Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| certainement | /sɛʁ.tɛn.mɑ̃/ |
| bien sûr | /bjɛ̃ syʁ/ |
| pour sûr | /puʁ syʁ/ |
| évidemment | /e.vi.da.mɑ̃/ |
These terms are used to provide an emphatic affirmative answer.
Which one should you use?
bien sûr is the most common way to say 'certainly' or 'of course' when you are responding to a question or a request to show agreement. certainement is often used to express a high degree of probability or certainty regarding a fact. évidemment is used when the answer is 'certainly' because the situation is obvious or self-evident.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a formal way to express certainty or agreement that conveys a sense of confidence, you can use Assurément. In a relaxed or informal setting, bien sûr que oui is a common way to express certainty. pour sûr is a colloquial or old-fashioned way to express certainty, similar to the English 'for sure'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word certainement is pronounced /sɛʁ.tɛn.mɑ̃/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- While bien sûr means 'of course', the word sûr literally means 'safe'. This comes from the Latin sēcūrus, which described a state of being without care or danger.
- In some contexts, using évidemment can sound condescending to a native speaker. It implies that the answer is so obvious that the person asking the question should have already known it.
- While certainement is a direct cognate of 'certainly', using it to answer a request can sometimes sound overly formal or even slightly dismissive in a French conversation.
Examples in context
- Je le ferai certainement.I'll certainly do this.This sentence uses certainement.Tatoeba #1072114 by sacredceltic, translation #676938 by yessoos
- J'irai certainement le voir.I'll certainly go and see him.Tatoeba #3253713 by sacredceltic, translation #30524 by CK
- Tom m'a certainement trompé.Tom certainly fooled me.Tatoeba #5586490 by guyniv, translation #1095479 by CK
- Vous pouvez bien sûr compter sur moi pour assister à la réunion.You can certainly count on me to attend the meeting.
- Votre idée est assurément brillante, Madame.Your idea is certainly brilliant, Madam.
- Veux-tu sortir ce soir ? – Bien sûr que oui !Do you want to go out tonight? – Certainly!
- Tu peux certainement compter sur moi pour t'aider à déménager.You can certainly count on me to help you move.
- 118 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel asks Chloé for help with a task.
- GabrielPeux-tu m'aider avec ce dossier, Chloé ?Can you help me with this file, Chloé?
- ChloéCertainement, je m'en occupe tout de suite.Certainly, I'll take care of it right away.
- GabrielC'est vraiment gentil de ta part.That is really kind of you.
- ChloéJe t'en prie, Gabriel.You're welcome, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “certainly” translations and entries certainement, bien sûr, pour sûr, évidemment, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, certainement, pour, sûr, évidemment, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
