Published August 12, 2024 · Updated May 15, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson • Native Audio by Marie Assel Cambier
The French connector word car means “because” and you’ll hear it all the time in written and formal spoken language. This lesson will explain whether it is interchangeable with parce que (because) and show you how to use it with audio example sentences.
📘 What does “car” mean in French?
The French word car is a conjunction mainly meaning “because” but can also translate to “for” and “as”. While both parce que and car mean “because”, car sounds more formal and appears more often in writing than in everyday spoken French. In French, un car is also a word for a bus or coach.
🎧 How to pronounce “car” in French
The pronunciation of car is /kaʁ/ (IPA), which sounds roughly like “kahr”.
📝 Examples of “car” in French sentences
Je sors car il fait beau.
I’m going out because it’s nice out.
Attention aux piétons, car ils marchent dans la rue.
Watch out for the pedestrians because they’re walking in the street.
Fais gaffe à ce mec car il est très malin.
Watch out for that guy because he’s very clever.
Mes amis sont allés en Espagne en car.
My friends went to Spain by bus.
💡 Car vs parce que – What’s the difference?
Both car and parce que mean “because”. However, parce que is much more common in everyday spoken French, while car sounds more formal and is used more often in writing, books, articles, and careful speech. In most cases, they are interchangeable, but French speakers usually prefer parce que in conversation.
➞ Je reste à la maison car je suis fatigué.
I’m staying home because I’m tired.
➞ Je reste à la maison parce que je suis fatigué.
I’m staying home because I’m tired.
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- parce que — because
- puisque — since, because
- comme — since, as
- grâce à — thanks to
- à cause de — because of
- donc — therefore, so
- alors — so, then
- en raison de — due to
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