French Conversation · Level 181
15 words
French word
tantôt
Pronunciation
IPA/tɑ̃to/
Meaning
- adverblater
Example
Je reviens tantôt.
I'll be back later.
More examples
On se verra tantôt.
We'll see each other later.
Core concept
A nearby moment that can lie just before or after the present, or alternate between contrasting situations.
Common phrases
venir tantôt
come later
on se verra tantôt
We'll see each other later
Similar words
bientôt: In a short time, in the near future.
tout à l'heure: Later, after only a brief interval.
tout de suite: Straightaway, with immediate effect.
parfois: From time to time, rather than continually.
Definition in French
Selon le contexte, signifie soit « bientôt » ou « tout à l'heure », soit, en alternance (« tantôt… tantôt… »), « quelquefois ».
Word origin
Old French tantost gave French tantôt; the form joined tant ('so much') to tost ('soon') and expanded from a time reference to an alternating construction.
Usage tips
- In Je reviens tantôt, tantôt normally means a short time from now, whereas Je l'ai vu tantôt places the event earlier.
Other meanings
- just nowadverb
- sometimesadverb
Opposites
- tardlateadverb