How to Say "Last Summer" in French

l'été dernier

In French, "last summer" is said as l'été dernier.

The phrase l'été dernier is used to refer to the summer season that occurred most recently before the present time.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the definite article and noun l'été (the summer) and the adjective dernier (last).

While l'été dernier refers to the summer that has already passed, the phrase l'été prochain is used to refer to the upcoming summer.

In French, the adjective dernier follows the noun été to indicate the most recent occurrence.

While l'été dernier means 'last summer', if you use the word dernier before the noun to say le dernier été, you are actually implying it was the 'final' summer ever, such as the last one before an end of the world.
The word dernier is formed from a contraction of the Old French derrenier, which was influenced by the word premier to create a matching rhythmic pattern.
The word été comes from the Latin estatem, which originally referred to the heat of the season rather than the calendar period itself.

Tom a divorcé l'été dernier.
Tom got divorced last summer.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a personal event that occurred using l'été dernier.
Tatoeba #7549445 by tras, translation #7544232 by CK
Elle y est allée l'été dernier.
She went there last summer.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe a movement or trip that occurred using l'été dernier.
Tatoeba #457577 by sacredceltic, translation #19433 by CK
Il a beaucoup plu l'été dernier.
It rained a lot last summer.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe weather patterns that occurred using l'été dernier.
Tatoeba #6930149 by Aiji, translation #2837348 by patgfisher
Je me suis rendu en France l'été dernier.
I went to France last summer.
On s'est bien amusés l'été dernier.
We had a great time last summer.
Tu te souviens de cette grande fête cet été-là ?
Do you remember that big party last summer?
44 more sentences on Tatoeba

Gabriel and Emma are talking about their vacations.

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