French word

puis

Pronunciation

IPA/pɥi/

Meaning

  • adverbthen

Example

Je suis allé au marché, puis je suis rentré.

I went to the market, then I came home.

Illustration for puis (then)

More examples

D'abord il a vérifié l'adresse, puis il a envoyé la lettre.

First he checked the address, then he sent the letter.

Core concept

One event hands the sequence to the next event.

Common phrases

  • d'abord, puis

    first, then

  • puis enfin

    then, finally

Similar words

ensuite: Indicates that something follows immediately after an event.
après: Refers to a time or event later than a given point.
alors: Indicates what happens at that time or in that situation.

Definition in French

Marque qu'une action ou un événement arrive après un autre dans le temps ou la suite d'un récit.

Word origin

The adverb puis developed from Latin postea through Old French, with its original sense of what follows remaining central in modern French.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, et puis is common, while bare puis is particularly useful in narration and step-by-step instructions.

Other meanings

  • nextadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word