👉 See also: À l’instar — just like »
Confused by ainsi and ainsi que? These common French terms have distinct meanings and uses that often trip up learners. By the end of this lesson you’ll understand their functions. You’ll learn:
Meanings
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Meaning
The French word ainsi primarily functions as an adverb meaning “like this,” and “in this way”, indicating how something is done. On the other hand, the conjunction ainsi que can mean “as well as,” “along with,” or “together with,” used to connect similar or additional elements. When placed at the beginning of a sentence, ainsi que translates to “just as.”
Pronunciation
Example sentences
Like this, in this way
For our first two example sentences, ainsi translates to “like this” and “in this way”. This is a very common usage of ainsi.
Tiens la raquette dans tes mains ainsi !
Hold the racket in your hands like this!
C’est ainsi que j’ai fait la connaissance de votre maman.
It’s in this way that I met your mom (or “That’s how I met your mom”).
As well as
The next two example sentences use the conjunction ainsi que, which translates to: As well as, along with and together with and plus.
Il faut que j’étudie du vocabulaire ainsi que de la grammaire.
I need to study vocabulary as well as grammar.
Marie a commandé un café ainsi qu‘un croissant.
Marie ordered a coffee along with a croissant.
Just as
When appearing at the beginning of a sentence, ainsi que means “just as”. This sentence is in the pluperfect tense.
Ainsi que je l’avais prévu, il a commencé à pleuvoir.
Just as I’d predicted, it started raining.
Word origin
The Modern French word ainsi is derived from the Latin: ad (to) + in (in) + sic (thus).
Related lesson
References
