French word

toujours

Pronunciation

IPA/tuʒuʁ/

Meaning

  • adverbalways

Example

Elle est toujours ponctuelle.

She is always punctual.

Illustration for toujours (always)

More examples

Il est toujours là quand j'ai besoin de lui.

He is always there when I need him.

Core concept

A line that remains unbroken through time or reaches the same point again at each cycle.

Common phrases

  • toujours en retard

    always late

  • toujours prêt

    always ready

  • toujours là

    always there

Similar words

souvent: Frequently or on many occasions.
encore: Continuing to be so up to the present.
habituellement: As is customary or usual.

Definition in French

Exprime la permanence d'un état ou la répétition d'une action à travers le temps.

Word origin

Toujours comes from Old French tous jours, literally 'all days', which fused into an adverb for enduring or recurring time.

Usage tips

  • Toujours can mean 'still' as well as 'always', notably in the fixed phrase toujours pas, meaning 'still not'.

Other meanings

  • continuouslyadverb
  • stilladverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word