Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| soir | /swaʁ/ (Europe) /swɑːʁ/ (Canada, French, standard) |
masculine |
| crépuscule | /kʁe.pys.kyl/ | masculine |
The word soir is the standard way to refer to the time of day between dusk and night. While soir refers to the time itself, the related word soirée is used to describe the duration or the experience of the evening, such as an evening event or gathering.
Which one should you use?
Soir refers to the period of the evening, whereas crépuscule specifically refers to the twilight or the period of fading light at dusk.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "this evening", use the demonstrative adjective ce with soir to form ce soir.
How do you pronounce it?
/swaʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse soir with soirée. Use soir when referring to a point in time, but use soirée when you want to describe the duration or the experience of the evening.
When do people say it?
When greeting someone in the evening, it is much more common to use the compound word bonsoir rather than just saying soir.
Did you know?
- The word soir is a direct descendant of the Latin word sērus, which actually meant 'late' rather than 'evening'.
- While bonsoir is a greeting, saying bonne soirée is a way to say 'goodbye' and wish someone a pleasant evening as they leave.
- In French, crépuscule is often used in literary contexts to evoke a mood of melancholy or the end of an era.
Examples in context
- Soir, ça va ?Evening! All right?This sentence shows how soir can be used as a greeting.Tatoeba #1114539 by sacredceltic, translation #11097720 by sundown
- Je pars ce soir.I leave this evening.This sentence demonstrates the use of ce soir to mean "this evening".Tatoeba #5155946 by Ceriz, translation #2436103 by AlanF_US
- Je la vois ce soir.I'm seeing her this evening.This sentence provides another example of using ce soir to mean "this evening".Tatoeba #1340795 by sacredceltic, translation #243266 by CK
- Ce soir, nous allons au théâtre.Tonight, we are going to the theater.
- J'ai une soirée chez moi demain.I'm hosting a party at my place tomorrow evening.
- On se voit ce soir?Are we meeting tonight?
- J'ai assisté à une super soirée hier soir!I attended an awesome party last night!
- J'aime me promener au crépuscule.I enjoy taking a walk at twilight.
- 405 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are deciding on a time to meet.
- ChloéTu es libre ce soir ?Are you free this evening?
- NathanOui, je n'ai rien de prévu ce soir.Yes, I have nothing planned this evening.
- ChloéOn peut se voir dans le parc ce soir ?Can we meet in the park this evening?
- NathanBonne idée, à ce soir !Good idea, see you this evening!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “evening” translations and entries soir, crépuscule, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries crépuscule, soir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
