Learning a new language opens the door to understanding different cultures and ways of thinking. French, known for its elegance and charm, has many expressions that convey subtle meanings. If you’re learning French, it’s helpful to know how to express thoughts like “although,” which is commonly used in daily conversations.
In this article, we’ll explore how to say “although” in French, along with other ways to express similar ideas. You’ll also learn how to respond when someone uses this word and practice with fun exercises. By the end, you’ll feel more comfortable using “although” in your French conversations.
Ways to Say “Although” in French
French offers several ways to say “although,” depending on the formality of the situation and the exact meaning you want to convey. Learning these variations will help you express yourself clearly and understand others better. Below are some of the most common ways to say “although” in French, including their pronunciation, meanings, and examples in everyday sentences.
1. Bien que
Pronunciation: byehn kuh
Meaning: Although, even though.
In a Sentence:
- Bien que je sois fatigué, je vais terminer mon travail. (Although I am tired, I will finish my work.)
- Bien que le temps soit mauvais, nous avons décidé de sortir. (Although the weather is bad, we decided to go out.)
2. Quoique
Pronunciation: kwah-kuh
Meaning: Although, though.
In a Sentence:
- Quoique ce soit difficile, il ne va pas abandonner. (Although it is difficult, he will not give up.)
- Quoique j’aie peu de temps, je vais vous aider. (Although I have little time, I will help you.)
3. Même si
Pronunciation: mehm see
Meaning: Even if, although.
In a Sentence:
- Même si tu es en retard, je t’attendrai. (Even if you are late, I will wait for you.)
- Même si elle n’aime pas la chanson, elle danse. (Although she doesn’t like the song, she dances.)
4. Malgré
Pronunciation: mahl-gray
Meaning: Despite, although.
In a Sentence:
- Malgré sa peur, il a parlé devant tout le monde. (Despite his fear, he spoke in front of everyone.)
- Elle est sortie malgré la pluie. (She went out although it was raining.)
5. Pourtant
Pronunciation: pooh-rahnt
Meaning: Yet, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il avait faim, pourtant il n’a pas mangé. (He was hungry, yet he didn’t eat.)
- Elle semblait heureuse, pourtant elle pleurait. (She seemed happy, although she was crying.)
6. Cependant
Pronunciation: suh-pahnd-ahn
Meaning: However, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il travaille dur; cependant, il n’est pas satisfait. (He works hard; however, he is not satisfied.)
- Elle aime son travail; cependant, elle pense souvent à voyager. (She loves her job; however, she often thinks of traveling.)
7. Malgré que
Pronunciation: mahl-gray kuh
Meaning: Although, even though (less formal).
In a Sentence:
- Malgré qu’il pleuve, nous sommes sortis. (Although it’s raining, we went out.)
- Elle est venue malgré qu’elle soit malade. (She came although she is sick.)
8. Alors que
Pronunciation: ah-lohr kuh
Meaning: Although, while.
In a Sentence:
- Alors qu’il est jeune, il est très sage. (Although he is young, he is very wise.)
- Elle sourit alors qu’elle est triste. (She smiles although she is sad.)
9. Tandis que
Pronunciation: tahn-dee kuh
Meaning: Although, while.
In a Sentence:
- Il travaille tandis qu’elle se repose. (He works while she rests.)
- Tandis qu’il n’est pas d’accord, il écoute attentivement. (Although he disagrees, he listens attentively.)
10. Bien qu’il soit
Pronunciation: byehn keel swah
Meaning: Although he is.
In a Sentence:
- Bien qu’il soit jeune, il a beaucoup d’expérience. (Although he is young, he has a lot of experience.)
- Bien qu’il soit tard, elle continue à lire. (Although it is late, she keeps reading.)
11. Malgré tout
Pronunciation: mahl-gray too
Meaning: Despite everything, although.
In a Sentence:
- Elle a réussi malgré tout. (She succeeded despite everything.)
- Il sourit malgré tout. (He smiles although everything seems difficult.)
12. En dépit de
Pronunciation: ahn day-pee duh
Meaning: In spite of, although.
In a Sentence:
- En dépit de sa colère, il est resté calme. (In spite of his anger, he remained calm.)
- Elle est partie en dépit de ses doutes. (She left despite her doubts.)
13. Toutefois
Pronunciation: too-tfwah
Meaning: However, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il est compétent; toutefois, il manque de confiance. (He is competent; however, he lacks confidence.)
- Elle aime cuisiner; toutefois, elle n’a pas beaucoup de temps. (She loves cooking; however, she doesn’t have much time.)
14. Néanmoins
Pronunciation: nay-ahm-wahn
Meaning: Nevertheless, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il est fatigué; néanmoins, il continue à travailler. (He is tired; nevertheless, he keeps working.)
