What does toujours in French mean?

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

The word toujours in French means always, always, always, anyway, anyhow, always, already, it's better to be a step ahead, At least that's something!, It's always the same old refrain!, It's always the same! It's always the same thing!, It's always the same old thing!, it's always the same old story, it's always the same old tune, it's always the same old story, it's always the same old tune, it's always the same old tune, it/they might come in handy one day, Are we still on?, No, carry on; it's fascinating!, it's always the good ones who go first, it's always the good ones who die first, as always, still be on the loose, still be on the run, lifelong, of old, always, Go ahead!, Try it!, be always after, be always looking for, not to be sniffed at, might is right, talk of is still circulating, brevity is the soul of wit, the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot, the cobbler's children have no shoes, not always, for ever, nearly always, the fact remains that, not yet, still more, even more, still nothing. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word toujours

always

adverbe (de tout temps) (eternally)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Le favoritisme a toujours existé.
Favouritism has always existed.

always

adverbe (marque la répétition d'un fait) (regularly)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il me téléphone toujours le dimanche soir.
He always telephones me on Sunday evenings.

always

adverbe (encore) (without exception)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ça fait 5 ans que je fais ce travail et je suis toujours au même échelon.
I've been in this job for five years and I'm still at the same level.

anyway, anyhow

adverbe (quand même)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Dis toujours, on verra. // Voilà, ce n'est pas parfait, mais c'est toujours mieux que ce qu'on avait avant.
There, it's not perfect, but it's still better than what we had before.

always

adverbe (si besoin) (if necessary)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Tu peux toujours prendre le train si ta voiture ne marche pas.

already

adverbe (familier (déjà)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Trois jours de vacances, c'est toujours ça de pris.
Three days of vacation, at least that's something!

it's better to be a step ahead

(C'est déjà cela d'acquis) (colloquial)

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

At least that's something!

(familier (C'est déjà une avancée.)

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

It's always the same old refrain!

interjection (c'est toujours pareil)

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

It's always the same! It's always the same thing!

interjection (c'est toujours pareil)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

It's always the same old thing!

(c'est toujours pareil) (colloquial)

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

it's always the same old story, it's always the same old tune

(familier (c'est toujours pareil)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Trouve autre chose pour critiquer ta sœur, c'est toujours la même ritournelle !

it's always the same old story, it's always the same old tune

(c'est toujours pareil)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Arrêter de vous chamailler pour des bêtises, c'est toujours la même sérénade.

it's always the same old tune

(c'est toujours les mêmes arguments)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Arrête de te plaindre, j'en ai assez, c'est toujours le même refrain.
Change the record, can't you? I've had enough of your moaning!

it/they might come in handy one day

(cela peut rendre service)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je vais garder ces attaches parisiennes, ça peut toujours servir.

Are we still on?

(C'est toujours d'accord ?) (colloquial)

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

No, carry on; it's fascinating!

(je me moque de ce que tu dis) (ironic, sarcastic)

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

it's always the good ones who go first, it's always the good ones who die first

(les plus gentils meurent en premier)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Sa mort nous désole tous, ce sont toujours les meilleurs qui s'en vont les premiers.

as always

locution adverbiale (comme habituellement)

still be on the loose, still be on the run

locution verbale (être en fuite)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La police a mis tous ses effectifs sur le coup mais à l'heure actuelle, l'assassin court toujours.
The police have put all their officers on the case but at the present time, the killer is still on the loose (or: still on the run).

lifelong, of old

locution adjectivale (figuré (de longue date)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
She was reunited with her lifelong friend.

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.

Go ahead!

(parle)

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

Try it!

interjection (tu prends des risques si tu le fais)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Mal me parler ? Essaie toujours !

be always after

locution verbale (ne pas lâcher [qqn], harceler [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
À force d'être toujours après son frère, il a pris l'habitude de tout prévoir avec elle.

be always looking for

locution verbale (rechercher constamment)

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

not to be sniffed at

locution verbale (être déjà appréciable) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ce n'est pas ce que j'espérais mais c'est toujours bon à prendre.
It's not what I was hoping for, but it's better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

might is right

(le plus fort a toujours gain de cause)

talk of is still circulating

(il se dit encore que)

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

brevity is the soul of wit

(il faut savoir s'arrêter)

the shoemaker's son always goes barefoot, the cobbler's children have no shoes

locution verbale (ne pas avoir le bon matériel)

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

not always

locution adverbiale (pas systématiquement)

Ce réalisateur n'a pas toujours de bons films.

for ever

locution adverbiale (indéfiniment)

On espère toujours trouver une âme sœur pour toujours.

nearly always

locution adverbiale (quasiment systématiquement)

C'est Pascal qui arrive presque toujours en premier.

the fact remains that

locution conjonction (cependant)

not yet

locution adverbiale (pas encore)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
- Alors, tu as payé tes impôts ? - Toujours pas.
"Did you pay your taxes?" "Not yet!"

still more, even more

locution adverbiale (encore plus)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il gagne bien sa vie, mais il en veut toujours plus.
He has a good salary, but he wants even more.

still nothing

locution adverbiale (rien de plus, de neuf)

- Alors, des nouvelles de Frank ce matin ? - Non, toujours rien.

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of toujours in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

Do you know about French

French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.