French word

avant

Pronunciation

IPA/avɑ̃/

Meaning

  • prepositionbefore

Example

Je suis arrivé avant toi.

I arrived before you.

Illustration for avant (before)

More examples

N'oublie pas de fermer la porte avant de partir.

Don't forget to close the door before leaving.

Core concept

A point or event lies earlier than a chosen reference point.

Common phrases

  • avant de partir

    before leaving

  • avant le dîner

    before dinner

Similar words

devant: Located in front of the observer or reference point.
après: At a later point in time than a specified event or moment.

Definition in French

Exprime l'antériorité par rapport à un repère, employée devant un nom, une proposition ou dans des constructions comme avant de / avant que.

Word origin

French avant comes through Old French from Latin ante, meaning 'before' or 'in front of', with the form changing over time.

Usage tips

  • Avant de is followed by an infinitive, while avant que introduces a subordinate clause and normally takes the subjunctive.

Other meanings

  • aheadadverb
  • previouslyadverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word