french word essay means

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling( es ā , ; es ā, e sā – ; v. e sā )

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How to Write an Excellent French Essay (Resources Included)

Tips to write an excellent french essay.

Writing essays is challenging enough, but when you are asked to write a French essay, you are not only being asked to write in a foreign language, but to follow the conventions of another linguistic and literary tradition. Like essay-writing in any language, the essential part of writing a French essay is to convey your thoughts and observations on a certain topic in a clear and concise manner. French essays do come out of a certain tradition that is part of the training of all students who attend school in France – or at least secondary school – and when you are a French essay, it is important to be aware of this tradition.

The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne is credited with popularizing the essay form as a literary genre. His work, Essais, first published in 1580, and undergoing several subsequent publications before his death in 1592, covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from “amitié” to “philosopher c’est apprendre à mourir”, and includes many literary references, as well as personal anecdotes. The name for this genre, essai, is the nominal form of the verb essayer, “to attempt”. We have an archaic English verb essay, meaning the same thing. The limerick that includes the phrase, “... when she essayed to drink lemonade ...” indicates an attempt to drink a beverage and has nothing to do with writing about it. But the writing form does illustrate an attempt to describe a topic in depth with the purpose of developing new insights on a particular text or corpus.

French instructors are very specific about what they would like when they ask for an essay, meaning that they will probably specify whether they would like an explication de texte, commentaire composé, or dissertation. That last essay form should not be confused with the document completed for a doctorate in anglophone countries – this is called a thèse in French, by the way. There are different formats for each of these types of essay, and different objectives for each written form.

Types of Essay

1. l’explication de texte.

An explication de texte is a type of essay for which you complete a close reading. It is usually written about a poem or a short passage within a larger work. This close reading will elucidate different themes and stylistic devices within the text. When you are completing an explication de texte, make sure to follow the structure of the text as you complete a close examination of its form and content. The format for an explication de texte consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you situate the text within its genre and historical context. This is where you can point out to your readers the general themes of the text, its form, the trajectory of your reading, and your approach to the text.

ii. The body, in which you develop your ideas, following the structure of the text. Make sure you know all of the meanings of the words used, especially the key terms that point to the themes addressed by the author. It is a good idea to look words up in the dictionary to find out any second, third, and fourth meanings that could add to the themes and forms you describe. Like a student taking an oral examination based on this type of essay writing, you will be expected to have solid knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures that appear in the text. Often the significance of the language used unfolds as you explain the different components of theme, style, and composition.

iii. A conclusion, in which you sum up the general meaning of the text and the significance of the figures and forms being used. You should also give the implications of what is being addressed, and the relevance of these within a larger literary, historical, or philosophical context.

NB: If you are writing about a poem, include observations on the verse, rhyme schemes, and meter. It is a good idea to refer to a reference work on versification. If you are writing about a philosophical work, be familiar with philosophical references and definitions of concepts.

Caveat: Refrain from paraphrasing. Instead show through careful analysis of theme, style, and composition the way in which the main ideas of the text are conveyed.

2. Le commentaire composé

A commentaire composé is a methodologically codified commentary that focuses on themes in a particular text. This type of essay develops different areas of reflection through analytical argument. Such argumentation should clarify the reading that you are approaching by presenting components of the text from different perspectives. In contrast to the explication de texte, it is organized thematically rather than following the structure of the text to which it refers. The format for a commentaire composé consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the question you have come up with, often in relation to a prompt commenting on a thematic or stylistic aspect of the text, such as “Montrez en quoi ce texte évoque l’amour courtois” or “Qu’apporte l’absence de la ponctuation dans ce texte ?” In this section, you will be expected to delineate your approach to the text and illustrate the trajectory of your ideas so that your readers will have a clear idea of the direction these ideas will take.

ii. A tripartite body, in which you explore the question you have come up with, citing specific examples in the text that are especially pertinent to the areas of reflection you wish to explore. These citations should be explained and connected to the broad themes of your commentary, all the while providing details that draw the readers’ attention to your areas of inquiry. These different areas of inquiry may initially seem disparate or even contradictory, but eventually come together to form a harmonious reading that addresses different aspects of the text. The more obvious characteristics of the text should illuminate its subtler aspects, which allows for acute insight into the question that you are in the process of exploring.

iii. A conclusion, in which you evaluate your reading and synthesize its different areas of inquiry. This is where you may include your own opinions, but make sure that the preceding sections of your commentaire remain analytical and supported by evidence that you find in the text.

