Everything You Need to Know About TOUT in French
The French word TOUT can be confusing because it has several different forms and uses. Depending on the sentence, you may see tout, tous, toute, or toutes.
It can function as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a pronoun. Each use follows its own rules, and there are a few important exceptions to remember.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to recognize and use all four forms, with examples and English translations.
You can also scroll down to watch my comprehensive video lesson on French TOUT and download a PDF of the complete lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
1. TOUT as an Adjective
When tout is used as an adjective, it modifies a noun. It generally means all, every, whole, or entire.
As an adjective, TOUT agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes.
There are four forms:
| Form | Gender and number |
|---|---|
| tout | Masculine singular |
| toute | Feminine singular |
| tous | Masculine plural |
| toutes | Feminine plural |
Examples:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| tout âge | every age |
| tout le temps | all the time |
| tout le livre | the whole book |
| tous mes amis | all my friends |
| tous les enfants | all the children |
| toute la classe | the whole class |
| toute ma vie | my whole life |
| toutes les chaises | all the chairs |
| toutes mes affaires | all my belongings |
TOUT with definite articles
You’ll frequently see TOUT used before definite articles (le, la, l’, les).
- tout le monde – everyone
- tout le livre – the whole book
- toute la journée – the whole day
- tout l’été – all summer
- toute l’année – the whole year
- tous les jours – every day
- toutes les semaines – every week
TOUT with possessive adjectives
TOUT can also appear before possessive adjectives such as mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, son, sa, and ses.
- tout mon argent – all my money
- toute ma famille – my whole family
- tous mes cousins – all my cousins
- toutes ses voitures – all his/her cars
TOUT with demonstrative adjectives
You can also use TOUT before ce, cet, cette, and ces.
- tout ce temps – all this time
- toute cette classe – this whole class
- tous ces devoirs – all this homework
- toutes ces étudiantes – all these female students
Remember: When TOUT is an adjective, it agrees with the noun that follows it.
For more examples and a closer look at this particular use, read my lesson on the French adjective TOUT.
2. TOUT as an Adverb
When tout is an adverb, it usually means very, completely, entirely, or quite.
It can modify an adjective or another adverb.
Here are some common expressions:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| tout droit | straight ahead |
| tout doucement | very gently / very slowly |
| tout à côté | right next to |
| tout à fait | completely / absolutely |
| tout simplement | quite simply |
Examples:
- Il faut continuer tout droit.
You must continue straight ahead. - Elle parle tout doucement.
She speaks very softly. - Nous habitons tout à côté.
We live right next door.
TOUT as an adverb before adjectives
This is where things get a little more complicated.
In most cases, tout is invariable when it is used as an adverb. This means it does not change to agree with the adjective it modifies.
With masculine adjectives, use TOUT regardless of whether the adjective is singular or plural.
- Il est tout content.
He is very happy. - Ils sont tout contents.
They are very happy.
Notice that even though contents is masculine plural, TOUT does not change.
The exception with feminine adjectives
When TOUT modifies a feminine adjective, there is an important exception.
If the feminine adjective begins with a consonant or an aspirated H, TOUT agrees with the adjective.
| Feminine adjective | Example |
|---|---|
| Singular | toute petite |
| Singular | toute honteuse |
| Plural | toutes petites |
| Plural | toutes honteuses |
Examples:
- C’est une toute petite fille.
She is a very small girl. - Elle est toute honteuse.
She is very embarrassed. - Elles sont toutes fières.
They are very proud. - Elles sont toutes honteuses.
They are very embarrassed.
However, when the feminine adjective begins with a vowel or a mute H, TOUT remains invariable.
Examples:
- Elle est tout heureuse.
She is very happy. - Elles sont tout étonnées.
They are very surprised.
The rule to remember:
- Masculine adjectives: TOUT is invariable.
- Feminine adjectives beginning with a consonant or aspirated H: use TOUTE or TOUTES to agree.
- Feminine adjectives beginning with a vowel or mute H: TOUT remains invariable.
This is one of the most important exceptions to learn when using TOUT as an adverb.
3. TOUT as a Noun
TOUT can also be used as a noun. In this use, it refers to the whole, the entirety, or the complete thing.
For example:
- Le tout est plus grand que la somme des parties.
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. - Il faut considérer le tout.
We need to consider the whole (the big picture).
You will also frequently encounter the expression rien du tout, which means nothing at all.
- Je ne comprends rien du tout.
I don’t understand anything at all. - Il ne mange rien du tout.
He doesn’t eat anything at all.
4. TOUT as a Neuter Pronoun
When TOUT is used as a neuter pronoun, it means everything or all.
It refers to an idea, situation, or thing rather than a specific person.
The form is always TOUT.
Examples:
- Tout va bien.
Everything is fine. - Tout est prêt.
Everything is ready. - J’ai tout compris.
I understood everything. - Tout le monde est arrivé.
Everyone has arrived.
Be careful with tout le monde. Although it means everyone, the expression is grammatically singular.
5. TOUT as a Plural Pronoun
TOUS and TOUTES can also function as plural pronouns. In this case, they mean all and replace or refer back to a plural group of people or things.
- TOUS replaces a masculine plural or mixed group.
- TOUTES replaces a feminine plural group.
Examples:
- Mes enfants sont tous contents.
My children are all happy. - Les filles sont toutes parties.
The girls have all left. - Nous sommes tous prêts.
We are all ready. (Masculine or mixed group.) - Elles sont toutes arrivées.
They have all arrived. (Feminine group.)
How to pronounce TOUS
One of the most important things to remember is that the final S in TOUS is pronounced when it is used as a plural pronoun.
Compare these two sentences:
1. TOUS as an adjective:
Tous les enfants sont contents.
All the children are happy.
Do not pronounce the S in tous.
2. TOUS as a pronoun:
Les enfants sont tous contents.
The children are all happy.
Pronounce the S in tous.
The pronunciation changes because the grammatical function changes.
For more examples and listening practice, read my separate lesson on French TOUT and how to pronounce TOUS.
6. TOUT vs TOUS: Why Pronunciation Matters
Sometimes the difference between TOUT and TOUS changes the meaning of a sentence.
Compare:
Ils sont tous contents.
They are all happy.
Here, TOUS is a plural pronoun. The S is pronounced.
Ils sont tout contents.
They are very happy.
Here, TOUT is an adverb modifying the adjective contents. The S is not pronounced.
The spelling and pronunciation help you understand whether you are saying that everyone is happy or that they are very happy.
This is an important distinction to practice because both constructions are grammatically correct.
7. Reference Chart: TOUT, TOUS, TOUTE, TOUTES
Use this chart as a quick reference when you need to decide which form of TOUT to use.
| Use | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective | all, every, whole | tous les jours, toute la journée |
| Adverb | very, completely | tout doucement, toutes fières |
| Noun | the whole, entirety | le tout, rien du tout |
| Neuter pronoun | everything | tout va bien |
| Plural pronoun | all | ils sont tous partis, elles sont toutes parties |
Remember that the form you choose depends on how TOUT is being used in the sentence.
Conclusion
The four forms tout, tous, toute, and toutes appear frequently in everyday French. The key is to recognize whether TOUT is functioning as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a pronoun.
Pay particular attention to the difference between TOUT as an adjective and TOUT as an adverb, as well as the pronunciation of TOUS when it is used as a pronoun.
With practice, these forms will become much easier to recognize and use correctly.
