Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| parfois | /paʁ.fwa/ |
| quelquefois | /kɛl.kə.fwa/ /ke.kə.fwa/ |
| des fois | /de fwa/ |
| tantôt | /tɑ̃.to/ (Belgium, France) |
The core meaning of these terms is to indicate that something happens on certain occasions, but not always. You may also use the more elegant expression de temps à autre to say 'from time to time', or the formal word occasionnellement to convey that something happens occasionally or infrequently.
Which one should you use?
Parfois is the most common and neutral way to express sometimes. Quelquefois is a synonym for parfois but carries a slightly more formal or literary tone. Des fois is a casual way to say sometimes, whereas tantôt can mean sometimes or occasionally depending on the specific regional context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Parfois is neutral and widely used. Quelquefois is slightly more formal or literary. Des fois is used in colloquial, spoken French and is considered less correct in formal writing than parfois. For a formal way to express the idea of occasionally or infrequently, use occasionnellement.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Québec, Canada, it is common to use the expression à l'occasion to indicate sometimes. The word tantôt is used to mean 'sometimes' or 'occasionally' in certain regional dialects, including parts of Canada and some European French contexts, though its meaning can vary by region.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adverb parfois can be placed either before or after the conjugated verb, or at the beginning of a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/paʁ.fwa/
Did you know?
- The word fois in parfois comes from the Latin vicem, which means 'change' or 'turn'. This makes it a distant relative of the English word 'vice versa'.
- In many regions, the word tantôt is a linguistic chameleon. Depending on the context, it can mean 'a little while ago' or 'in a little while', not just 'sometimes'.
Examples in context
- Je le fais parfois.I do that sometimes.This sentence shows the placement of parfois after the verb.Tatoeba #2420631 by sacredceltic, translation #2315141 by CK
- Parfois, tout va mal.Sometimes everything goes wrong.This sentence shows the placement of parfois at the beginning of a sentence.Tatoeba #9668 by sacredceltic, translation #24827 by CK
- Des fois Tom fait ça.Sometimes Tom does that.This sentence demonstrates the use of the informal des fois.Tatoeba #13493911 by Draves, translation #6867731 by CK
- Je m'entraîne au tennis occasionnellement.I practice tennis occasionally.
- Il est parfois difficile de prendre une décision.It is sometimes difficult to make a decision.
- J'oublie mon portable des fois.Sometimes I forget my phone.
- Je mange du chocolat de temps à autre.I eat chocolate from time to time.
- Je vais voir des films à l'occasion.I watch movies sometimes.
- Il pleut par moments en Belgique.It sometimes rains in Belgium.
- 514 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Manon are talking about their exercise routine.
- HugoTu vas à la gym ?Do you go to the gym?
- ManonOui, j'y vais parfois le soir.Yes, I sometimes go there in the evening.
- HugoC'est une bonne habitude pour toi.That is a good habit for you.
- ManonMerci, Hugo.Thanks, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sometimes” translations and entries parfois, quelquefois, des fois, tantôt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries des, des fois, fois, parfois, quelquefois, tantôt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
