Level B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Today’s French word of the day is alors que (B2), meaning ‘while’, ‘when’, ‘as well as’, ‘even though’ and ‘whereas’.
alors que – IPA pronunciation /alɔʀ kə/
Alors que example sentences
For this first example, alors que can translate to ‘when’ or ‘while’. It’s used to connect to simultaneous actions.
Le téléphone a sonné alors que nous étions à table.
The phone rang while we were at the table.
For these next two sentences, alors que translates to ‘even though’ and ‘whereas’. It is used to express the contrast of two opposing points or ideas.
Cet homme gagne bien sa vie alors qu’il travaille très peu.
This man makes a good living even though he works very little.
Je préfère la glace au chocolat alors que ma femme préfère la glace à la vanille.
I prefer chocolate ice cream whereas my wife prefers vanilla ice cream.
For this last sentence, translations of alors que include ‘even though’ and ‘despite the fact that’.
Il m’a critiqué alors que j’attendais des compliments !
He criticized me even though I was expecting compliments.
Continue learning French!
Now that you’ve mastered alors que, we suggest checking our our lesson explaining bien que, meaning ‘even though’ and ‘although’. We also suggest looking into this lesson explaining French conjunctions!
More related lessons
- When in French: quand vs. lorsque
- Alors – so, then
- Cependant – However, yet, nevertheless
- Pourtant – Yet, However
- Quoique – Even though, although
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