French Conversation · Level 17
90 words
French word
certainement
Pronunciation
IPA/sɛʁtɛnəmɑ̃/
Meaning
- adverbcertainly
Example
Il réussira certainement l'examen.
He will certainly pass the exam.
More examples
Nous avons certainement assez d'argent.
We certainly have enough money.
Core concept
A speaker marks an expected event with a strong band of confidence, ranging from near certainty to a very firm prediction.
Common phrases
c'est certainement
It certainly is
certainement possible
certainly possible
Similar words
sûrement: Expresses the expectation that an event is almost certain to happen.
évidemment: Shows that something is unmistakably clear from the facts or circumstances.
bien sûr: Clearly affirms that something is accepted as true.
absolument: Strongly affirms that something is completely true or correct.
Definition in French
Marque que le locuteur considère un fait comme certain ou très probable.
Word origin
The adverb certainement developed from French certain, inherited through Old French from Latin certus, plus the suffix -ment.
Usage tips
- With a simple verb, certainement often follows the verb, as in Il réussira certainement, whereas its position after an auxiliary is common in compound tenses.