NB: Looking at verb tenses, figures of speech, and other aspects that contribute to the form of the text will help situate your reader, as will commenting on the register of language, whether this language is ornate, plain, reflects a style soutenu, or less formal patterns of speech.

Caveat: Quotations do not replace observations or comments on the text. Explain your quotations and situate them well within your own text.

3. La dissertation

The dissertation is a personal, organized, and methodical reflection on a precise question that refers to a corpus of writing. Referring to this corpus, you may be asked questions along the lines of “Que pensez-vous de l’équivalence entre l’amour et la chanson exprimée dans ces textes ?” or “Est-ce que la sagesse et la folie ont les mêmes sources?” This type of essay allows for an exploration of a question through knowledge of a corpus as well as through an individual’s cultural knowledge. The format for a dissertation consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the topic addressed, the significance of your argument, and the trajectory of your ideas.

ii. The body which, like a commentaire composé, consists of a tripartite development of your argument. This can follow any one of the following structures: a dialectical schema, organized into thèse, antithèse, and synthèse – an argument, its counter-argument, and its rebuttal; an analytical schema, consisting of the description of a situation, an analysis of its causes, and commentary on its consequences; a thematic schema, which consists of a reflection on a topic which you proceed to examine from different angles in an orderly fashion.

iii. A conclusion, in which you address the different ways in which you have approached the question at hand and how this deepens your insights, while placing the question within a broader context that shows room for expansion. The conclusion can open up the topic addressed to show its placement within a literary movement, or in opposition to another literary movement that follows it, for example.

NB: Approach the question at hand with as few preconceptions as possible. If you are writing on a quotation, gather all of your knowledge about its author, the work in which it appears, and the body of literature with which it is associated.

Caveat: Even for a personal reflection, such as a dissertation, avoid using the first person pronoun je. Nous or on are preferable. It is advisable not to switch from one to the other, though.

For each of these essay forms, it is a good idea to make an outline to which you can refer as you write. As your writing progresses, things may shift a bit, but having a structure on which you can rely as you gather your various ideas and information into a coherent argument provides solid foundation for a clear and well-developed essay. This also facilitates smooth transitions from one section of your essay to the next.

During your reading, you may encounter a problem, a contradiction, or a surprising turn of phrase that is difficult to figure out. Such moments in a text give you the opportunity to delve into the unique characteristics of the text or corpus to which you are referring, to propose different solutions to the problems you encounter, and to describe their significance within a larger literary, philosophical, and historical context. Essay writing allows you to become more familiar with French works, with their cultural significance, and with the French language. You can refer to the following resources to guide you in this endeavor:

Auffret, Serge et Hélène. Le commentaire composé. Paris: Hachette, 1991. Dufau, Micheline et Ellen D'Alelio. Découverte du poème: Introduction à l'explication de textes. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967. Grammont, Maurice. Petit traité de versification française. Paris: A. Colin, 2015. Huisman, Denis et L. R. Plazolles. L’art de la dissertation littéraire : du baccalauréat au C.A.P.E.S. Paris : Société d’édition d’enseignement supérieur, 1965.

The French newspaper Le Monde also has good articles on these essay forms that prepare French students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

This is also a website with thorough information on essay writing techniques that prepare students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

In addition, the University of Adelaide has tips for general essay writing in French: CLICK HERE

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essay translation | English-French dictionary

essay question , essayist , easy

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Translation of essai – French–English dictionary

(Translation of essai from the GLOBAL French-English Dictionary © 2018 K Dictionaries Ltd)

Translation of essai | PASSWORD French-English Dictionary

(Translation of essai from the PASSWORD French-English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

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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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Definition of Essay

Essay is derived from the French word essayer , which means “ to attempt ,” or “ to try .” An essay is a short form of literary composition based on a single subject matter, and often gives the personal opinion of the author. A famous English essayist, Aldous Huxley defines essays as, “a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything. ” The Oxford Dictionary describes it as “ a short piece of writing on a particular subject. ” In simple words, we can define it as a scholarly work in writing that provides the author’s personal argument .

