French word

tellement

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛləmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbso

Example

Il est tellement gentil.

He is so kind.

Illustration for tellement (so)

More examples

Il faisait tellement chaud que nous sommes restés à la maison.

It was so hot that we stayed home.

Core concept

A feeling or quality rising until its force becomes overwhelming.

Common phrases

  • tellement que

    so ___ that

  • tellement gentil

    so kind

Similar words

très: An adverb indicating a high degree.
vraiment: An adverb used to express certainty or emphatic agreement.
trop: An adverb indicating that something exceeds a suitable or acceptable degree.
si: A brief adverb that strongly intensifies an adjective or another adverb.

Definition in French

S'utilise pour marquer une grande ampleur; il se place devant un adjectif, un adverbe ou après un verbe pour renforcer une idée.

Word origin

The adverb combines tel, from Latin talis, with -ment and developed from expressing such a degree to marking strong intensity.

Usage tips

  • Unlike très, tellement also occurs after a verb and before de plus a noun, as in travailler tellement or tellement de bruit.

Opposites

  • peua littleadverb
  • modérémentmoderatelyadverb

Word lists with this word