sitôt

The French word "sitôt" is an adverb that means "as soon as" or "immediately after". It is used to indicate that one action happens right after another, often emphasizing the quick succession or immediacy of events.

Usage:

• Sitôt que = "as soon as"
• Example: Sitôt qu’il est arrivé, il a commencé à travailler.
  ("As soon as he arrived, he started working.")

---

Synonyms and their differences:

• Dès que: Also means "as soon as," and can often replace sitôt que without much difference. However, dès que is more commonly used and slightly more neutral.
  Example: Dès que tu finis, appelle-moi. ("As soon as you finish, call me.")

• Aussitôt que: Very close in meaning to sitôt que, often interchangeable. It has a slightly more formal or literary tone.

• À peine: Means "hardly" or "barely," but when combined as à peine... que, it can mean "no sooner... than." It tends to emphasize that something happened almost immediately and sometimes with an element of surprise.
  Example: À peine était-il parti que la pluie a commencé.
  ("No sooner had he left than the rain started.")

---

Summary:

• Sitôt = "as soon as," emphasizing immediacy.
• It’s more formal/literary than dès que, but less formal than aussitôt que in some cases.
• Often used with que to connect two events occurring closely in time.