English–French
“formerly” in French
French
Pronunciation
IPA/ʒadis/
Example
Les rues étaient jadis plus calmes le soir.
The streets were formerly quieter in the evening.
How to say “formerly” in French
“Formerly” in French is jadis.
A clearly marked earlier time, separated from the present by the passage of years.
Example sentences with jadis
Ma grand-mère chantait jadis dans ce café.
My grandmother used to sing in this café long ago.
Tips for using jadis
- Jadis is literary or old-fashioned in tone, while autrefois is generally more neutral in everyday French.