenge!” Literally, it does mean “in return”. But in actual usage, it means “on the other hand” or “however.” “En revanche” is a bit less common than what we’ve seen before, more “written French.” However, de toute façon is a widespread expression in everyday spoken French. It means: “anyway” or “in any way, in any case”, quite literally.
→ Le resto (informal) = le restaurant.
4) Quick Recap
Today, we’ve covered numerous adverbs, but the goal is for you to memorize some of them. The key insight is that written and everyday spoken French are distinct languages.
By learning everyday informal adverbs, for example, you’ll understand real spoken French faster. Spending time on elegant formal words like “cependant” or “néanmoins” is fine, but that’s not how French people speak in everyday life. Instead, practice and remember how to use one or two common adverbs from today’s list:
- Par contre = On the other hand.
- Mais = But.
- Enfin = Finally, Well.
- D’ailleurs = Besides, moreover.
- Après = After.
- Je veux dire = I mean.
- D’un autre côté = On the other hand.
- Du coup = So, Therefore.
Pronounce these three expressions out loud. Do you remember what they mean? Are you sure? If you’re unsure, you can watch this video again!
Or you can keep exploring what makes everyday French so unique and learn more about so-called “French words” that French people never use!
Or you can keep learning about understanding fast-spoken French with me!
Click here to get your next lesson:
- English Words That Will Never Translate Into French
- French Vocabulary: Fake French Words to Know
- French Phrases: 5 French Slang Words Anyone Can Use Without Sounding Awkward
- Spoken French Vocabulary: French People Would Never Say These 5 Words
- Outdated French Words from The 70’s
À tout de suite.
I’ll see you right now in the next video!
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Salut Geraldine!
J’ai demandé à deux amis s’ils
connaissent “après” pour “être clair ” ? et j’ai reçu la même réponse “Euh ?”Vous pouvez l’expliquer plus??
C’est comme “ after all “ ou “as I said”en anglais ?
Bises
Brian