jamais

The French word "jamais" means "never" in English. It is primarily an adverb used to indicate that something does not happen at any time.

Usage and meaning:

• Negation:
  "Jamais" is often used with "ne" to form negatives:

  • Je ne mange jamais de chocolat. — I never eat chocolate.
    (Here, "ne... jamais" replaces "ne... pas" to express "never" instead of "not.")

• In positive or emphatic contexts:
  Sometimes "jamais" can be used in affirmative sentences to mean "ever":

  • As-tu jamais vu ça ? — Have you ever seen that?
    (Often in spoken French, the "ne" is omitted but still understood.)

• With different tenses or moods:
  For example:

  • Je n'ai jamais vu ça. — I have never seen that.
  • Je n'irai jamais là-bas. — I will never go there.

Synonyms and differences:

• "À aucun moment" (at no moment): more formal, means exactly never.
• "En aucun cas" (in no case): used to emphasize negation, often stronger than "jamais."
• "Nullement" (not at all): differs slightly, usually means "not in any way."

Summary:
"Jamais" expresses the idea of "never," describing something that does not happen or has not happened at any time. It usually appears in negative constructions but can sometimes be used positively in questions or emphatic phrases.