Advanced French Connecting Words
As you become a more advanced learner of French you will find yourself needing connecting words or linking words to help make your point and seamlessly transition from one sentence to another. These French connecting words will enrich your vocabulary, speaking, and writing skills.
SINON – otherwise
Fais tes devoirs, sinon tu vas rater ton examen.
Do your homework, otherwise you are going to fail your exam.
EN REVANCHE – on the other hand; then again
Je ne sais pas parler chinois. En revanche, je parle couramment le français!
I don’t know how to speak Chinese. On the other hand, I speak French fluently!
PAR CONTRE – on the other hand; however
Tu n’aimes pas les champignons. Moi, par contre, je les adore.
You don’t like mushrooms. I, however, love them.
DE TOUTE FAÇON – anyway; anyhow
De toute façon, on se verra ce week-end.
Anyway, we’ll see each other this weekend.
D’AILLEURS – incidentally; by the way
Tu n’as pas fait le dîner. D’ailleurs, tu n’as même pas fait les courses.
You didn’t make dinner. Incidentally, you didn’t even go grocery shopping.
NÉANMOINS – nevertheless
Nous n’avons pas envie de déménager. Néanmoins, il faut le faire.
We don’t feel like moving house. Nevertheless, we have to do it.
EN FAIT – in fact; actually
En fait, ce que tu dis est faux.
Actually, what you’re saying is wrong.
AU FAIT – by the way; now that I think about it
Au fait, j’aime beaucoup ton parfum.
By the way, I really like your perfume.
PUISQUE – since; because; as
Puisque c’est comme ça, je ne viendrai pas ce soir.
Since it’s like that, I won’t come tonight.
C’EST-À-DIRE – that is; in other words
Je suis professeur de français, c’est-à-dire j’enseigne la langue française.
I am a French teacher, in other words I teach the French language.
EN EFFET – indeed
En effet, je voudrais bien y aller avec toi.
Indeed, I would like to go (there) with you.
JUSTEMENT – exactly; precisely; actually; as it happens
C’est justement ce que je te disais.
That’s precisely what I was telling you.
ACTUELLEMENT – currently; at the moment
Actuellement je travaille pour mon père.
At the moment I’m working for my father.
À LA FOIS – at the same time; at once
Je fais à la fois une soupe aux poireaux et du pain.
I’m making leek soup and bread at the same time.
SUBITEMENT – suddenly; abruptly
Mon oncle est décédé subitement l’année dernière.
My uncle died suddenly last year.
FINALEMENT – after all; in the end; at the end of the day
Finalement, j’ai décidé de croire son histoire.
In the end, I decided to believe his story.
POURTANT – yet; however
On nous a servi du champagne, et pourtant nous n’avions pas prévu de rester.
They served us champagne yet we had not planned on staying.
ENFIN – finally; at long last
Enfin ils se sont mariés.
They finally got married.
EN PLUS – then; on top of that
On a très bien mangé dans ce restaurant, et en plus le propriétaire est très aimable.
We ate very well at this restaurant, and on top of that the owner is very friendly.
Level B2: French Connecting Words
As you become a more advanced learner of French you will find yourself needing connecting words or linking words to help make your point and seamlessly transition from one sentence to another. These French connecting words will enrich your vocabulary, speaking, and writing skills.
➯ STEP 1: Lesson guide – Download your list of 20 French connecting words. See the words in French with English translations, then read the example sentences for each word also in French with English translations.
➯ STEP 2: Download and complete five exercises in short paragraph form. Fill in the blanks with connecting words that are provided in a word bank. For each exercise, don’t use any word more than once. Answer keys are provided.
