en effet
/ɑ̃.n‿e.fɛ/
The English phrase 'indeed' is translated into French as en effet.
en effet is used as an indication of agreement or to confirm a previous statement. It can also function as a modal adverb meaning 'truly', 'in fact' or 'actually'.
Meaning: indication of agreement (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase en effet literally translates to 'in effect'.
Which one should you use?
While en effet is used to confirm or explain a previous statement, the related word vraiment is used to express intensity or degree.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverbial phrase, en effet can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or after the verb to provide confirmation.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɑ̃.n‿e.fɛ/. It has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- French has a distinct difference between en effet and en fait. While en effet confirms something is true, en fait is often used to correct a misconception, similar to 'actually'.
- While en effet confirms a statement, French speakers often use a short, rhythmic en effet, en effet to show they are listening intently during a conversation.
- Using en effet in a response can sometimes sound overly formal or bureaucratic to native speakers, making it common in professional emails but less so in casual texts.
Examples in context
- Je le suis en effet.I’m indeed.This sentence shows how to use en effet to confirm a state of being.Tatoeba #9823010 by sacredceltic, translation #9692337 by sacredceltic
- En effet, Dieu existe.Indeed God exists.This sentence shows how en effet can introduce a statement.Tatoeba #10999662 by Lumpawurump, translation #2093295 by gleki
- C'est en effet curieux.That's indeed curious.This sentence shows how en effet can be placed after the verb.Tatoeba #4221816 by sacredceltic, translation #5321577 by Ooneykcall
- La situation est très complexe, mais effectivement, nous devons agir rapidement.The situation is very complex, but indeed, we must act quickly.
- Nous avons reçu vos documents et, effectivement, ils sont complets.We have received your documents, and indeed, they are complete.
- Il a étudié d'arrache-pied, et en effet, il a réussi son examen.He studied intensely, and indeed, he passed his exam.
- Les chiffres parlent d'eux-mêmes, et en effet, nous avons réalisé des progrès significatifs.The numbers speak for themselves, and indeed, we have made significant progress.
- Tu crois qu'il viendra à la fête ? Carrément, il ne manquerait ça pour rien au monde !Do you think he'll come to the party? Absolutely, he wouldn't miss it for the world!
- Le concert était incroyable, non ? Carrément, je n'ai jamais vu un tel spectacle !The concert was amazing, right? Absolutely, I've never seen such a show!
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are discussing a difficult task.
- HugoCe travail est très difficile.This work is very difficult.
- EmmaEn effet, c'est épuisant.Indeed, it is exhausting.
- HugoNous avons besoin d'une pause.We need a break.
- EmmaC'est une excellente idée.That is an excellent idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “indeed” translations and entries en effet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
