Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| néanmoins | /ne.ɑ̃.mwɛ̃/ |
| cependant | /sə.pɑ̃.dɑ̃/ |
When used as an adverb to mean "however" or "though", you might use néanmoins, cependant or toutefois. To express "although", the conjunction bien que is used. In more casual speech, par contre is used to indicate a contrast or counterargument, while quand même can be placed towards the end of a sentence to mean "though", "anyway" or "still".
Which one should you use?
While néanmoins and cependant are both used to express "though", néanmoins is considered more formal and literary. The term toutefois is a formal alternative that can be used interchangeably with cependant.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the adverbs néanmoins and cependant, the conjunction bien que must be followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ne.ɑ̃.mwɛ̃/ and has 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use quand même to express a sense of irony or indignation that 'though' cannot always capture in English.
- The word néanmoins is a linguistic compound formed from the words for 'nothing' and 'less'.
- The phrase par contre is so common in spoken French that some strict grammarians historically viewed it as incorrect, despite its universal use.
Examples in context
- Tu as tort, cependant.You're wrong, though.This sentence shows how to use cependant at the end of a thought.Tatoeba #9009512 by Aiji, translation #7051124 by AlanF_US
- Merci, cependant. Je l'apprécie.Thanks, though. I appreciate it.This sentence illustrates the use of cependant to express gratitude despite a situation.Tatoeba #460016 by sacredceltic, translation #240708 by voxbubnya
- Elle a néanmoins un gros problème.She has a big problem, though.This sentence demonstrates the placement of néanmoins within a sentence.Tatoeba #4765710 by sacredceltic, translation #39286 by orcrist
- Je l'apprécie, cependant je ne suis pas d'accord avec toutes ses opinions.I appreciate him, though I don't agree with all of his opinions.
- Je n'avais pas beaucoup de temps libre, toutefois j'ai réussi à terminer mon projet à temps.I didn't have much free time, though I managed to finish my project on time.
- Il pleut beaucoup, mais je vais sortir quand même .It's raining a lot, but I'm going out anyway.
- Il est bizarre, ben je l'aime bien quand même.He's weird, though I still like him.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are discussing a movie they just watched.
- ChloéLe film était très long.The movie was very long.
- GabrielL'histoire était néanmoins passionnante.The story was nevertheless exciting, though.
- ChloéJe suis d'accord avec toi.I agree with you.
- GabrielOn devrait voir la suite.We should see the sequel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “though” translations and entries néanmoins, cependant, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cependant, néanmoins, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
