French word

antan

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃tɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounyesteryear

Example

Le village d'antan a disparu.

The village of yesteryear has disappeared.

Illustration for antan (yesteryear)

More examples

Les photos d'antan évoquent la nostalgie.

Photos from the old days evoke nostalgia.

Core concept

A bygone village seen through a nostalgic, literary haze.

Common phrases

  • les temps d'antan

    the old days

  • souvenirs d'antan

    memories of the old days

Similar words

passé: The past viewed as a whole, including bygone periods and events.
temps: The passage of time or the length of time that passes.
époque: An era marked by distinctive social or cultural features.

Definition in French

Signifie autrefois et sert à évoquer un temps passé, souvent de façon littéraire.

Word origin

Antan comes from Old French antan, which derives from Latin ante annum, meaning "before the year".

Usage tips

  • Antan is literary and often appears in the fixed phrase d'antan, while autrefois is more neutral in everyday speech.

Other meanings

  • formerlyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word