Level A2 (Upper Beginner)
The French word of the day is alors, which has many translations including so, therefore, well/now and then.
alors – IPA pronunciation /a.lɔʁ/
“Alors” – Take A Deep Dive Into This Useful French Word!
Alors example sentences
The most basic and frequent usage of alors equates to the English ‘well’, ‘so’ and ‘now’. This is a discourse marker or filler word.
Alors, qu’est-ce que tu fais ce soir?
So, what are you doing tonight?
Alors can come at the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
Qu’est-ce que vous voulez faire alors?
Well, what do you want to do?
Alors, dis-moi ce que tu veux!
Well, tell me what you want?
Alors can also translate to ‘so then’ as to engage somebody in conversation.
Alors, parle-moi de ta nouvelle maison en France!
So then, tell me about your new house in France.
For this sentence, alors can translate to ‘so’ or ‘therefore’ and is being used to express the consequence or result of something previously stated.
J’étais complètement abasourdi, alors, je n’ai rien dit.
I was totally dumbfounded, so I didn’t say anything.
In these two sentences alors translates to ‘then’ as in ‘at that time’.
J’étais alors bénévole en Afrique.
I was then a volunteer in Africa.
Je suis arrivé au restaurant, et alors je me suis rendu compte que j’avais oublié mon portefeuille.
I arrive at the restaurant and then realized I’d forgotten my wallet.
Other usages and expressions
‘Alors là !’ is an expression that translates to ‘Well!’ or ‘Well there!’
Alors là, ce n’est vraiment pas mon problème! Well, that’s really not my problem!
Alors là, je n’ai rien compris! Well, I don’t understand anything!
The expression ‘Et alors ?’ can come at the end of phrase to mean ‘so what?’ or ‘so?’ The meanings here can translate to ‘What does that change’? or ‘Who cares’?
C’est vrai. La France n’est pas le meilleur pays du monde. – Et alors ?
It’s true. France isn’t best country in the world. – So?
Zut alors! is an expression that means ‘darn it’, ‘shoot’ or ‘shucks!’
Zut alors! J’ai encore brûlé le gâteau!
Darn! I burned the cake again!
Continue learning French!
Now that you’ve mastered the basic usages of alors, check out our lesson covering the conjunction alors que, which has several translations including ‘while’ and ‘as well as’. You might also enjoy our lesson covering the song lyrics of Alors on danse by Stromae.
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