Types of Essay

There are two forms of essay: literary and non-literary. Literary essays are of four types:

• Expository Essay – In an expository essay , the writer gives an explanation of an idea, theme , or issue to the audience by giving his personal opinions. This essay is presented through examples, definitions, comparisons, and contrast .
• Descriptive Essay – As it sounds, this type of essay gives a description about a particular topic, or describes the traits and characteristics of something or a person in detail. It allows artistic freedom, and creates images in the minds of readers through the use of the five senses.
• Narrative Essay – Narrative essay is non- fiction , but describes a story with sensory descriptions. The writer not only tells a story, but also makes a point by giving reasons.
• Persuasive Essay – In this type of essay, the writer tries to convince his readers to adopt his position or point of view on an issue, after he provides them solid reasoning in this connection. It requires a lot of research to claim and defend an idea. It is also called an argumentative essay .

Non-literary essays could also be of the same types but they could be written in any format.

Examples of Essay in Literature

Example #1: the sacred grove of oshogbo (by jeffrey tayler).

“As I passed through the gates I heard a squeaky voice . A diminutive middle-aged man came out from behind the trees — the caretaker. He worked a toothbrush-sized stick around in his mouth, digging into the crevices between algae’d stubs of teeth. He was barefoot; he wore a blue batik shirt known as a buba, baggy purple trousers, and an embroidered skullcap. I asked him if he would show me around the shrine. Motioning me to follow, he spat out the results of his stick work and set off down the trail.”

This is an example of a descriptive essay, as the author has used descriptive language to paint a dramatic picture for his readers of an encounter with a stranger.

Example #2: Of Love (By Francis Bacon)

“It is impossible to love, and be wise … Love is a child of folly. … Love is ever rewarded either with the reciprocal, or with an inward and secret contempt. You may observe that amongst all the great and worthy persons…there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree of love: which shows that great spirits and great business do keep out this weak passion…That he had preferred Helena, quitted the gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affection quitted both riches and wisdom.”

In this excerpt, Bacon attempts to persuade readers that people who want to be successful in this world must never fall in love. By giving an example of famous people like Paris, who chose Helen as his beloved but lost his wealth and wisdom, the author attempts to convince the audience that they can lose their mental balance by falling in love.

Example #3: The Autobiography of a Kettle (By John Russell)

“I am afraid I do not attract attention, and yet there is not a single home in which I could done without. I am only a small, black kettle but I have much to interest me, for something new happens to me every day. The kitchen is not always a cheerful place in which to live, but still I find plenty of excitement there, and I am quite happy and contented with my lot …”

In this example, the author is telling an autobiography of a kettle, and describes the whole story in chronological order. The author has described the kettle as a human being, and allows readers to feel, as he has felt.

Function of Essay

The function of an essay depends upon the subject matter, whether the writer wants to inform, persuade, explain, or entertain. In fact, the essay increases the analytical and intellectual abilities of the writer as well as readers. It evaluates and tests the writing skills of a writer, and organizes his or her thinking to respond personally or critically to an issue. Through an essay, a writer presents his argument in a more sophisticated manner. In addition, it encourages students to develop concepts and skills, such as analysis, comparison and contrast , clarity, exposition , conciseness, and persuasion .

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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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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of essay, common examples of essay, significance of essay in literature.

Many famous writers and thinkers have also written numerous examples of essays. For instance, the treatises of the philosophers Plutarch, Cicero, and Seneca are all early forms of essay writing. Essay writing might seem dull to school children, but in fact the form has become extremely popular, often converging with a type of writing called “creative non-fiction.” Authors are able to explore complex concepts through anecdote, evidence, and exploration. An author may want to persuade his or her audience to accept a central idea, or simply describe what he or she has experienced. Below you will find examples of essays from famous writers.

Examples of Essay in Literature

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events. Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an essayist and poet who was a part of the Transcendentalist movement and who believed strongly in the importance of individualism and self-reliance. The above essay example, in fact, is titled “Self-Reliance,” and encourages human beings to trust themselves and strike out on their own.

Yet, because he was so small, and so simple a form of the energy that was rolling in at the open window and driving its way through so many narrow and intricate corridors in my own brain and in those of other human beings, there was something marvelous as well as pathetic about him. It was as if someone had taken a tiny bead of pure life and decking it as lightly as possible with down and feathers, had set it dancing and zig-zagging to show us the true nature of life. Thus displayed one could not get over the strangeness of it. One is apt to forget all about life, seeing it humped and bossed and garnished and cumbered so that it has to move with the greatest circumspection and dignity. Again, the thought of all that life might have been had he been born in any other shape caused one to view his simple activities with a kind of pity.

