Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| alors | /a.lɔʁ/ |
| à cette époque-là |
The primary way to say 'then' in the sense of 'at that time' is alors. Depending on the context, alors can also mean 'so' or 'well'. It is important to note that if you mean 'then' as a logical consequence, alors is frequently used to express 'so' or 'consequently'.
Which one should you use?
While alors is the general term for 'at that time', you should use à cette époque-là when you want to be more formal or precise, specifically when emphasizing a certain historical period or a distinct era in someone's life. If you are using 'then' to describe a sequence of events, alors is less common. Instead, use ensuite or puis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, many French speakers use the informal alternatives après or pi (a short form of puis) to mean 'then'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The related form d'alors functions as an adjective meaning 'of that time' or 'from then', used to describe something characteristic of a specific period, such as the fashions of that time.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.lɔʁ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use alors to mean 'next in a sequence' (for example, 'I went to the store, then I went home'). In French, it is better to use ensuite or puis for this purpose.
Did you know?
- The word cette comes from the Vulgar Latin phrase ecce ista, which literally means 'look at this one'.
- In spoken French, alors can be used as a standalone question to mean 'so?' or 'and what happened next?', prompting the other person to continue their story.
- The word lors survives in the formal phrase lorsque, which means 'when'.
Examples in context
- Que fis-tu alors ?What did you do then?This sentence shows how to use alors to ask about a past action.Tatoeba #837838 by sacredceltic, translation #43167 by CK
- Où vais-je, alors ?Where do I go then?This sentence demonstrates the use of alors in a question.Tatoeba #5561953 by sacredceltic, translation #1685973 by sam_m
- J'avais alors 18 ans.I was eighteen then.This sentence shows alors used to indicate an age at a specific time.Tatoeba #127443 by sacredceltic, translation #50186 by CK
- J'ai fini de rédiger le rapport. Ensuite, je l'ai envoyé à mon responsable.I finished writing the report. Then, I sent it to my supervisor.
- J'ai terminé ma présentation. Puis, j'ai répondu aux questions du public.I finished my presentation. Then, I answered the audience's questions.
- Tu as fini tes devoirs? Alors, on peut jouer aux jeux vidéo.Have you finished your homework? Well, then, we can play video games.
- J'ai pris une douche. Après ça, je me suis habillé.I took a shower. Then, I got dressed.
- 246 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are talking about their childhood.
- LéaJ'habitais à Lyon, et j'étais très heureuse alors.I lived in Lyon, and I was very happy then.
- GabrielC'est vrai, tu avais une grande maison alors.That's true, you had a big house then.
- LéaOui, mon jardin était magnifique.Yes, my garden was magnificent.
- GabrielJe me rappelle bien de ce jardin.I remember that garden well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “then” translations and entries alors, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alors, cette, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
