A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Last week" in French
Say 'la semaine dernière' for 'last week' in French, perfect for discussing recent events or plans.
la semaine dernière
lah suh-MEN DEHR-nyairneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when talking about something that happened during the seven days prior to the current week. For example, you might say you saw a film 'la semaine dernière' or that you're going on vacation 'la semaine prochaine' after returning 'la semaine dernière'.
Alternatives
- la semaine passéeThis is a very common synonym and works in nearly all situations.
- la semaine d'avantThis is a bit more casual and emphasizes 'the one before'.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'dernière'
The 'r' sound is guttural, not rolled like in English, and the final 'e' is silent.
Forgetting 'la'
Always use the definite article 'la' before 'semaine' when referring to a specific week.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What's the difference between 'la semaine dernière' and 'la semaine passée'?
There is very little difference in meaning or usage. Both are standard and widely understood ways to say 'last week'.
How do I say 'the week before last' in French?
You would say 'l'avant-dernière semaine'. This literally translates to 'the before-last week'.
Can I use 'la semaine dernière' for any past week?
Yes, it refers to the immediately preceding calendar week. If you mean a week further back, you'd need to specify, like 'deux semaines avant' (two weeks before).
