Tying It All Together: 23 Transition Words for Seamless French

1. D’abord
Translation: First of all
D’abord, il faut réchauffer le four. (First of all, you must preheat the oven.)
When you think “transition word,” this may be what you’re thinking. To start with
the basics, here’s one of the first transition words you likely learned in French class.
It’s best at the beginning of sentences, when giving directions or when recounting a
series of events.

2. Ensuite
Translation: Next
Ensuite, je prépare la tarte aux cerises. (Next, I prepare the cherry pie.)
An easy way to remember this one (yet another in the series of your basic transition
words), is that la suite is the sequel or “the next one” in French. It’s a useful piece of
vocab when delving into French book series and films, and this transition word is
obviously useful for continuing a series of events or directions you may be giving.

3. Puis
Translation: Then
Puis, je coupe les pêches. (Then, I cut the peaches.)
Then, you’ve got puis. If you’re unfamiliar with this one, just know that it’ll come
up a lot in literature and conversation. It’s a very useful transition word to have
under your belt. Puis proves to be a good fallback word to have when some of the
more specific transition words slip your mind.

4. Enfin
Translation: Finally
Enfin, on mange tout. (Finally, we eat everything.)
In our d’abord, ensuite, puis sequence, we end with enfin. This useful word is not
only used as a transition to mark la fin (the end) of something, but is also an
interjection—a filler word, if you will. It can mean “well,” “all in all,” “I mean” or “at
least.” It’s a multi-edged sword. Use it as a transition to an end or to make your
conversational French more authentic.

5. Ainsi que
Translation: As well as
Je voudrais une tarte aux pommes ainsi que deux boules de glace. (I would like apple
pie as well as two scoops of ice cream.)
Getting into some more advanced vocabulary now, this means “just as.” This
conjunction is useful when elaborating on something you’re already discussing. It can
also be used with a different meaning of “just as,” as in “It went just as I thought.”

6. Après que
Translation: After/when
Je vais dormir après que je mange toute cette tarte. (I’m going to sleep after I eat all
this pie.)
Bet you’re wondering what the difference is between après que and that old
favorite après. Après is a preposition, and après que is a compound conjunction. All
that means is you use the latter when it’s followed by a verb (like in the example). If
you wanted to start a sentence with “after,” then you would use the preposition:
Après, on va partir. (After, we’re going to leave.)
Remember that the que helps link the clauses, and you should be good to link the
night away.
Subjunctive-friendly? Technically, no, but French speakers tend to use the
subjunctive after it regardless. So go ahead and get the extra practice.

7. Avant que
Translation: Before
Je vais finir la tarte avant que je nettoie la cuisine. (I’m going to finish the pie before I
clean the kitchen.)
Similar to après que, this conjunction is not to be confused with its definition
without que. The same distinction can be made—avant being the preposition in this
case and avant que the compound conjunction.
Subjunctive-friendly? Yes, and don’t you forget it!

8. Bien que
Translation: Although/even though
Il m’a donné une tarte aux pêches bien que j’aie commandé une tarte aux
pommes ! (He gave me peach pie even though I ordered an apple pie!)
Careful not translate this one to “good that.” This conjunctive phrase is great for
showing contrast and adding “conditions” to things, even though you have to know
your subjunctive to use it.
Subjunctive-friendly? Oh, most definitely.

9. Dès que
Translation: As soon as
Dès que la tarte arrive, je vais la détruire. (As soon as the pie arrives, I will destroy it.)
This is usually followed by not the subjunctive, but by a future tense! Makes sense
considering the context. This is a great conjunctive phrase to use when making
threats, lofty goals and uncertain plans. Très useful.

10. Parce que/car

Translation: Because
J’aime les tartes plus que les gâteaux parce que (car) la croûte est magnifique. (I like
pies more than cakes because the crust is magnificent.)
You’re likely familiar with parce que, and maybe less so with car. There are some
slight distinctions to keep in mind for you nit-picky French speakers out there:
Car leans slightly more towards “since” or “for.”
Parce que is a little stronger when used in speech. They both mean essentially the
same thing, but it’s good to know both of them to add variety to your French
conversation.

11. Pour que

Translation: So that
Je fais une tarte pour que tu aies quelque chose à manger ce soir. (I’m making a pie
so that you have something to eat tonight.)
Oh, isn’t it great when such a useful conjunction takes the subjunctive? Well, sure it
is! That’s how you get practice. Pour means for, but for translation purposes, “so
that” makes more sense when using this phrase.
Subjunctive-friendly? You better believe it!

12. Quoi que

Translation: No matter what
Quoi que ma mère fasse en cuisine, c’est délicieux. (No matter what my mom makes
in the kitchen, it’s delicious.)
I bet your mind is reeling with how much better your French will sound once you get
this one down. No matter what the medium is, it’s useful. But you may be noticing an
interesting trend: A word that you’re well-versed in (bien, quoi, pour), when added to
our favorite little word que, can bring out a completely different definition. Keep this
in your mental notebook when you read these phrases or hear them spoken!
Subjunctive-friendly? Yes…yet again!

13. Tant que

Translation: As long as
Tant que cette tarte est là, je serai tenté de la manger. (As long as this pie is here, I
will be tempted to eat it.)
What’s tant mean anyway? Funny you should ask, because this here is yet another
example of fun words being transformed by their trusty sidekick que. Tant by itself
means “so much or many,” or can be used to express an indefinite quantity. If you
apply that definition back to this transitional phrase, then you can see something of a
rough translation that matches “as long as.” But as long as you remember the
definition, you’ll be good to go.

14. Comme/puisque
Translation: Since
Comme j’ai mangé trop de tarte, je ne peux pas manger mes légumes. (Since I ate
too much of the pie, I can’t eat my vegetables.)
Puisque je l’ai fait, je goûte en premier. (Since I made it, I’ll taste [it] first.)
Even though the definition is the same on these two, there is a slight
distinction. Comme is useful for showing both the cause and result in a sentence,
whereas puisque just gives an explanation. Comme also likes to hang around at the
beginning of sentences, whereas puisque can go in the middle if it so pleases. This
distinction will help you sound extra-super pro!

15. Lorsque/quand
Translation: When
Je cuisinais quand/lorsque tu es arrivé. (I was cooking when you arrived.)
These are interchangeable when talking about time, though lorsque is a formal
upgrade of quand. Gauge the situation when you pick. They both have their own
special purpose as well:
Quand can mean “whenever,” and lorsque can mean “whereas.”

16. Quoi que

Translation: Even though
Je mangerai une autre tranche quoi que je n’aie pas faim. (I will eat another slice
even though I’m not hungry.)
Okay, I’ll admit…it does get a bit confusing here. We just did quoi que, meaning “no
matter what,” and now we’ve got the same thing minus the space in between and all
of a sudden it means “even though”? These sound the same when spoken, but you
should be able to figure it out based on the context. In addition, bien
que and quoique can be used interchangeably. Just another opportunity for you to
diversify.
Subjunctive-friendly? You better believe it.
17. Donc
Translation: So
Je veux que tu la goûtes, donc je garde une part. (I want for you to taste it, so I’m
saving a piece.)
There is so much to say about this little word. Donc is one of the holy grails of French
filler words, one of the little idiosyncrasies of French speech that you’ll pick up while
in France and carry with you, smiling, forever. They use it both in the “correct”
fashion, showing causation, as well as how we use it in English: “So, here’s the
thing.” “So, I was heading to the store.” “So… So… So…” Remember donc. Cherish it.
Can you tell this is my favorite French transition word?

18. En fait
Translation: In fact
En fait, l’année dernière j’ai gagné une competition. (In fact, last year I won a
competition.)
You have no excuses for not remembering this one. It’s spelt and sounds similar to
the English definition. Use this phrase before emphasizing an important conclusion
or key point.

19. Cependant
Translation: However, nonetheless
Cependant, j’aime un bon gâteau de temps en temps. (However, I enjoy a nice cake
from time to time.)
Cependant is actually an adverb, but it still functions as a transition word. Use it at
the beginning of a sentence to point out an opposition or contradiction. Pourtant is a
close cousin, but it’s a little more nuanced, as it indicates that one thing happened
when another one was expected to.

20. En revanche/par contre

Translation: On the other hand, in opposition
Une tarte aux pommes est classique. Par contre, une tarte aux tomates est bonne
pour le petit-déjeuner, le déjeuner et le dîner. (An apple pie is classic. On the other
hand, a tomato pie is good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.)
The definition is close to cependant, but provides a little clearer contrast. Those
make for two great transition words when you’re writing essays in French or can’t
decide which type of pie is better.

21. En plus (Moreover)/en outre

Translation: Also
En outre, il faut choisir un bon parfum de glace pour accompagner la tarte. (Also, one
must choose a good ice cream flavor to go with the pie.)
Need to add something that you forgot before? These two are good ways to vary
your language and avoid using aussi (also) at every turn.
En plus is common in conversation, and it, as well as en outre, is often a better
alternative to aussi in written French.

22. Pour ma part/pour moi

Translation: For me
Pour moi/ma part, je préfère la tarte au citron. (For me, I prefer lemon pie.)
Here are two phrases to use when you want to put emphasis on “me! me! me!” Pour
moi is a good way to order at a restaurant, and pour ma part is best for stating
opinions.

23. À mon avis

Translation: In my opinion
À mon avis, tous ces phrases sont ridicules ! (In my opinion, all of these sentences are
ridiculous!)
But when you really want to make it all about you and your opinions, this is the best
phrase. To qualify a statement as an opinion, or before you go on a rant about
something you’re passionate about, this is a great transitional phrase to use and
abuse!