French word

dont

Pronunciation

IPA/dɔ̃/

Meaning

  • pronounwhose

Example

Voici la femme dont le fils est médecin.

Here is the woman whose son is a doctor.

Illustration for dont (whose)

More examples

La ville dont je me souviens a beaucoup changé.

The city that I remember has changed a lot.

Core concept

A bridge joining a noun to a following detail or possession linked by de.

Common phrases

  • dont je parle

    that I am talking about

  • dont il s'agit

    that is at issue

  • dont je me souviens

    that I remember

Similar words

qui: Links a noun to a clause in which it performs the action.
que: Links a noun to a clause in which it receives the action.
de qui: Links a person-related noun to a clause adding information about that person with de.

Definition in French

Reprend un complément introduit par de, servant à lier un nom à une précision ou à une possession.

Word origin

French inherited dont from Old French, ultimately from Latin de unde, meaning 'from where', as its relative use developed.

Usage tips

  • Dont is pronounced /dɔ̃/ with a nasal vowel, and its final t is silent, unlike the English contraction don't.

Other meanings

  • about ___preposition

Word lists with this word