Here was I, the white man with his gun, standing in front of the unarmed native crowd — seemingly the leading actor of the piece; but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind. I perceived in this moment that when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys. He becomes a sort of hollow, posing dummy, the conventionalized figure of a sahib. For it is the condition of his rule that he shall spend his life in trying to impress the ‘natives’, and so in every crisis he has got to do what the ‘natives’ expect of him. He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it. I had got to shoot the elephant. I had committed myself to doing it when I sent for the rifle. A sahib has got to act like a sahib; he has got to appear resolute, to know his own mind and do definite things. To come all that way, rifle in hand, with two thousand people marching at my heels, and then to trail feebly away, having done nothing — no, that was impossible. The crowd would laugh at me. And my whole life, every white man’s life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at.

George Orwell’s marvelous essay “Shooting an Elephant” tells the story of when he was a police officer in Lower Burma and was asked to deal with an elephant wandering through a market. Orwell brilliantly extrapolates his role in shooting and killing the animal to the effects of Imperialism and the British Empire.

Not that it’s profound, but I’m struck, amid the pig’s screams and wheezes, by the fact that these agricultural pros do not see their stock as pets or friends. They are just in the agribusiness of weight and meat. They are unconnected, even at the fair’s self-consciously special occasion of connection. And why not?—even at the fair their products continue to drool and smell and scream, and the work goes on. I can imagine what they think of us, cooing at the swine: we fairgoers don’t have to deal with the business of breeding and feeding our meat; our meat simply materializes at the corn-dog stand, allowing us to separate our healthy appetites from fur and screams and rolling eyes. We tourists get to indulge our tender animal-rights feelings with our tummies full of bacon. I don’t know how keen these sullen farmers’ sense of irony is, but mine’s been honed East Coast keen, and I feel like a bit of an ass in the Swine Barn.

(“Ticket to the Fair” by David Foster Wallace)

Test Your Knowledge of Essay

3. Which of the following statements is true? A. Essays are found in many intellectual magazines. B. Essays are only used in school settings. C. Essays are always boring. [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″] Answer: A is the correct answer.[/spoiler]

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150 Common French Words

Learning vocabulary is one of the cornerstones of learning French.

By knowing the most common vocabulary, you’ll get better at everyday communication—which gets you closer to interacting with some of the 300 million people who speak French around the world . 

In this post, we’ll get you started with  150 easy and common French words !

You’ll be well on your way to having a solid base in the French language in no time. 

150 French Words to Help You Get Started

1. the most essential french words for any conversation, 2. common -er, -ir and -re french verbs, 3. what where when common french words for asking questions, 4. french words for people, 5. french words for professions, 6. food & drinks in french, 7. parts of the house and furniture in french, 8. modes of transport in french, 9. places in french, 10. common french adjectives , 11. animals & nature vocabulary in french, basic french grammar .

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

Let’s start with some essential vocabulary that you’ll end up using a lot in French conversations: 

• Bonjour ! — Hello / Good morning!
• Bonsoir ! — Good evening!
• Excusez-moi — Excuse me
• Je suis désolé / Je suis désolée   — I’m sorry (with an extra  e if you’re female)
• S’il vous plaît — Please  
• Merci — Thank you
• À bientôt — See you soon
• Au revoir — Goodbye

Knowing everyday French phrases can get you pretty far. This post will give you over 110 of the most common French phrases that will have you sounding like a native. You…

Aside from the conversational words and phrases above, you’ve also got to know the absolute most common French verbs:

• Être — to be
• Avoir — to have
• Aller — to go

These verbs are irregular , meaning they don’t follow the same rules of usage (or conjugation) that so-called regular verbs do.

Most French verbs are regular , meaning you only have to learn the endings of their group.

In French, there are three groups of so-called regular verbs, denoted by their infinitive (unconjugated) endings:  -er verbs,   -ir verbs and  -re  verbs.

Here are the most common verbs in each group:

• Parler — to speak
• Aimer — to like
• Demander — to ask
• Étudier — to study
• Regarder — to watch
• Visiter — to visit (a place)
• Habiter — to live
• Penser — to think
• Manger — to eat
• Finir — to finish
• Choisir — to choose
• Grandir — to grow
• Grossir — to gain weight
• Réussir — to succeed / pass (a test)
• Vendre — to sell
• Attendre — to wait
• Entendre — to hear
• Perdre — to lose
• Répondre — to respond

With all these different kinds of verbs, it’s handy to have a verb conjugation tool, like the one from Reverso .

Another option is to study these verbs in action with FluentU , which features authentic French videos with interactive subtitles. Click on any French verb or other word used in the video to see its definition, along with grammar notes and examples.

