l'avenir le dira
/l‿av.niʁ lə di.ʁa/
The English phrase "time will tell" is translated into French as l'avenir le dira. If unsure, use l'avenir le dira. Wiktionary also lists l'avenir nous le dira.
Meaning: results of an action cannot be known beforehand (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| l'avenir le dira | /l‿av.niʁ lə di.ʁa/ |
| l'avenir nous le dira |
This phrase is used to express that the results of an action cannot be known beforehand.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase l'avenir le dira literally translates to "the future will tell it". Unlike English, which uses the word for "time" (temps) as the subject, French uses l'avenir (the future) to convey this meaning.
Which one should you use?
You can also use l'avenir nous le dira, which includes the pronoun "us" to make the phrase more personal, implying that the outcome will be revealed to us specifically.
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the indirect object pronoun nous to the phrase, as in l'avenir nous le dira, you specify that the future will tell "us" the outcome.
How do you pronounce it?
/l‿av.niʁ lə di.ʁa/
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects of northern France, speakers traditionally used je instead of nous in the first person plural, such as je voyons.
- The word avenir is derived from the French verb venir, meaning 'to come', suggesting that the future is something that arrives toward us.
- The word avenir shares a root with the English word 'event', as both stem from the Latin 'venire', meaning 'to come'.
Examples in context
- Je pense que l'avenir nous le dira.I think time will tell.This sentence shows how to use the personal form l'avenir nous le dira.Tatoeba #11228004 by lbdx, translation #4980129 by CK
- L'avenir le dira.Time will tell.This sentence provides a simple example of the standard form l'avenir le dira.Tatoeba #564332 by sacredceltic, translation #535287 by darinmex
- Les résultats de notre travail restent incertains, mais le temps apportera des réponses.The results of our work remain uncertain, but time will bring answers.
- Je ne suis pas sûr si ce projet sera un succès, mais on verra avec le temps.I am not sure if this project will be a success, but we'll see with time.
- Cet investissement est risqué, mais on verra bien.This investment is risky, but we'll see.
- On ne sait pas si ce projet réussira, l'avenir le dira.We don't know if this project will succeed, time will tell.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new business venture.
- ManonTu penses que son nouveau restaurant sera un succès ?Do you think his new restaurant will be a success?
- NathanC'est trop tôt pour savoir, l'avenir le dira.It's too early to know, time will tell.
- ManonIl a l'air très déterminé, Nathan.He seems very determined, Nathan.
- NathanOui, mais il faut attendre de voir.Yes, but we have to wait and see.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “time will tell” translations and entries l'avenir le dira, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries l'avenir le dira, le, nous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
