ainsi soit-il
/ɛ̃.si swa.t‿il/
The English phrase 'so be it' is translated into French as ainsi soit-il.
This phrase is used to indicate acceptance of a situation. It is often associated with religious or spiritual contexts, such as prayers or ceremonies.
Meaning: indication of acceptance (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ainsi (thus/so), soit (the subjunctive form of être, meaning 'be') and il (it), which literally translates to 'thus be it'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ainsi soit-il is a highly formal or literary expression and is rarely used in casual spoken conversation. For a more informal way to say 'so be it', you can use C'est comme ça. In very formal written contexts, such as legal documents or formal letters, the expression Qu'il en soit ainsi is frequently used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word soit used in this phrase is the third-person singular present subjunctive of the verb être.
When do people say it?
In a religious context, ainsi soit-il is the standard French translation for 'Amen'.
Did you know?
- In French mathematics, the word soit is used to introduce a premise, acting like the English phrase 'let it be' or 'given' when defining a variable.
- The word ainsi is a linguistic relative of the English word 'sic', which is used in text to indicate that a quote is being reproduced exactly as written.
- While ainsi soit-il is the literal translation of 'Amen', most French speakers in a religious service will simply say the Hebrew word Amen.
Examples in context
- Ainsi soit-il.So be it.This is useful for a simple statement of 'So be it.'Tatoeba #764606 by U2FS, translation #703846 by Luornu
- Ainsi soit-il !So be it!This is useful for an emphatic statement of 'So be it!'Tatoeba #788795 by RaspaKrusto, translation #873107 by sacredceltic
- Le comité a décidé de reporter la réunion. Qu'il en soit ainsi.The committee has decided to postpone the meeting. So be it.
- Nous acceptons le mariage dans lequel nous nous engageons. Ainsi soit-il.We accept the marriage into which we enter. So be it.
- La décision a déjà été prise. On n'y peut rien.The decision has already been made. So be it.
- S'il faut partir maintenant, ainsi soit-il.If we must leave now, so be it.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing a difficult decision about a job.
- NathanSi tu décides de partir, ainsi soit-il.If you decide to leave, so be it.
- ChloéJe ne veux pas te blesser, Nathan.I don't want to hurt you, Nathan.
- NathanC'est ton choix, Chloé.It is your choice, Chloé.
- ChloéMerci de comprendre.Thank you for understanding.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ainsi soit-il, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ainsi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