You can then add new words to flashcards and take personalized quizzes to grow your French vocabulary. 

The language learning program is also available on iOS and Android , so you can take your French studies with you wherever you go. 

Check out the most common French verbs that every beginner should know in this post! We’ll cover present tense conjugations and example sentences for the 50 most common…

Looking for directions ? Do you want to know the price of something?

Whatever you do on your trip to France, you’re definitely going to need to ask for help or direction at some point.

Here are some common questions to help you get around:

• Où ? — Where?
• Qui ? — Who?
• Quoi ? — What?
• Quand ? — When?
• Comment ? — How?
• Pourquoi ? — Why?
• Combien ? — How much? / How many?

Of course, the beauty of learning a language is to be able to communicate with native speakers, which means people might also ask you questions!

Want to start asking questions in French? We have the answers in this guide! Learn everything you need to know about French question words, how to form questions and where…

Want to learn how to describe friends, family members or even strangers? Below you’ll find ten key words for people in French.

• L’homme — the man
• La femme — the woman
• L’enfant — the child 
• La fille — the girl
• Le garçon — the boy
• Le bébé — the baby
• La personne — the person
• L’ami / L’amie — the friend (male/female)
• Le collègue / La collègue  — the colleague (male/female)
• Le voisin / La voisine — the neighbor (male/female)

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/describing-people-in-french/

Headed to a French-speaking region for employment? Then the following words are essential!

The following are common words associated with professions:

• Le dentiste — the dentist
• Le médecin — the doctor (medical)
• Le serveur / La serveuse — the waiter / waitress
• L’avocat / L’avocate   — the lawyer
• Le caissier / La caissière — the cashier
• L’ingénieur / L’ingénieure  — the engineer
• Le plombier / La plombière — the plumber
• Le policier / La policière   — the police officer
• L’ouvrier / L’ouvrière  — the worker

Do you know how to say common professions in French? Here’s your complete guide to all sort of jobs in French, as well as French job titles—from butchers to diplomats!…

Hungry or thirsty? Check out the most common French words for food and drinks .

• Le restaurant — the restaurant
• Le café — the cafe / coffee
• Le thé — the tea
• Le lait — the milk
• Le vin — the wine
• L’eau — the water
• Le fruit — the fruit
• La pomme — the apple
• L’orange — the orange
• Les légumes — the vegetables
• La carotte — the carrot
• La pomme de terre — the potato
• La tomate — the tomato
• La viande — the meat
• Le poisson — the fish
• Le poulet — the chicken
• Le petit-déjeuner — breakfast
• Le déjeuner — lunch
• Le dîner — dinner

Learn how to order in French like a native speaker with this French restaurant vocabulary guide! We’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from meals and food…

It’s crucial to learn the French words that describe the places where we live.

Check out the following common words that denote specific rooms and spaces in our households.

• La maison — the house
• La pièce — the room
• La cuisine — the kitchen
• La salle à manger — the dining room
• Le salon — the living room
• La chambre — the bedroom
• La salle de bain — the bathroom (may not include a toilet)
• Les toilettes — the bathroom (includes a toilet, sometimes exclusively)
• La porte — the door
• La fenêtre — the window
• L’escalier — the stairs
• Le mur — the wall
• Le sol — the floor

Common words associated with rooms in the house:

• La télévision — the television
• Le canapé / le sofa — the couch
• La chaise — the chair
• La lampe — the lamp
• Le réfrigérateur — the refrigerator
• Le four — the oven
• La table — the table
• Le lit — the bed
• La douche — the shower
• Les toilettes — the toilet (object)

Want to learn French house vocabulary? Whether you’re a homebody or someone who’s always out, this post has you covered! Here you’ll find 156 French house vocabulary words…

Traveling for leisure or commuting to work? Make sure you learn these words!

• La voiture — the car
• Le bus — the bus 
• Le train — the train
• Le métro — the subway
• Le taxi — the taxi
• La moto — the motorcycle
• Le vélo — the bicycle
• L’avion — the airplane
• Le bateau — the boat
• Le navire — the ship

Need to learn French transport vocabulary? Whether you’re looking to travel by car, bus, plane, train, boat, or even by bike, this post has you covered! Here you’ll find…

Going somewhere? These French words will help you find what you’re looking for on a map or on Google!

