The Complete French Conjunctions List: Coordinating & Subordinating Made Easy

If you want your French to sound natural, sophisticated, and coherent, you cannot rely on short, disconnected sentences. Just as in English, conjunctions (les conjonctions) are the invisible glue of the French language. They connect words, clauses, and thoughts, enabling you to build complex sentences and express nuances such as cause, contrast, and condition.

In this comprehensive guide, we provide a structured French conjunctions list, categorizing coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, explaining key grammar rules (including the dreaded subjunctive triggers), and offering practical examples.

1. Coordinating Conjunctions (Les conjonctions de coordination)

Coordinating conjunctions connect two units of identical grammatical status: two words of the same type, two phrases, or two independent clauses.

The Famous French Mnemonic Device

Every French schoolchild memorizes this phonetic pun: « Mais où est donc Ornicar ? » (literally: "Where on earth is Ornicar?") It represents: Mais, Ou, Et, Donc, Or, Ni, Car.

Here is how to use them:

  • Mais (but) – Expresses contrast or opposition:
  • Ou (or) – Proposes an alternative:
  • Et (and) – Adds elements together:
  • Donc (so / therefore) – Expresses a logical conclusion or result:
  • Or (now / yet / however) – Introduces a new premise in reasoning or a twist:
  • Ni (neither / nor) – Negative coordination:
  • Car (for / because) – Explains the reason (formal equivalent to parce que):

Ex: J'aimerais venir, mais je dois travailler. (I would love to come, but I have to work.) Note: Written without an accent (unlike "où" which means "where"). Ex: Fromage ou dessert ? (Cheese or dessert?) Ex: Un café et un croissant, s'il vous plaît. (A coffee and a croissant, please.) Ex: Il n'a pas révisé, donc il a échoué. (He didn't study, so he failed.) Ex: Le témoin affirme avoir vu la scène. Or, il faisait nuit noire. (The witness claims to have seen the scene. Yet, it was pitch dark.) Ex: Il ne boit ni alcool ni café. (He drinks neither alcohol nor coffee.) Ex: Elle sourit car elle est heureuse. (She smiles because she is happy.)

2. Subordinating Conjunctions (Les conjonctions de subordination)

Subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to a main clause. The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

A. Simple Subordinating Conjunctions

  • Que (that) – The most versatile conjunction in French:
  • Quand / Lorsque (when) – Temporal markers:
  • Puisque (since / seeing that) – Used when the cause is already obvious to everyone:
  • Comme (as / since) – Used at the very beginning of a sentence to introduce cause:
  • Si (if) – Expresses condition:

Ex: Je pense que la langue française est magnifique. (I think that the French language is beautiful.) Ex: Quand il fait beau, nous allons à la plage. (When the weather is nice, we go to the beach.) Ex: Puisque tout le monde est d'accord, commençons. (Since everyone agrees, let's begin.) Ex: Comme j'étais fatigué, je me suis couché tôt. (Since I was tired, I went to bed early.) Ex: Si tu veux, nous pouvons partir. (If you want, we can leave.)

B. Conjunctive Phrases (Locutions conjonctives)

These are multi-word expressions ending in que that function as subordinate connectors.

3. The Major Hurdle: Indicative vs. Subjunctive

Category French Conjunction English Meaning Example
:--- :--- :--- :---
Cause Parce que Because Il étudie parce qu'il a un test.
Time Pendant que While J'écoute pendant qu'elle parle.
Time Dès que As soon as Appelle-moi dès que tu arrives.
Comparison De même que Just as De même que le vin, le fromage est sacré.
Opposition Alors que Whereas / While Il rit alors qu'elle pleure.

One of the most critical aspects for intermediate and advanced learners (B1/B2) is knowing which mood to use after a conjunction.

Conjunctions Requiring the Subjunctive

  • Bien que / Quoique (although / even though):
  • Pour que / Afin que (so that / in order that):
  • Avant que (before):
  • À condition que (provided that):

These typically deal with intentionality, purpose, concession, restriction, or unrealized time: Ex: Bien qu'il fasse froid, nous marchons. (Although it is cold, we are walking.) Ex: Répétez afin que je comprenne. (Repeat so that I may understand.) Ex: Finissons le projet avant qu'il ne parte. (Let's finish the project before he leaves.) Ex: Je viens à condition que tu sois là. (I will come provided that you are there.)

Conjunctions Requiring the Indicative

  • Parce que (because): Je mange parce que j'ai faim.
  • Dès que (as soon as): Je te le dirai dès qu'il arrivera.
  • Après que (after – Note: strictly requires indicative, not subjunctive!): Nous sommes sortis après qu'il a cessé de pleuvoir.

    • These express facts, realities, and chronologically verified events:

    Practical Tips for Learners

1. Stop saying "Et... et...": Elevate your speech by replacing repetitive additions with transitions like de plus, par ailleurs, or causal links like puisque.

2. Highlight subjunctive triggers: When reading French articles, highlight conjunctions like bien que or pour que and note the verb mood that follows.

3. Practice on my-french.com: Use our interactive sentence-combining drills to turn short sentences into fluid, natural French.

Mastering this list will bridge the gap between intermediate speech and true French fluency.