The French phrase d’ici là means “between now and then” or “by that time.” It points to a future moment and refers to everything that will happen or change in the interval from the present until that moment. It is always about a future point already mentioned or understood from context.

You cannot use d’ici là for a past event. It only works with future time. The phrase often carries a sense of uncertainty or prediction, because the speaker cannot know for sure what will occur before that future date.

Breakdown of the words

• d’ici = from here (in time)
• là = there (in time, meaning the future point)

Together: from now until that future point.

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Common uses and examples

D’ici là appears most often in spoken French and in informal writing. It can introduce a whole clause or stand as a short time marker.

Examples:

• Le concert est dans trois mois. D’ici là, je vais apprendre toutes les chansons. – “The concert is in three months. Between now and then, I am going to learn all the songs.”
• Il pleut aujourd’hui, mais d’ici là, le temps aura changé. – “It is raining today, but by that time, the weather will have changed.”
• Nous devons rendre le projet vendredi. D’ici là, travaillons chaque soir. – “We have to hand in the project on Friday. Until then, let us work every evening.”
• Elle part en vacances en août. D’ici là, elle finira son rapport. – “She is going on holiday in August. By then, she will finish her report.”
• Le magasin ouvre à dix heures. D’ici là, patientons dehors. – “The shop opens at ten o’clock. Until then, let us wait outside.”
• D’ici là, j’aurai changé d’avis, c’est sûr. – “By that time, I will have changed my mind, for sure.”

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Use with future tenses

You often see d’ici là with the future tense or the future perfect (will have done). This shows that the action finishes before the future moment.

Examples:

• D’ici là, nous aurons déménagé. – “By then, we will have moved.”
• D’ici là, tu auras compris la leçon. – “By that time, you will have understood the lesson.”

You can also use the present tense for actions that will continue up to that future point:

• D’ici là, je reste chez moi. – “Until then, I am staying at home.”

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Synonyms and alternatives

• entre-temps – “in the meantime” (neutral, less future-oriented)
• en attendant – “while waiting” (more active, implies doing something during the wait)
• d’ici ce moment-là – “from now until that moment” (more emphatic)
• jusque-là – “until then” (can also refer to a past point, so context matters)
• d’ici à ce que + subjunctive – “until the time that” (introduces a whole clause)

Compare:

• En attendant, finis tes devoirs. – “In the meantime, finish your homework.” (focus on the waiting action)
• D’ici là, finis tes devoirs. – “Between now and then, finish your homework.” (focus on the deadline)
• Jusque-là, tout allait bien. – “Until then, everything was going well.” (past time possible)
• D’ici là, tout ira bien. – “By then, everything will be fine.” (future only)

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Common mistakes

Do not use d’ici là when the future point is not clear. The listener must already know which “there” you mean.

Wrong: D’ici là, je serai prêt. – (if no previous mention of a specific future event)

Right: La réunion est à 15h. D’ici là, je serai prêt. – “The meeting is at 3 p.m. By then, I will be ready.”

Do not confuse d’ici là with d’ici à + time expression. D’ici à means “within” or “by” a certain duration:

• D’ici à demain, tu dois répondre. – “By tomorrow, you must reply.” (not d’ici là)

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Summary

• D’ici là refers to the time between now and a specified future moment.
• It takes future or future perfect tenses most often.
• It never refers to the past.
• Alternatives include entre-temps, en attendant, and jusque-là (with care).
• The phrase requires a clear future reference point from context.