25 French Transition Words : Essential Connectives

Linking words or transition words, play a key role in creating smooth and coherent sentences in French. They help clarify relationships between ideas, show cause and effect, and improve overall readability. Mastering these words can greatly enhance your writing and speaking fluency. In this article we will explore 25 essential French transtion words with examples.

1- Cause

1-Car - because or or and is primarily used in formal writing or more structured speech. It provides a reason or explanation for a statement, much like "parce que", but with a more sophisticated or literary tone)

• J’étudie l’espagnol car je veux habiter en Espagne

• I study Spanish because I want to live in Spain- since or because

  It is used to express a known or obvious cause or reason

  2- Puisque - since since" or "because", used to introduce a reason that is already known or obvious to both the speaker and the listener.

• Puisque tu ne parles pas espagnol, tu ne peux pas travailler en Espagne

•   Since you don’t speak Spanish, you cannot work in Spain.

  3- Parce que - because

  It is used to explain a reason or cause in response to a question asking "why" (pourquoi).

• Je suis resté à la maison parce qu’il pleuvait

• I stayed home because it was raining.

  4- En effet - en effet - indeed

  It is generally considered more formal or neutral in tone in French. It is used in writing and formal speech to introduce a confirmation, explanation, or justification for something that has just been stated.

• En effet, tu es difficile 

• You are picky, indeed

  5- A cause de - because of or due to

  It is used to express a negative or neutral cause or reason.

• Nous sommes arrivés en retard à cause du trafic

• We arrived late because of the traffic.

2 - Consequence

6. donc - therefore, so

• Je pense, donc je suis

• I think, therefore I am.

7. Alors - then

• l était de mauvaise humeur alors je suis parti

• He was in a bad mood so I left

8. Du coup - so

Du coup is a common French expression used in informal speech to indicate a consequence or a result. It is similar to so, therefore, or as a result in English.

• Il était de mauvaise humeur, du coup je suis parti.

• - He was in a bad mood, so I left.

9. Par conséquent – Therefore, as a result

Par conséquent" is a formal connector commonly used in written French and formal speech.

• Il a fait froid, par conséquent je suis resté à la maison

• It was cold, so I stayed home.

3- Goal

10 - Pour - to - so that

• il est parti en avance pour être à l'heure

• he left earlier to be on time.

Pour que is a conjunction meaning "so that" or "in order that" and it always requires the subjunctive mood. This is because it introduces a purpose or goal, which involves an element of subjectivity or uncertainty—key triggers for the subjunctive.

• Je parle lentement pour que tu comprennes.

• I speak slowly so that you understand.
  
  
  

4- Opposition / Concession

11- Pourtant - although, still, nevertheless

• Il fait beau, pourtant il reste à l’intérieur

• It’s nice outside, yet he stays indoors.

12- Néanmoins - however, nevertheless, nonetheless

• Elle avait peu d’argent néanmoins elle lui a tout donné

• She had little money, but she gave all to him nonetheless.

13- Quand même - even though, all the same, nevertheless

• Ce n’est pas lui qui chantait le mieux, mais il a gagné la compétition quand même

• He wasn’t the best singer, but he won the contest all the same.

14 - Au contraire - on the contrary

• Il pense que j’aime Paul. Au contraire, je le déteste !

• He thinks I am in love with Paul. On the contrary, I hate him !
  

15- Même si - même si ( even if)

• Il ira même si elle n’y va pas.
  He’ll go even if she doesn’t.

16 - à moins que – unless ( + subjonctive)

• Vous ne pourrez pas voir la directrice à moins que vous ayez un rendez-vous.
  You will not be able to see the director unless you have an appointment.

17 - Sauf si - unless

• Je viendrai te voir sauf si je suis malade.
  I will come to see you unless I am sick.
  
  

5 - Times

18 - D’abord - first

• D’abord, vous étudiez la leçon, et puis vous faîtes les exercices.

• you first study the lesson, then you do the exercises.
  

19- Ensuite or (et puis) - then

• J'ai terminé mes devoirs, ensuite j'ai regardé un film.
  I finished my homework, then I watched a movie.

• Et puis
  J'ai lu un livre, et puis je suis allé me promener.
  I read a book, and then I went for a walk.

20- Enfin - finally

• J’ai enfin terminé mes devoirs.
  I finally finished my homework.

21-Jusqu’à - Until ( time specification) or Up to

• Je vais travailler jusqu'à 18 heures.
  I will work until 6 p.m

• Je vais marcher jusqu'à la maison.
  I will walk up to the house.

-Jusqu’à ce que + subjunctive

• J'attendrai jusqu'à ce qu'il arrive.
  I will wait until he arrives.

6 - Transition

22-En plus - furthermore

• Il ne dort pas et en plus il ne mange rien

• He doesn't sleep, and furthermore, he doesn't eat anything

23- Au fait- by the way

• Au fait, est-ce que tu sais si le contrat est validé ?

• By the way, do you know if the contract has been approved?

24-En fait - In fact

• Il dit qu'il a terminé ses devoirs, en fait c'est faux il n'a pas encore commencé

• He says he has finished his homework, in fact, that's false, he hasn't started yet

25 - Selon, suivant, d’après : according to

• Selon le rapport, il pleuvra demain.
  According to the report, it will rain tomorrow.

  
  Suivant les instructions, nous devons commencer à 9 heures.
  Following the instructions, we must start at 9 a.m.

  
  D'après elle, le film était excellent.
  According to her, the movie was excellent.

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