What does tout en in French mean?

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

The word tout en in French means while + [present participle], with a great deal of + [noun], with a lot of + [noun], all in + [noun], very + [adjective], all, on + [date] every year, every + [day of the week], every + [number of days/weeks/months], all + [number], full-on, everything, everyone, everybody, anything, all, entirely, completely, totally, very, so, as + [indicative], only, all, all of, every one of ['s works], the whole of, all, all of, the whole of, completely, fully, all, whole, all, deny everything completely, deny everything entirely, very gently, very softly, very delicately, very finely, very high, very tall, long and narrow, low and narrow, a bag of nerves, a bundle of nerves, nuanced, sophisticated, with restraint, be negative, be pessimistic. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word tout en

while + [present participle]

locution adverbiale (en même temps qu'en)

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

Le vieil homme lisait le journal tout en écoutant de la musique classique.

The old man read the paper as he listened to classical music.

with a great deal of + [noun], with a lot of + [noun]

locution adverbiale (avec beaucoup de)

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

L'artisan appliquait la peinture tout en finesse.

The craftsman was applying the paint with a great deal of finesse.

all in + [noun]

locution adverbiale (entièrement)

Marine était habillée tout en bleu aujourd'hui.

Marine was dressed all in blue today.

very + [adjective]

locution adjectivale (très)

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

Nathalie était tout en beauté ce matin, elle allait à un mariage !

Natalie was very beautiful this morning; she was on her way to a wedding!

all

(exprime la totalité) (entirety)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Paul a mangé tout le gâteau. Toutes mes amies sont venues à mon mariage.

Paul's eaten the whole cake!

on + [date] every year

(fréquence : à chaque)

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

Tous les 14 juillet, il y a un feu d'artifices sur le lac.

There are fireworks over the lake on 14 July every year.

every + [day of the week]

(fréquence : chaque)

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

Le club se réunit tous les lundis.

The club meets on Mondays.

every + [number of days/weeks/months]

(qui se reproduit après x jours/mois...)

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

Monique se lave les cheveux tous les trois jours. Mon frère m'appelle tous les quinze jours. L'infirmière a un week-end de repos toutes les trois semaines.

Monica washes her hair every three days. My brother calls me every two weeks. The nurse has a weekend off every three weeks.

all + [number]

(ensemble à x personnes)

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

Le témoin dit les avoir vu tous les trois s'enfuir.

The witness said he saw all three of them running away.

full-on

(exprime la grandeur) (informal)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Ce mariage, c'est toute une affaire.

This wedding is quite an occasion.

everything

(l'ensemble des choses)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")

Nous pouvons partir, tout est là.

We can leave; everything's here.

everyone, everybody

pronom (l'ensemble des personnes)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")

J'ai invité mes amies et toutes sont venues. Tous s'accordent à dire que le suspect est coupable.

I invited my friends and all of them came. They are all in agreement that they will say the suspect is guilty.

anything

(n'importe quoi) (possibility)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")

Si je le laisse seul, tout peut arriver.

If I leave him alone, anything might happen.

all, entirely, completely, totally

adverbe (intégralement)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

C'est une robe tout en soie.

It's a dress all in silk.

very, so

adverbe (indique le haut degré)

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

Ma fille était toute contente de partir en vacances. Mes filles étaient tout excitées à l'idée d'aller à la patinoire.

My daughter was very happy to go on vacation. My daughters were so excited at the idea of going to the skating rink.

as + [indicative]

adverbe (en même temps que)

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

La jeune fille chantait tout en marchant.

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. It's a song soldiers used to sing while marching into battle.

only

adjectif (seul, unique)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Pour tout bagage, il avait pris une guitare.

All he took by way of luggage was a guitar.

all, all of, every one of ['s works], the whole of

(la totalité : d'une œuvre) (bar none)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

J'ai lu tout Shakespeare.

I've read the whole of Shakespeare - every one of his plays.

all, all of, the whole of

(la totalité : d'une ville, de ses habitants)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Tout Paris semblait être dans la rue.

All Paris seemed to be in the street.

completely, fully

adverbe (complètement)

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

À l'opéra, il était tout yeux tout oreille.

At the opera, he was all eyes and ears.

all

adverbe (qui fonctionne uniquement avec)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

Le tout électrique (or: tout-électrique) n'est pas une bonne solution.

All electric isn't a good solution.

whole, all

nom masculin (ensemble complet de [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Pommiers et poiriers sont des touts bien distincts.

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Winning isn't everything!

deny everything completely, deny everything entirely

locution verbale (nier en totalité)

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

L'accusé ne veut rien admettre, il nie tout en bloc.

very gently, very softly

locution adverbiale (très doucement)

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

Il brossait ses cheveux tout en douceur.

very delicately, very finely

locution adverbiale (précautionneusement)

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

Il appliquait la peinture tout en finesse.

very high, very tall

locution adverbiale (très haut)

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

Cet immeuble est bâti tout en hauteur.

long and narrow, low and narrow

locution adverbiale (très long)

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

Cet immeuble est bâti tout en longueur.

a bag of nerves, a bundle of nerves

locution adverbiale (très nerveux) (figurative, informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Cette fille est tout en nerfs.

nuanced, sophisticated

locution adverbiale (très nuancé, varié)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

La conclusion de ce rapport est tout en nuances.

with restraint

locution adverbiale (bien posément)

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

Cet homme parle tout en retenue.

be negative, be pessimistic

locution verbale (être pessimiste)

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

Pierre voyait tout en noir cette semaine-là.

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