Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| de toute façon | /də tut fa.sɔ̃/ /tfa.sɔ̃/ |
| quand même | /kɑ̃ mɛm/ |
| malgré tout | /mal.ɡʁe tu/ |
De toute façon and en tout cas are used to mean 'anyway' or 'in any case'. De toute façon is often used at the beginning or end of a sentence to dismiss a point or to indicate that a decision is final regardless of new information. Peu importe can also serve as a substitute, meaning 'whatever' or 'no matter'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase de toute façon literally translates to 'of all ways' or 'in any way'.
Which one should you use?
Quand même is used to express a sense of 'despite that' or 'even so', often used when something happens despite an obstacle. Malgré tout is more formal and specifically emphasizes that something is happening 'despite everything' that has occurred.
How do you pronounce it?
/də tut fa.sɔ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use 'anyway' to change the subject, but in French, quand même is rarely used for this purpose. de toute façon or en tout cas is more appropriate for transitioning.
Did you know?
- In spoken French, quand même is often used as a standalone exclamation to express indignation or disbelief, similar to saying 'Really now!' or 'That is going too far!' in English.
- The word malgré comes from the words mal meaning 'bad' and gré meaning 'will'. It literally translates to 'bad will', describing something that happens against one's wishes.
- While quand même translates to 'anyway', it is frequently used to soften a request or a contradiction to avoid appearing too aggressive, serving as a linguistic cushion in social interactions.
Examples in context
- Je t'aime quand même.I love you anyway.This sentence is useful for expressing affection despite circumstances using quand même.Tatoeba #5552229 by sacredceltic, translation #3184090 by Hybrid
- Je l'aime malgré tout.I love her anyway.This sentence is useful for expressing affection despite everything using malgré tout.Tatoeba #5552237 by sacredceltic, translation #3248415 by Hybrid
- Je t'aime quand même !I love you anyway!This sentence is useful for expressing affection with emphasis using quand même.Tatoeba #6112621 by christian63, translation #5701840 by zumley
- Quoi qu'il en soit, nous devons organiser une réunion dès que possible.Anyway, we need to organize a meeting as soon as possible.
- Bref, je ne suis pas intéressé.Anyway, I'm not interested.
- Quoi qu'il en soit, je suis ravi de faire votre connaissance.Anyway, pleased to meet you
- De toute façon, parlons d'autre chose.Anyway, let's talk about something else.
- Quand même, ça ne me dérange pas.Anyway, it doesn't bother me
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are discussing whether to go to a concert.
- LucasLe concert est annulé.The concert is cancelled.
- ChloéC'est dommage, mais on ne peut pas y aller de toute façon.That's a shame, but we can't go anyway.
- LucasTu as raison, Chloé.You are right, Chloé.
- ChloéOn peut rester à la maison.We can stay at home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anyway” translations and entries de toute façon, quand même, malgré tout, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, de toute façon, façon, malgré, même, quand, tout, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
