la fin de semaine dernière
The English phrase 'last weekend' is translated into French as la fin de semaine dernière.
This phrase refers to the Saturday and Sunday that occurred most recently before the present time.
Which one should you use?
The term la fin de semaine and the loanword le week-end both mean 'weekend'. La fin de semaine is a more formal or localized term, while le week-end is a common loanword used widely in Europe.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, it is more common to use the anglicism le week-end dernier than la fin de semaine dernière. In Quebec and other French-speaking parts of Canada, la fin de semaine dernière is the standard way to say 'last weekend'. Additionally, in Québec French, La fin de semaine passée means 'the weekend that just passed'.
Did you know?
- The word semaine is a direct relative of the English word 'seven', both descending from the Latin 'septimāna' which refers to a sequence of seven.
- In Quebec, using la fin de semaine is not just a formal choice but a cultural preference to avoid the English loanword le week-end.
- In France, using la fin de semaine in a casual conversation might sound unusually poetic or old-fashioned compared to le week-end.
Examples in context
- Nous avons organisé une réunion le week-end dernier.We organized a meeting last weekend.
- J'ai rendu visite à ma famille le weekend précédent.I visited my family the previous weekend.
- On a fait une sortie en ville le week-end dernier.We went for a city outing last weekend.
- Tu ne devineras jamais ce que j'ai fait le weekend qui vient de passer !You'll never guess what I did last weekend!
- J'ai fait une randonnée en montagne la fin de semaine passée.I went hiking in the mountains last weekend.
- Devine ce que j'ai fait le week-end dernier ?Guess what I did last weekend?
- Tu sais quoi ? Le week-end qui vient de passer, j'ai…You know what? Last weekend, I…
- Qu'as-tu fait la fin de semaine dernière ?What did you do last weekend?
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are chatting at work.
- ManonTu as aimé ton voyage la fin de semaine dernière ?Did you enjoy your trip last weekend?
- NathanOui, c'était vraiment super !Yes, it was really great!
- ManonTu as visité beaucoup de musées ?Did you visit many museums?
- NathanNon, je me suis surtout reposé.No, I mostly just rested.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, fin, la, semaine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