- Elle a perdu; néanmoins, elle reste optimiste. (She lost; nevertheless, she remains optimistic.)
15. En revanche
Pronunciation: ahn ruh-vahnshe
Meaning: On the other hand, although.
In a Sentence:
- En revanche, il a beaucoup appris. (On the other hand, he learned a lot.)
- Elle n’aime pas lire; en revanche, elle adore écrire. (Although she doesn’t like reading, she loves writing.)
16. Sauf que
Pronunciation: sohf kuh
Meaning: Except that, although.
In a Sentence:
- Tout va bien, sauf qu’il manque quelque chose. (Everything is fine, except that something is missing.)
- Elle est heureuse, sauf qu’elle a des soucis au travail. (She is happy, although she has problems at work.)
17. Bien que ce soit
Pronunciation: byehn kuh suh swah
Meaning: Although it is.
In a Sentence:
- Bien que ce soit petit, c’est confortable. (Although it is small, it is comfortable.)
- Bien que ce soit difficile, il ne renonce pas. (Although it is difficult, he doesn’t give up.)
18. Quoiqu’il arrive
Pronunciation: kwah-keel ah-reev
Meaning: Whatever happens, although.
In a Sentence:
- Quoiqu’il arrive, elle reste calme. (Whatever happens, she stays calm.)
- Quoiqu’il arrive, nous serons là. (Although anything could happen, we will be there.)
19. Sinon
Pronunciation: see-nohn
Meaning: Otherwise, although.
In a Sentence:
- Dépêche-toi, sinon tu seras en retard. (Hurry up, although you might be late otherwise.)
- Il doit agir vite, sinon il perdra sa chance. (He must act quickly, although he might lose his chance otherwise.)
20. Nonobstant
Pronunciation: noh-nob-stahnt
Meaning: Notwithstanding, although.
In a Sentence:
- Nonobstant ses erreurs, il a réussi. (Notwithstanding his mistakes, he succeeded.)
- Elle a réussi nonobstant les défis. (She succeeded although there were challenges.)
21. Encore que
Pronunciation: ahn-kohr kuh
Meaning: Even though.
In a Sentence:
- Il s’est excusé, encore que cela semble insuffisant. (He apologized, even though it seems insufficient.)
- Elle est venue, encore que ce soit difficile pour elle. (She came, even though it was hard for her.)
22. Et pourtant
Pronunciation: ay pooh-rahnt
Meaning: And yet, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il connaît la vérité, et pourtant il garde le silence. (He knows the truth, and yet he remains silent.)
- Elle est fatiguée, et pourtant elle continue à aider. (She is tired, and yet she keeps helping.)
23. Par contre
Pronunciation: pahr kon-truh
Meaning: On the other hand, although.
In a Sentence:
- Par contre, il est très poli. (On the other hand, he is very polite.)
- Elle n’aime pas cuisiner; par contre, elle adore manger. (Although she doesn’t like cooking, she loves eating.)
24. D’autant plus que
Pronunciation: doh-tahn ploo kuh
Meaning: All the more so as.
In a Sentence:
- Il est heureux, d’autant plus qu’il a reçu une promotion. (He is happy, all the more so as he got a promotion.)
- Elle est fière, d’autant plus qu’elle a réussi seule. (She is proud, all the more so as she succeeded on her own.)
25. Pour autant que
Pronunciation: pooh-r oh-tahn kuh
Meaning: As long as, although.
In a Sentence:
- Pour autant que je sache, il est toujours ici. (As far as I know, he is still here.)
- Pour autant que ce soit vrai, cela ne change rien. (Although it might be true, it changes nothing.)
26. Certes
Pronunciation: sehrt
Meaning: Certainly, although.
In a Sentence:
- Certes, il a échoué, mais il a beaucoup appris. (Certainly, he failed, but he learned a lot.)
- Certes, elle est jeune, mais elle est très mature. (Certainly, she is young, but she is very mature.)
27. Si ce n’est que
Pronunciation: see suh nay kuh
Meaning: Except that, although.
In a Sentence:
- Tout est parfait, si ce n’est que la couleur est différente. (Everything is perfect, except that the color is different.)
- Si ce n’est qu’il pleut, la journée est agréable. (Although it’s raining, the day is pleasant.)
28. Encore bien que
Pronunciation: ahn-kohr byehn kuh
Meaning: Even though.
In a Sentence:
- Encore bien que ce soit difficile, il a réussi. (Even though it’s difficult, he succeeded.)
- Elle est venue, encore bien qu’elle soit fatiguée. (She came, even though she was tired.)
29. Du moment que
Pronunciation: dew moh-mahn kuh
Meaning: As long as, although.
In a Sentence:
- Du moment que tu es honnête, tout ira bien. (As long as you are honest, everything will be fine.)
