In today’s lesson we’ll look at several ways to use the adverb toujours, meaning always. In some instance, toujours can also mean “still”, as in “I still haven’t”. Let’s get right into the example sentences!
toujours
always
Word origin
According to Wiktionary.org, the modern French word toujours (always) comes from Middle French tousjours and Old French toz jorz. The word toujours combines the words tous (all) and jours (days). Another Old French word for always, sempres, came from the Latin word semper.
Example sentences
Always
Our first two example sentences demonstrate the most common usage of toujours, meaning “always”. Se lever is a reflexive verb.
Je me lève toujours de bonne heure.
I always get up early.
Je mange toujours la salade à la fin du repas.
I always eat salad at the end of the meal.
Still
Another translation of toujours is “still”. If you look at the following two example sentences, you’ll see that the underlying meaning of toujours really is “always”. Note that for this context, the adverb encore (still, yet, again) is a synonym.
Ça fait trois ans que j’étudie le français et j’ai toujours les mêmes problèmes de prononciation.
I’ve been studying French for three years and I still have the same pronunciation problems.
In this example sentence, pourriez-vous is the conditional tense of the verb pouvoir (can, to be able). Note that the ne in the ne…pas negation has omitted in this example sentence to make it less formal.
Attendez. J’ai toujours pas compris. Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
Wait – I still haven’t understood. Could you repeat, please?
Forever
Depuis toujours translates to “since always” and can translate to “forever”.
La famille habite dans la maison depuis toujours.
The family has lived in the house forever.
Expressions
The word toujours can be found in a several expressions. Here are some examples:
- C’est toujours ça de pris ! At least that’s something!
- C’est toujours la même chanson ! It’s always the same old story!
- Ça tient toujours ? Are we still on?
- Dis toujours ! Fire away! / Go ahead!
French Lessons by David Issokson
Conclusion
Et voilà ! You know now how to use toujours in French! Now check out our lessons covering the adverbs assez (quite, rather) and peut-être (maybe).
