Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Today’s lesson explains how to use the B1 intermediate conjunction pourtant in French, meaning “yet” and “however”. For example, c’est pourtant vrai (yet it’s true). All of the translations into English include: However, yet, nevertheless and still.
pourtant – IPA pronunciation [puʀ.tɑ̃]
French Word of the Day: Pourtant
Pourtant word origin
Pourtant (yet, however) is comprised of two words: pour (for) and tant (much). Pour in French comes from the Latin prō (for) and tant comes from the Latin tantum (such an amount).
How to Use “Pourtant”: Example Sentences
In this first example, et pourant can translate to both “yet” as well as “and yet”.
Il a échoué l’examen. Et pourtant, c’est un bon étudiant.
He failed the exam, and yet he’s a good student.
For this next example, plein de is synonymous with beaucoup de (a lot of).
C’est quelqu’un qui a fait plein d’études. Mais pourtant, il ne fait rien dans la vie.
He’s someone who studied a lot. Yet, he’s doing nothing in life.
In this sentence, je vais acheter is an example of the near future tense (going to).
Je vais acheter une nouvelle voiture, c’est cher mais pourtant necessaire.
I’m going to by the new car. It’s expensive but necessary.
Elle a consulté des médecins, mais pourtant rien n’a changé.
She consulted doctors yet nothing has changed.
This last example sentence is actually the main line from the chorus of the song Et pourtant by Charles Aznavour. Here, we’re translating pourtant to both yet and however. Je n’aime que toi (I only love you) uses the ne…que “only” negation.
Et pourtant, pourtant, je n’aime que toi. (song title)
And yet, however, I only love you.
Related French Vocabulary (conjunction)
- Ainsi – like this
- Puisque – since
- Car – because, for, as
- Bien que – even though, although
- Cependant – however, yet, nonetheless
- Pour que – so that, in order to
- Quoique – even though, although
- Pourvu que – provided that
Continue learning French!
Understand how and when to use conjunctions such as pourtant can be difficult for French learners. For a comprehensive overview of these tricky connector words, check out FrenchToday’s super useful lesson (has audio recordings).
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