• Le centre-ville — the city center
• Le village — the village
• La campagne — the countryside
• Le quartier — the neighborhood
• Le musée — the museum
• Le parc — the park
• Le marché — the market
• Le magasin — the store
• L’école — the school
• L’université — the university

The following are common words that can be used to describe yourself, others or inanimate things.

• Grand / Grande — big
• Petit / Petite — small
• Intelligent / Intelligente — smart
• Fâché / Fâchée — angry
• Triste — sad
• Heureux / Heureuse — happy
• Drôle — funny
• Jeune — young
• Vieux / Vieille — old
• Nerveux / Nerveuse — nervous
• Beau / Belle — beautiful
• Facile — easy
• Difficile — hard
• Fort / Forte — strong

Keep in mind that some adjectives change genders depending on the gender of the noun it describes.

In this list, the masculine forms are given first, with the feminine forms being either those with an added -e or the second form of the adjective.

Interested in more adjectives? Check out how to say common colors in French as well !

Learn important French adjectives with this comprehensive list! It covers 173 adjectives for describing objects, emotions, appearance and more. Each adjective comes with…

The following are common French words that can be used to describe animals or nature.

• Le chien — the dog
• Le chat — the cat
• Le lapin — the rabbit
• Le cheval — the horse
• L’oiseau — the bird
• Le soleil — the sun
• La pluie —  the rain
• Le vent — the wind
• La neige — the snow
• Le nuage —  the cloud
• La montagne —  the mountain
• La plage —  the beach
• L’océan —  the ocean
• La météo — the weather forecast
• Quel temps fait-il ? — What’s the weather?
• Il fait chaud / Il fait froid — It’s hot/It’s cold

Get ready to learn animals in French! We’ve got over a hundred French animal terms, plus usage tips, a note on gender and practice resources. From pets to sea animals to…

Now that you’ve seen 150 of the most common French words, it’s important to go over basic grammar so you can start incorporating these words into your own conversations!

In the French language, nouns are either masculine or feminine . For example, le vent (the wind) is masculine and la pluie  (the rain) is feminine.

Words that begin with a vowel sound or “h” have their article changed to l’ . 

Conjugation

There are three types of French verb endings: -er , -ir and -re . 

When conjugating in the present tense : Take the infinitive form , remove the verb ending to get the stem and add the corresponding conjugation.

For more French verb conjugations in different tenses, check out this post .

Adjective Placement

Adjectives are most often placed after the noun . However, in some cases, they may be placed before.

For example:

Le chien est petit . — The dog is small.

Le petit chien. — The small dog.

Adjectives must agree with the gender (and number) of a noun: 

La petit e maison. — The small house. (Using the feminine form of “petit”)

And just like that, you have 150 words to bring your French to the next level. Practice these words often and watch your French comprehension and production vastly improve!

Once you’ve mastered them, check out the 500 most frequently used French words for additional targeted vocabulary study.

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6 Example Sentences With Servir (To Serve)

By: Author David Issokson

Posted on Published: September 12, 2024  - Last updated: September 13, 2024

Servir , meaning “to serve”, is an irregular IR French verb with a wide range of usages.

Servir – to serve

Word origin.

The Modern French verb servir comes from servire (to be a slave, to serve) and servus (slave, servant) in Latin.

Present tense conjugation

Je sers I serve Tu sers You serve (singular, informal) Il, elle sert He, she serves Nous servons We serve Vous servez You serve (plural, formal) Ils, elles servent They serve

Example sentences

Le serveur sert le repas.

The waiter serves the meal.

Servir can translate to “to help” or “to assist”.

Je suis toujours prêt a servir les autres.

I’m always ready to help others.

Servir à means “to be used for” or “to be used to”

Cette scie sert à couper le bois.

This saw is used to cut wood.

A quoi sert-il ce club de golf ?

What is this golf club used for?

In the reflexive form, se servir + noun means “to help yourself to” or to take.

Je me sers un peu de glace pendant la nuit.

I help myself to some ice cream during the night.

Se servir de de means “to use”.

Est-ce que tu te sers de cet outil ?

Are you using this tool?

Related lessons

• Reflexive verbs
• Repas – meal
• Toujours – always
• Pendant – during
• Est-ce que – is/are/do/does
• WordReference – servir
• Wiktionary – serve

Word of the Day | Lessons by David Issokson

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David Issokson

David Issokson is a lifelong language learner and speaks over seven languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private lessons. When not teaching or writing his French Word of the Day lessons, David enjoys his time skiing, hiking and mountain biking in Victor, Idaho.

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