French word

cependant

Pronunciation

IPA/səpɑ̃dɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbhowever

Example

J'aime ce film, cependant il est un peu long.

I like this movie; however, it is a little long.

Illustration for cependant (however)

More examples

Cependant, il a continué malgré les difficultés.

However, he continued despite the difficulties.

Core concept

A gentle turn in the sentence that qualifies or contrasts with what came before.

Common phrases

  • cependant,

    however

Similar words

par contre: States the opposing point plainly in informal conversation.
quand même: Expresses that something happens or remains true all the same.
pourtant: Emphasizes an outcome that is contrary to what was expected.
en revanche: Presents a contrasting point from another perspective.

Definition in French

Indique une restriction ou une nuance contraire à une proposition précédente, souvent placé en début ou au milieu de la phrase.

Word origin

The adverb cependant developed from the phrase ce pendant, meaning 'during this', with pendant ultimately related to Latin pendere, 'to hang'.

Usage tips

  • As a linking adverb, cependant is commonly set off by commas when it appears at the beginning or inside a sentence.

Other meanings

  • butconjunction

Word lists with this word