French Conversation · Level 15
90 words
French word
parfois
Pronunciation
IPA/paʁfwa/
Meaning
- adverbsometimes
Example
Je vais parfois au cinéma.
I sometimes go to the movies.
More examples
On se voit parfois le soir.
We sometimes see each other in the evening.
Core concept
A calendar with a few scattered moments marked, while most moments remain unmarked.
Common phrases
parfois le soir
sometimes in the evening
parfois en été
sometimes in summer
Similar words
quelquefois: On some occasions, but not all the time.
de temps en temps: Every so often, at irregular intervals.
Definition in French
Marque qu'une action a lieu à certains moments mais pas de façon régulière.
Word origin
Parfois comes from Old French par fois, literally 'at times'; fois developed from Latin vicem, meaning a turn or occasion.
Usage tips
- Parfois usually stands near the verb it modifies, as in Je vais parfois au cinéma, but it can also begin or end a sentence.