suivant
/sɥi.vɑ̃/
The English word 'next' can be translated into French as suivant.
suivant is used to describe something that is in a time, place or sequence closest to or following the current one.
Meaning: In a time, place or sequence closest or following (adv)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between suivant and prochain. Use suivant to refer to the one following in a specific sequence. In contrast, use prochain for the very next occurrence in a calendar or time cycle, such as prochain lundi (next Monday).
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, suivant must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use suivante for feminine nouns, suivants for masculine plural and suivantes for feminine plural. To use the phrase as a noun meaning 'the next one', combine the definite article with the adjective: le suivant for masculine or la suivante for feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables: /sɥi.vɑ̃/.
Did you know?
- The word suivant can also be used as a preposition meaning 'according to', as seen in the phrase suivant les règles meaning 'according to the rules'.
- The word suivant is a relative of the English word 'sequence', as both derive from the Latin root for following.
- In a professional setting or a queue, a clerk may call out suivant as a command, similar to 'next' in English, but the word functions as a shortened version of le suivant.
Examples in context
- Qui est le suivant ?Who's next?This sentence is useful for asking who is next using suivant.Tatoeba #3673849 by dafp, translation #2561317 by Hybrid
- Qui sera le suivant ?Who's going to be next?Tatoeba #9685874 by otakusan93, translation #5466375 by CK
- Passons au sujet suivant.Let's go on to the next subject.This sentence is useful for moving on to a next subject using suivant.Tatoeba #6926634 by Aiji, translation #54064 by CK
- De nouvelles mesures seront prises par la suiteNew measures will be taken next
- On prend un café et ensuite on va au cinémaWe grab a coffee, and then we go to the cinema
- 107 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are organizing a list of tasks.
- HugoOn a fini ça, on passe au suivant ?We finished this, shall we move to the next one?
- ManonOui, regarde le point suivant sur la liste.Yes, look at the next point on the list.
- HugoC'est plus difficile que le précédent.It's harder than the previous one.
- ManonOn s'occupera du suivant demain alors.We will deal with the next one tomorrow then.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry suivant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries suivant, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
