tous les deux
/tu le dø/
The English phrase "both of them" is expressed in French as tous les deux.
tous les deux is used to refer to two people or things together.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "all the two".
Which one should you use?
The form you choose depends on the gender of the people or things you are referring to. Use tous les deux if the two people are both male or if there is a mixed group of males and females. Use toutes les deux if the two people or things being referred to are both feminine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes to toutes les deux to accommodate feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/tu le dø/
Did you know?
- While tous les deux is standard, French speakers often use the word ensemble to express that two people are doing something together, even when 'both' is the intended meaning in English.
- The article les in this phrase is actually a descendant of the Latin 'illum', which originally functioned as a demonstrative pronoun like 'those'.
- In French, the concept of 'both' is handled using the word tous, which is the same word used for 'all' when referring to a larger group.
Examples in context
- Ils ont tous les deux faim.Both of them are hungry.This sentence shows how to use tous les deux to describe a state of being.Tatoeba #6461251 by Aiji, translation #2645545 by CK
- Ils ont tous les deux souri.Both of them smiled.This sentence shows how to use tous les deux to describe an action in the past.Tatoeba #8984647 by Micsmithel, translation #6357639 by CK
- Tous les deux se mirent à rire.Both of them started laughing.This sentence shows how to use tous les deux as the subject of a sentence.Tatoeba #2576545 by sacredceltic, translation #2542690 by CK
- Les deux garçons sont talentueux.Both boys are talented.
- Les deux équipes jouent bien.Both teams play well.
- Les deux filles veulent aller au cinéma.Both girls want to go to the movies.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about two friends who are arriving late.
- HugoOù sont Marc et Julie ?Where are Marc and Julie?
- ManonIls sont en retard tous les deux.Both of them are late.
- HugoEst-ce qu'ils arrivent ensemble ?Are they arriving together?
- ManonOui, ils sont dans le même taxi tous les deux.Yes, both of them are in the same taxi.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tous les deux, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deux, les, tous, tous les deux, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