- Du moment que ça marche, cela me convient. (Although it works, it suits me.)
30. Si toutefois
Pronunciation: see too-tfwah
Meaning: If, however; although.
In a Sentence:
- Si toutefois il change d’avis, fais-le-moi savoir. (If, however, he changes his mind, let me know.)
- Si toutefois elle accepte, tout sera réglé. (Although if she accepts, everything will be resolved.)
31. Malgré lui
Pronunciation: mahl-gray lwee
Meaning: Despite himself, although.
In a Sentence:
- Il a réussi malgré lui. (He succeeded despite himself.)
- Elle a participé malgré elle. (She participated although unwillingly.)
32. Au risque de
Pronunciation: oh reesk duh
Meaning: At the risk of, although.
In a Sentence:
- Au risque de paraître insistant, je vais poser une autre question. (At the risk of seeming insistent, I will ask another question.)
- Il a agi ainsi, au risque de se tromper. (He acted like this, although he risked being wrong.)
33. Pourtant même
Pronunciation: pooh-rahnt mehm
Meaning: Even though, although.
In a Sentence:
- Pourtant même fatiguée, elle a aidé jusqu’au bout. (Even though she was tired, she helped until the end.)
- Il a accepté, pourtant même il avait des doutes. (He agreed, although he still had doubts.)
Other Ways to Say “Although” in French
Below is a table of additional ways to say “although” in French. Each option includes its pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences to help you understand and use them effectively.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Au contraire | oh kohn-trehr | On the contrary | Au contraire, il a été très utile. (On the contrary, he was very helpful.)Elle n’a pas échoué; au contraire, elle a excellé. (She didn’t fail; on the contrary, she excelled.) |
| En tout cas | ahn too kah | In any case, although | En tout cas, il faut essayer. (In any case, you have to try.)En tout cas, elle a fait de son mieux. (In any case, she did her best.) |
| Malgré cela | mahl-gray suh-lah | Despite that, although | Malgré cela, il continue à sourire. (Despite that, he continues to smile.)Elle travaille malgré cela. (She works despite that.) |
| À condition que | ah kohn-dee-syohn kuh | Provided that, although | À condition que tu sois prudent, tout ira bien. (Provided that you are careful, everything will be fine.)À condition que nous réussissions, cela sera parfait. (Although we succeed, it will be perfect.) |
| Si bien que | see byehn kuh | So much so that, although | Il a couru si bien qu’il est arrivé le premier. (He ran so well that he arrived first.)Elle a travaillé si bien qu’elle a obtenu une récompense. (She worked so well that she received an award.) |
| Même encore | mehm ahn-kohr | Even still, although | Même encore, il refuse de partir. (Even still, he refuses to leave.)Même encore, elle doute de ses choix. (Even still, she doubts her choices.) |
| Cela dit | suh-lah dee | That said, although | Cela dit, il faut faire attention. (That said, you have to be careful.)Cela dit, elle a pris une bonne décision. (That said, she made a good decision.) |
| À défaut de | ah day-foh duh | For lack of, although | À défaut de preuves, il reste innocent. (For lack of evidence, he remains innocent.)Elle a essayé à défaut de meilleures options. (She tried for lack of better options.) |
Responses to “Although” in French
When someone uses “although” in French, you can respond in ways that acknowledge or build upon their statement. These responses can range from agreeing to politely disagreeing or adding more context. Below are various ways to respond to a sentence containing “although” in French, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences.
1. C’est vrai
Pronunciation: say vreh
Meaning: That’s true.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Bien que ce soit difficile, je vais essayer. (Although it’s difficult, I will try.)
Person 2: C’est vrai, mais tu peux réussir. (That’s true, but you can succeed.)
2. Je comprends
Pronunciation: juh kohm-prahnd
Meaning: I understand.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Quoique j’aie peu de temps, je vais venir. (Although I have little time, I will come.)
Person 2: Je comprends, merci de faire l’effort. (I understand, thank you for making the effort.)
3. Tu as raison
Pronunciation: tew ah reh-zohn
Meaning: You’re right.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Malgré ses erreurs, il a fait du bon travail. (Although he made mistakes, he did a good job.)
Person 2: Oui, tu as raison. (Yes, you’re right.)
4. Peut-être
Pronunciation: puh-tehtr
Meaning: Maybe.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Même si elle est en retard, elle arrivera bientôt. (Although she is late, she will arrive soon.)
Person 2: Peut-être, mais il faut l’appeler. (Maybe, but we should call her.)
5. C’est possible
Pronunciation: say poh-see-bluh
Meaning: It’s possible.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Bien qu’il pleuve, je vais au parc. (Although it’s raining, I’m going to the park.)
Person 2: C’est possible, mais prends un parapluie. (It’s possible, but take an umbrella.)
