quand
/kɑ̃/
The English word 'when' can be translated into French as quand.
quand is the most common and neutral way to say 'when' in French. It can function as a conjunction meaning 'as soon as' or 'at the time that', a pronoun meaning 'what time' or 'which time' or a noun meaning 'the time'.
Meaning: as soon as, at the time that (conj)
Which one should you use?
While quand can be used in both questions and statements, the formal synonym lorsque is used primarily in statements and is never used in direct questions.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike in English, when quand is used in a subordinate clause referring to a future event, the verb must be in the future tense.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɑ̃/
Did you know?
- French speakers use the phrase quand même to mean 'anyway' or 'despite that', a common idiom where quand loses its literal meaning of time.
- In very old French texts, you may find quand spelled as quant, mirroring its Latin root and appearing in early legal documents.
- While quand is used for questions, French speakers often swap it for à quel moment to sound more precise or polite in professional settings.
Examples in context
- On part quand ?When are we leaving?This is useful for asking about a departure time using quand.Tatoeba #6778338 by Fabimaru, translation #5762738 by CK
- Quand es-tu né ?When were you born?This is useful for asking about a birth date using quand.Tatoeba #1147405 by sacredceltic, translation #65989 by CK
- Quand y vas-tu ?When are you going?This is useful for asking about a destination time using quand.Tatoeba #4601826 by sacredceltic, translation #1886666 by CK
- Quand est-ce que tu arrives ?When are you arriving?
- À quel moment est prévu le début de la réunion ?When is the meeting scheduled to start?
- Je pars lorsque tu seras prêt.I will leave when you are ready.
- Quand est-ce que tu rentres chez toi ?When are you coming home?
- 3543 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are discussing their plans for dinner.
- ChloéJe préparerai le dîner quand tu arriveras.I will prepare dinner when you arrive.
- GabrielC'est parfait, je serai là bientôt.That's perfect, I will be there soon.
- ChloéDis-moi quand tu quittes le bureau.Tell me when you leave the office.
- GabrielD'accord, je t'envoie un message.Okay, I will send you a message.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quand, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
