What does depuis in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word depuis in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use depuis in French.

The word depuis in French means since, from, everything from, since, since, for ages, since then, ever since then, How long ...?, How long has done ?, How long has been doing ?, for years, for hours, since last time, since the dawn of time, since the beginning, after all this time, for ages, for such a long time, for a long time, since then, ever since, ever since then, since I was born, since my birth, since my earliest childhood, since my earliest childhood, recently, How long ...?, Since when?, Since when ...?, since I was a little boy/girl, ever since I was a little boy/girl, for some time, for some years, for a few years, for so long (now), for such a long time (now), always, all this time, for quite some time (now), for quite a long time (now), for quite a while (now), for quite some time (now), for some time, for a while, for a while (now), from a landline, for an eternity, and has been for many years. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word depuis

since

préposition (à partir d'un événement passé) (from a particular time)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

J'apprends l'anglais depuis 4 ans. Mon père se bat contre le cancer depuis des années. Nous vivons dans cet appartement depuis 2003. La vie est différente depuis le départ de notre fille.

I've been learning English for four years. My father has been battling cancer for years.

from

préposition (à partir d'un lieu)

(preposition: Relates noun or pronoun to another element of sentence--for example, "a picture of John," "She walked from my house to yours.")

Je vous écris depuis Paris.

I'm writing to you from Paris.

everything from

préposition (point d'origine de)

Cette enseigne vend depuis les clous jusqu'aux bétonnières.

This chain sells everything from nails to cement mixers.

since

adverbe (à partir d'un moment passé)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Il a vendu sa maison et je ne l'ai pas revu depuis.

He sold his house and I haven't seen him since.

since

locution conjonction (à partir d'un événement passé)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")

Depuis que je suis revenu d'Espagne, je mange de la paella toutes les semaines. Je fais de l'équitation depuis que je suis toute petite.

Since I got back from Spain, I've been eating paella every week. I have been riding horses since I was very young.

for ages

locution adverbiale (familier (depuis longtemps) (informal)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

since then, ever since then

locution adverbiale (depuis un moment précis)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

How long ...?

locution adverbiale (interroge sur la durée)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Depuis combien de temps êtes-vous médecin ? Depuis combien de temps ne l'as-tu pas vue ?

How long is it since you last saw her? (or: How long ago did you last see her?)

How long has done ?, How long has been doing ?

locution adverbiale (interroge sur la durée)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Et comme ça vous êtes médecin. Et depuis combien de temps ?

So you're a doctor. How long have you been doing that?

for years

locution adverbiale (qui remonte à plusieurs années)

Mathieu a arrêté de fumer depuis des années.

for hours

locution adverbiale (figuré (depuis très longtemps)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Nous attendons à l'arrêt de bus depuis des heures.

since last time

locution verbale (depuis notre dernière rencontre)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Alors, comment ça va depuis la dernière fois ? Vous avez pu avancer sur le projet depuis la dernière fois ?

since the dawn of time

locution adverbiale (depuis toujours)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

since the beginning

locution adverbiale (depuis l'origine, le commencement)

after all this time

(on attendait depuis longtemps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Tu es toujours mal à l'aise avec tes beaux-parents ? Pourtant, depuis le temps ! Alors, voici ta fameuse Pauline : depuis le temps !

for ages, for such a long time

locution conjonction (cela fait longtemps que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je suis contente que tu aies finalement lu ce livre. Depuis le temps que je t'en parlais ! Mes parents sont heureux de partir au Bahamas ; depuis le temps qu'ils en rêvaient !

I'm glad you finally read that book, considering how long I've been talking to you about it!

for a long time

locution adverbiale (depuis un temps relativement long)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Myriam attend son bus depuis longtemps.

Myriam has been waiting for her bus for a long time.

since then, ever since, ever since then

locution adverbiale (soutenu (à partir de ce moment-là)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Il s'est fait peur en moto il y a deux ans et depuis lors il n'a jamais reconduit.

He had a scare on a motorbike two years ago and ever since then he has not driven again.

since I was born, since my birth

locution adverbiale (depuis toujours pour moi)

since my earliest childhood

locution adverbiale (depuis que je suis petit)

since my earliest childhood

locution adverbiale (depuis que je suis enfant)

recently

locution adverbiale (récemment)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Nous avons un nouveau chef depuis peu.

We got a new boss recently.

How long ...?

(Cela remonte à quand ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Depuis quand travailles-tu ici ?

How long have you been working here?

Since when?

(Cela remonte à quand ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Tu as arrêté de fumer ? Très bien ! Et depuis quand ?

You have quit smoking? Great! Since when?

Since when ...?

(question rhétorique, critique)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Et depuis quand tu t'intéresses aux sans-abris, toi ?

Since when have you been interested in the homeless?

since I was a little boy/girl, ever since I was a little boy/girl

(depuis toujours)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Je fais de l'équitation depuis que je suis tout petit.

for some time

locution adverbiale (depuis environ moins d'un an)

for some years, for a few years

locution adverbiale (qui date de plusieurs années)

for so long (now), for such a long time (now)

locution adverbiale (depuis tant de temps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'attends ce moment depuis si longtemps !

I've been waiting for this moment for so long!

always

locution adverbiale (depuis que ça existe)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Les chats chassent les souris depuis toujours.

Cats have always chased mice.

all this time

locution verbale (pendant cette longue période) (up to now)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

for quite some time (now), for quite a long time (now)

locution adverbiale (depuis assez longtemps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'attends ici depuis un bon moment.

I've been waiting here for quite some time now.

for quite a while (now), for quite some time (now)

locution adverbiale (un peu familier (depuis longtemps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'attends ici depuis un bout de temps.

I've been waiting here for quite a while now.

for some time, for a while

locution verbale (depuis un temps indéterminé)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Depuis un certain temps, il ne parle plus de lui.

He hasn't spoken of him for some time.

for a while (now)

locution adverbiale (depuis relativement longtemps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'attends ici depuis un moment.

I've been waiting here for a while.

from a landline

locution adverbiale (à partir d'un téléphone fixe)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

for an eternity

locution adverbiale (figuré, familier (depuis très longtemps) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

J'ai l'impression de le connaître depuis une éternité.

I feel like I've known him forever.

and has been for many years

locution adverbiale (cela fait des années que c'est ainsi)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

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