French word

jamais

Pronunciation

IPA/ʒamɛ/

Meaning

  • adverbnever

Example

Je ne mange jamais de viande.

I never eat meat.

Illustration for jamais (never)

More examples

Je n'ai jamais été à Paris.

I have never been to Paris.

Core concept

A time line with every point blocked off for the event.

Common phrases

  • ne ... jamais

    never

Similar words

déjà: Already, by the time in question.
toujours: At all times or on every occasion.
plus: No longer or not anymore when used with a negative.
encore: Still continuing at the time in question.

Definition in French

Marque l'absence totale d'un événement sur un intervalle de temps.

Word origin

Jamais developed from Old French ja mais, ultimately from Latin iam magis, and shifted from an earlier sense of ever to never in negative contexts.

Usage tips

  • In standard negation, jamais usually follows ne and the conjugated verb, as in Je ne mange jamais de viande.

Other meanings

  • everadverb
  • never againadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word