eventually, finally, possibly

The English adverbs “eventually,” “finally” and “possibly” are often translated wrongly into French by learners. People learn techniques like converting “normal” (normal, in English) into “normalement” (normally) and général (general, in English) into “généralement” (generally). So they imagine that “eventuel” would convert into “eventuellement” and “possible” would become “possiblement.” But that is not the case.

Firstly, “eventuel” in French does not mean “eventual” in English. It means “possible” or “potential.” So “eventuellement” means “possibly.”

  • il y aura Pierre et éventuellement Élodie (Pierre will be there and possibly Élodie)

So how do you translate “eventually” into French? That would be “finalement,” which can also mean “in the end” or “finally,” as well as meaning “in fact,” or “after all.”

  • Finalement, ils sont arrivés avec une heure de retard (In the end they arrived an hour late)

So is “finalement” the best translation for “finally?” Yes, it’s fine, but you may prefer to use “enfin” to mean “finally.” For a start, it’s quicker to say, to write and to type, which makes it a more popular choice.

  • Mon colis est enfin arrivé ! (My parcel has finally arrived!)

And if “eventuellement” means “possibly,” is it the best and most common way to translate “possibly” into French? Actually, no. The easiest way to translate “possibly” is “peut-être,” which also can mean “perhaps” or “maybe.”

  • il va peut-être choisir l’autre (Possibly he will choose the other one)

Does that mean “possiblement” can’t be used to mean “possibly”? Actually, it is OK to use “possiblement” to mean “possibly.” But it is quicker to say “peut-être” than “possiblement,” so there is a natural preference for the former, which only has two syllables to the latter’s four.

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • verbs with à

    Some French verbs require the preposition à before their object, whether that object is a noun or an infinitive. Learning these verbs as fixed expressions is necessary because the preposition is not optional. Verbs followed by “à” before a person or thing These verbs require à when the object is a person or thing. Verbs…

  • les uns…les autres

    The French phrase “les uns… les autres” is used to refer to two groups of people or things in a general way. It means “some… others” or “some… the others” in English. Meaning and Usage The phrase is often used to compare or describe how two groups interact or differ. It can also show reciprocity,…

  • attendre que

    The French phrase “attendre que” is commonly used to mean “to wait until” or “to wait for (something to happen)”. It is used when someone is expecting or waiting for a certain action or event, often requiring the subjunctive mood for the verb that follows “que.” How “Attendre que” Differs from “Attendre” + Noun It’s…

  • besoin

    The French word “besoin” is a noun that translates to “need” in English. It is commonly used to express necessity or desire for something. Basic Meaning of “Besoin” The word “besoin” is mostly used to indicate that someone needs something or has a requirement. The typical structure for expressing need in French is: “Avoir besoin…

  • en and y

    The difference between the French pronouns “en” and “y” In French, the pronouns “en” and “y” help avoid repeating words in sentences by replacing certain phrases. However, they are used in different situations. Here’s a simple guide to understanding when and how to use them. The Pronoun “Y” “Y” is used to replace: Examples: The…

  • Toutatis

    The name Toutatis (also spelled Teutates) comes from the ancient Celtic world. He was one of several deities worshipped by the Gauls before the Roman conquest of Gaul. His name is believed to mean “god of the tribe” or “god of the people”, from the Celtic root teuta- meaning “tribe” or “people”. Toutatis was not…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *