adverbconjunctioninterjection

enfin

finally

Ce mot sert à montrer que quelque chose arrive après une attente ou à terminer une liste ou un discours.

The French word "enfin" is an adverb with several uses and meanings, often related to time, clarification, or emphasis.

Meanings and uses:

  1. Finally / At last
    Used to indicate that something has happened after a wait or delay.
    Example: Il est enfin arrivé. — "He finally arrived."

  2. In conclusion / To sum up
    Used to wrap up an explanation or introduce a summary.
    Example: Enfin, pour résumer... — "In conclusion..."

  3. Well / I mean / Sort of / Actually
    Used to soften or correct a previous statement, or when trying to clarify or rephrase something.
    Example: C'est compliqué, enfin, tu vois ce que je veux dire. — "It's complicated, well, you know what I mean."

  4. Anyway
    Sometimes used to change topic or close a previous point.
    Example: Enfin, passons à autre chose. — "Anyway, let's move on."

Differences with synonyms:

  • Finalement:
    Means "finally" or "in the end," focusing mainly on the final result or conclusion, often after some doubt.
    Example: Finalement, il a accepté. — "In the end, he accepted."

  • Bref:
    Means "in short" or "briefly," used to summarize or conclude quickly.
    Example: Bref, c'était un échec. — "In short, it was a failure."

  • Donc:
    Means "so" or "therefore," used to indicate consequence or conclusion.
    Example: Il pleut, donc je reste chez moi. — "It's raining, so I stay home."

Summary:

"Enfin" is a versatile adverb used to signal finality, clarification, or softening statements. Its informal, conversational tone often helps the speaker manage the flow of conversation or emphasis.

Make “enfin” part of your vocabulary.

Build your French vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Examples

Nous avons enfin trouvé une solution.adverb

We have finally found a solution.

Ils ont enfin compris le problème.adverb

They have finally understood the problem.

Keep exploring French

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).