What does jamais in French mean?

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

The word jamais in French means never, never, never, never, ever, ever, forever, forever, ill got, ill spent, It's unreal, It's now or never, it's now or never, like never before, never ever, Not on your life!, No way!, Never!, things always come in threes, never again, an unprecedented event, an extraordinary event, better late than never, Over my dead body!, never raise your voice, be even-tempered, be quietly spoken, never give up, if you want something done, do it yourself, you can never be too careful, you never know, lost forever, forever lost, never again, Never again!, more than ever, more newsworthy than ever, hardly ever, almost never, hardly ever, if ... by any chance, if. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word jamais

never

adverbe (en aucun temps)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
- Tu as déjà mangé des escargots ? - Jamais.
Have you ever eaten snails? - Never.

never

adverbe (en aucun temps) (not in the present)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il ne vient jamais voir sa mère.
He never comes to see his mother.

never

adverbe (refus catégorique) (not in the future)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Jamais de la vie je ne reviendrai ici.
I will never come back here as long as I live.

never

adverbe (absence de [qch] dans le passé) (not in the past)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Jamais avant il n'avait menti.
He's never lied before.

ever

adverbe (sens positif) (positive)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Elle est plus belle que jamais.
She is more beautiful than ever.

ever

adverbe (soutenu (déjà) (at any point)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
As-tu jamais pensé à refaire ta vie ?
Have you ever thought about changing your life?

forever

locution adverbiale (soutenu (pour toujours)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
La maison a été détruite par l'incendie et nos souvenirs sont à présent perdus à jamais.
The house was destroyed by fire and our memories are now lost forever.

forever

locution adverbiale (pour toujours, définitivement)

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

ill got, ill spent

(on ne profite jamais d'un vol) (UK)

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

It's unreal

(c'est exceptionnel) (informal)

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

It's now or never

(c'est le bon moment pour agir)

it's now or never

(l'occasion ne se représentera pas)

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

like never before

locution adverbiale (d'une façon non encore vue)

never ever

locution adverbiale (emphase pour jamais)

Not on your life!, No way!, Never!

interjection (C'est hors de question !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
- Reverras-tu ton ancien fiancé ? - Jamais de la vie !

things always come in threes

(ce qui arrive 2 fois arrivera 3 fois)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
J'ai déjà raté mon train deux fois cette semaine, jamais 2 sans 3.

never again

locution adverbiale (jamais à nouveau)

Jamais plus je ne mangerai d’huîtres.

an unprecedented event, an extraordinary event

nom masculin invariable (fait exceptionnel)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une tempête de cette intensité, c'est du jamais-vu ! Un tel niveau de maîtrise, c'était du jamais-vu !

better late than never

(il n'est jamais trop tard)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'avion est arrivé finalement en pleine nuit. Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

Over my dead body!

interjection (Sûrement pas !)

never raise your voice, be even-tempered, be quietly spoken

locution verbale (être d'humeur égale)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

never give up

locution verbale (ne pas renoncer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Oui, ce stage est difficile mais je ne baisserai jamais les bras.

if you want something done, do it yourself

(autant faire soi-même)

you can never be too careful

(plus de précautions ne nuit pas)

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

you never know

(des fois que)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Avec le temps qu'il fait, mieux vaut prendre un parapluie, on ne sait jamais.

lost forever, forever lost

locution adjectivale (perdu pour toujours)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Un coup de vent emporta ma cagoule, perdue à jamais.

never again

locution adverbiale (emphase pour jamais)

Après notre dispute, je n'ai plus jamais revu Claudia.

Never again!

interjection (Pas une nouvelle fois !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
On l'a fait une fois, plus jamais ça maintenant !

more than ever

locution adverbiale (absolument, toujours nécessaire)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Notre fils veut plus que jamais que nous assistions à son spectacle.

more newsworthy than ever

locution adverbiale (toujours valide)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
La question est plus que jamais d'actualité.

hardly ever

locution adverbiale (très rarement)

Claude ne boit presque jamais de whisky.

almost never, hardly ever

locution adverbiale (très rarement)

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

if ... by any chance

locution adverbiale (familier (si par hasard)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Si jamais tu passes au magasin, prends du pain, s'il te plaît.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. If I happen to see him, I'll tell him.

if

locution adverbiale (familier (menace : dans le cas où)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Si jamais tu réveilles ton frère, c'est toi qui resteras jouer dans la chambre !
If you wake your brother up, you're the one who'll be spending the day in your room!

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