A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "When" in French
The French word for 'when,' essential for asking about time and sequencing events.
Quand
KAHNneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use 'Quand' to ask about the timing of an event, like 'Quand est-ce que le train arrive ?' (When does the train arrive?). It's also used to connect clauses, for example, 'Je t'appellerai quand je serai rentré' (I'll call you when I'm back).
Alternatives
- LorsqueSlightly more formal and often used at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
- Au moment oùEmphasizes the specific point in time something happens.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 'n'
The 'n' in 'Quand' is nasal; don't pronounce it like a hard English 'n'.
Silent 'd'
The 'd' at the end of 'Quand' is silent, so it sounds like 'Kan'.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to ask 'when' in French?
The most common way is 'Quand ?'. You can also use 'Quand est-ce que... ?' for questions about specific events.
Quand vs Lorsque difference?
'Quand' is the everyday word for 'when.' 'Lorsque' is a bit more formal and often used to link clauses.
When to use 'Quand' in a sentence?
Use 'Quand' to ask about time ('Quand pars-tu ?') or to connect two parts of a sentence ('Je viendrai quand je pourrai').