6. Je ne suis pas sûr(e)
Pronunciation: juh nuh swee pah sewer
Meaning: I’m not sure.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Alors qu’il est jeune, il est très sage. (Although he is young, he is very wise.)
Person 2: Je ne suis pas sûr, mais il semble bien réfléchi. (I’m not sure, but he seems thoughtful.)
7. Ça dépend
Pronunciation: sah day-pahn
Meaning: It depends.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Malgré tout, il pourrait changer d’avis. (Although everything, he might change his mind.)
Person 2: Ça dépend de lui. (It depends on him.)
8. Tu crois ?
Pronunciation: tew krwah
Meaning: Do you think so?
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Bien que ce soit compliqué, cela en vaut la peine. (Although it’s complicated, it’s worth it.)
Person 2: Tu crois ? J’ai des doutes. (Do you think so? I have doubts.)
9. Peut-être pas
Pronunciation: puh-tehtr pah
Meaning: Maybe not.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Quoiqu’il fasse, cela ne changera rien. (Although he does something, it won’t change anything.)
Person 2: Peut-être pas, mais c’est bien d’essayer. (Maybe not, but it’s good to try.)
10. Oui, mais
Pronunciation: wee meh
Meaning: Yes, but.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Bien qu’il soit tard, je vais rester. (Although it’s late, I will stay.)
Person 2: Oui, mais tu devrais te reposer. (Yes, but you should rest.)
11. Pas forcément
Pronunciation: pah fohr-say-mahn
Meaning: Not necessarily.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Même si tu travailles dur, tu n’auras pas toujours du succès. (Although you work hard, you won’t always succeed.)
Person 2: Pas forcément, parfois l’effort paie. (Not necessarily, sometimes effort pays off.)
12. C’est une bonne idée
Pronunciation: say tewn bohn ee-day
Meaning: That’s a good idea.
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Bien que ce soit risqué, nous devrions essayer. (Although it’s risky, we should try.)
Person 2: C’est une bonne idée, allons-y ! (That’s a good idea, let’s go!)
Exercise to Practice Using “Although” in French
Below is a list of 12 fill-in-the-blank sentences to help you practice the various ways to say “although” in French. The sentences include real-life situations relatable to everyday life. Try to complete each blank using the correct phrase for “although.”
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- __________ je sois occupé, je vais répondre à ton message.
- Elle est partie __________ il pleuvait.
- __________ il soit tard, nous continuons à discuter.
- __________ elle soit fatiguée, elle aide toujours ses amis.
- Il a réussi __________ les défis qu’il a rencontrés.
- __________ ce soit difficile, il ne renonce jamais.
- __________ elle ne soit pas sûre, elle a pris une décision.
- __________ ils n’ont pas beaucoup d’argent, ils voyagent souvent.
- Nous avons décidé d’aller au parc __________ il fait froid.
- Elle a souri __________ elle était triste.
- __________ tout le monde soit parti, il est resté jusqu’à la fin.
- Il a accepté l’offre __________ il aurait préféré autre chose.
Answers
- Bien que je sois occupé, je vais répondre à ton message. (Although I am busy, I will reply to your message.)
- Elle est partie malgré qu’ il pleuvait. (She left although it was raining.)
- Même si il soit tard, nous continuons à discuter. (Even though it’s late, we continue to chat.)
- Alors qu’ elle soit fatiguée, elle aide toujours ses amis. (Although she is tired, she always helps her friends.)
- Il a réussi malgré les défis qu’il a rencontrés. (He succeeded despite the challenges he faced.)
- Bien que ce soit difficile, il ne renonce jamais. (Although it is difficult, he never gives up.)
- Quoique elle ne soit pas sûre, elle a pris une décision. (Although she is not sure, she made a decision.)
- Malgré qu’ ils n’ont pas beaucoup d’argent, ils voyagent souvent. (Although they don’t have much money, they travel often.)
- Nous avons décidé d’aller au parc même si il fait froid. (We decided to go to the park although it is cold.)
- Elle a souri alors qu’ elle était triste. (She smiled although she was sad.)
- Bien que tout le monde soit parti, il est resté jusqu’à la fin. (Although everyone had left, he stayed until the end.)
- Il a accepté l’offre quoique il aurait préféré autre chose. (He accepted the offer although he would have preferred something else.)
Conclusion
Learning how to say “although” in French adds depth and clarity to your conversations. It helps you express contrast, show flexibility in thinking, and engage in more nuanced discussions. Whether you use common phrases like bien que or more formal ones like malgré que, each option enriches your vocabulary and communication skills.
Practicing these expressions regularly will build your confidence in using them in real-life scenarios. With time and practice, you’ll find it easier to choose the right phrase based on the situation. Keep exploring and using these phrases in conversations, and you’ll soon speak French with greater fluency and ease.