et
/e/
The French word for "and" is et.
et is a conjunction used to connect two similar words, phrases or parts of a sentence. For emphasizing the continuation of a thought or acting as a transition, you can use the informal phrase et puis.
Meaning: used to connect two similar words, phrases, et cetera (conj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, it is common to use pis instead of et in informal speech.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The t in et is never pronounced, even when the following word begins with a vowel. There is no liaison with this word.
How do you pronounce it?
/e/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly attempt to perform a liaison by pronouncing the t in et before a vowel, but the t remains silent in all contexts.
Did you know?
- In Old French, et was often written simply as e. The t was brought back in the 12th century specifically to match the original Latin spelling.
- While et is the standard word for 'and', the informal Quebecois pis is so common that it can function as a filler word similar to 'so' or 'then' in English.
- When French speakers use et puis to transition between thoughts, it often functions as a rhythmic device to hold the floor while they think of the next point.
Examples in context
- Et ta sœur ?And your sister?This sentence shows how to use et to ask about someone's sister.Tatoeba #529634 by sacredceltic, translation #7357039 by Eccles17
- Bien. Et toi ?Fine. And you?This sentence demonstrates using et to ask a follow-up question.Tatoeba #10770 by sacredceltic, translation #377816 by saeb
- Et les voilà !And here they are.This sentence illustrates using et to introduce a statement about the presence of objects or people.Tatoeba #1301685 by sacredceltic, translation #1349846 by sacredceltic
- Je vais au cinéma et je m'achète du popcorn.I am going to the cinema and buying some popcorn.
- J'ai étudié le français, et aussi l'espagnol.I studied French, and also Spanish.
- 13505 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are looking at a grocery list in the kitchen.
- LéaOn a besoin de pain et de lait.We need bread and milk.
- HugoEt du café ?And some coffee?
- LéaOui, et du sucre aussi.Yes, and some sugar too.
- HugoD'accord, je vais faire les courses.Okay, I will go shopping.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “and” translations and entries et, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries et, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
