French transition words let you connect concepts and express yourself more effectively. Discover how to use them with our vocabulary lists and example sentences!

Imagine this: You are speaking French, confidently mixing words, yet something feels odd. Your phrases sound choppy and disconnected, like puzzle parts that do not quite fit. What is missing? Transitional words!

When I first started learning French, I always struggled with using transition words. I would forget about them, because in my brain, I was translating sentences from my native tongue to French instead of trying to think and speak like a French native. Eventually, with time and lots of practice, I mastered the use of French transition words and now I get the chance to teach you!

French transition words (or “mots de liaison”) are the glue that unites your speech and writing. They allow your sentences to flow organically, give nuance to your arguments, and help you sound more like a native speaker. Whether you are writing an essay, narrating a narrative, or conversing casually, these tiny words and phrases will help you improve your French skills. So, let us dig into the world of French transition words and learn how you may start usingthem right away!

Are you ready? Allons-y! (let’s go!)

What Are French Transition Words?

Transition words are bridging words or phrases that help ideas flow easily. They perform a variety of roles, including adding information, contrasting ideas, demonstrating cause and effect, and organizing thoughts. 

In English, we use terms like “although,” “therefore,” and “in addition.” In French, equivalents include “cependant,” “donc,” and “de plus.”

Mastering these words will benefit you:

• Improve the flow of your speech and writing.
• Sounds more natural and articulate.
• Express your ideas simply and coherently.

You may also like: 7 Tips To Sound More Casual In French: Speak Like A Native And Keep It Chill

How to Use French Transition Words

The key to effectively using transition words is context. You must choose the appropriate term based on your intended message. To make things easier, I have divided them into several categories and provided examples. Let us take a look!

1. Addition (Adding Information)

These words help you add more details or emphasize a point.

• Et (And) – J’aime lire et écrire. (I like to read and write.)
• De plus (Furthermore) – Il fait froid. De plus, il pleut. (It’s cold. Furthermore, it’s raining.)
• En outre (Moreover) – En outre, il est très intelligent. (Moreover, he is very intelligent.)
• Par ailleurs (Additionally) – Par ailleurs, elle parle trois langues. (Additionally, she speaks three languages.)
• Sans oublier que (Not to mention that) – Il est drôle, sans oublier qu’il est aussi très gentil. (He is funny, not to mention that he is also very kind.)

2. Contradiction & Opposition (Contrasting Ideas)

Use these to introduce opposing ideas.

• Mais (But) – J’aime le café, mais pas le thé. (I like coffee, but not tea.)
• Cependant (However) – Il pleut; cependant, nous sortons. (It’s raining; however, we are going out.)
• Toutefois (Nevertheless) – C’est difficile. Toutefois, je vais essayer. (It’s difficult. Nevertheless, I will try.)
• Néanmoins (Nonetheless) – Il est fatigué; néanmoins, il continue à travailler. (He is tired; nonetheless, he keeps working.)
• Or (Yet/But) – Il voulait partir, or il a changé d’avis. (He wanted to leave, yet he changed his mind.)

3. Cause & Effect (Explaining Reasons or Consequences)

These help explain why something happens or its consequences.

• Donc (So/Therefore) – Il a faim, donc il mange. (He is hungry, so he eats.)
• Alors (Then/So) – Il pleut, alors prends ton parapluie. (It’s raining, so take your umbrella.)
• C’est pourquoi (That’s why) – Il a étudié; c’est pourquoi il a réussi. (He studied; that’s why he succeeded.)
• Par conséquent (As a result) – Il a trop dépensé. Par conséquent, il est fauché. (He spent too much. As a result, he’s broke.)
• Puisque (Since) – Puisque tu es libre, viens avec nous ! (Since you’re free, come with us!)

4. Comparison (Drawing Parallels)

If you want to compare things, use these words.

• Comme (Like/As) – Elle danse comme une pro. (She dances like a pro.)
• De même (Likewise) – Il est fatigué. De même, moi aussi. (He is tired. Likewise, I am too.)
• Aussi (Also) – Elle parle anglais et aussi espagnol. (She speaks English and also Spanish.)
• Tout comme (Just like) – Tout comme son frère, il adore voyager. (Just like his brother, he loves traveling.)
• Ainsi que (As well as) – Il parle français ainsi que l’allemand. (He speaks French as well as German.)

5. Time (Talking About Time and Sequence)

These words help you order events or indicate time relationships.

• D’abord (First) – D’abord, nous allons au marché. (First, we’re going to the market.)
• Ensuite (Then/Next) – Ensuite, nous cuisinerons. (Next, we’ll cook.)
• Puis (Then) – Nous avons mangé, puis nous sommes sortis. (We ate, then we went out.)
• Enfin (Finally) – Enfin, nous sommes arrivés. (Finally, we arrived.)
• Dorénavant (From now on) – Dorénavant, je vais parler français tous les jours. (From now on, I will speak French every day.)

6. Examples & Clarifications

If you need to clarify something or give an example, try these.

• Par exemple (For example) – J’aime les fruits, par exemple, les pommes et les bananes. (I like fruits, for example, apples and bananas.)
• C’est-à-dire (That is to say) – Il est polyglotte, c’est-à-dire qu’il parle plusieurs langues. (He is a polyglot, that is to say, he speaks several languages.)
• Autrement dit (In other words) – Il est têtu, autrement dit, il ne change jamais d’avis. (He is stubborn, in other words, he never changes his mind.)

7. Conclusion & Summary

These words help you wrap up your thoughts or summarize.

• En conclusion (In conclusion) – En conclusion, il faut pratiquer pour progresser. (In conclusion, you have to practice to improve.)
• En résumé (In summary) – En résumé, c’était une expérience incroyable. (In summary, it was an incredible experience.)
• Bref (In short) – Bref, on s’est bien amusés. (In short, we had a great time.)

Final Thoughts: Put Your French to the Test!

Now that you have a comprehensive list of French transition words, try using them in your interactions and writing! Try employing a couple every time you talk or write in French, and they will soon become second nature.

Want to take your French to the next level? At Strommen, we offer tailored language classes with expert tutors who can help you master transition words and much more. Book a lesson today, and let’s get you speaking French like a pro!

À bientôt et bonne chance! (See you soon and good luck!)