Toujours is undoubtedly the most common way to say “always” in French. But did you know there are several other options?

As you delve deeper into French, knowing these alternatives can help you express nuances and sound more like a native speaker. Whether you want to emphasize constancy, repetition, or an eternal state, French offers a variety of words and expressions.

Let’s explore 9 different ways to say “always” (and sometimes, even more than just “always”) in French!

The standard 'always' – toujours

The standard word for "always" in French, and sometimes "still", is toujours.

At its most basic, toujours means "always". It indicates something that happens repeatedly, habitually, or without end.

Interestingly, toujours can also mean "still" in French, referring to something that is still happening or still true. This can sometimes cause confusion for learners.

To understand whether toujours means "always" or "still", context is key. If the action or state is ongoing from a previous point, it likely means "still". If it's a habitual or never-ending action, it means "always".

In simple tenses, toujours generally comes after the verb. For instance, Je travaille toujours (I always work or I am still working).

When used with compound tenses like the passé composé, toujours is typically placed between the auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and the past participle. For example, J'ai toujours aimé le chocolat (I have always loved chocolate).

Toujours is also found in several common expressions, such as pour toujours (forever/for always) and comme toujours (as always).

💡 * Il est toujours en retard. (He is always late.)

Elle travaille toujours à Paris ? (Does she still work in Paris?)

Nous avons toujours cru en toi. (We have always believed in you.)

Je t'aimerai pour toujours. (I will love you forever.)

Comme toujours, il a oublié son portefeuille. (As always, he forgot his wallet.)

The 'constantly' or 'continuously' – constamment

The “constantly” or “continuously” – constamment

The French adverb constamment directly translates to “constantly” or “continuously” in English. It is derived from the adjective constant (constant, steady) and is used to describe an action or state that persists without interruption or occurs with great regularity.

You'll frequently encounter constamment when describing habits, recurring events, or ongoing conditions. It emphasizes a lack of change or a high frequency over a period of time, making it a powerful word for conveying persistence.

While generally neutral, constamment can sometimes carry a subtle connotation. Depending on the context, it might imply persistence, reliability, or, conversely, an annoying repetition or an unceasing burden. For instance, “Il se plaint constamment” (“He complains constantly”) suggests an irritating habit.

As an adverb, constamment modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing more detail about how something is done or to what extent a quality exists. It typically follows the verb it modifies in simple tenses and often comes after the auxiliary verb in compound tenses.

This adverb is particularly useful when you want to highlight an unwavering quality or an unceasing effort. It conveys a stronger sense of continuity than simply using words like souvent (often) or toujours (always), implying a more persistent and unbroken sequence.

💡 * Il travaille constamment pour améliorer ses compétences. (He constantly works to improve his skills.)

Elle est constamment en train de lire. (She is constantly reading.)

Le bruit du chantier est constamment présent. (The noise from the construction site is constantly present.)

Nous devons constamment nous adapter aux changements. (We must constantly adapt to changes.)

Pourquoi tu me déranges constamment ? (Why are you constantly bothering me?)

The 'permanently' or 'always present' – en permanence

The French phrase en permanence is essential for expressing the idea of something being 'permanently' or 'always present'.

Directly translated, en permanence means 'permanently' or 'on a permanent basis'. It describes a constant, ongoing state or presence.

While toujours means 'always' and often refers to frequency, en permanence specifically emphasizes continuous availability, constant staffing, or uninterrupted activity.

You'll often find en permanence used in contexts describing services, personnel, or conditions that are maintained around the clock, without interruption, or as a fixed feature.

As an adverbial phrase, en permanence usually follows the verb or the direct object it modifies, adding clarity to the action or state.

This phrase is perfect for conveying that something is not just occasional, but rather a constant fixture, a permanent feature, or continuously operational.

💡 *Le service d'urgence est ouvert en permanence. (The emergency service is open permanently/24/7.)
*Il y a quelqu'un en permanence à la réception. (There is someone permanently at the reception.)
*L'alarme est en permanence sous surveillance. (The alarm is under permanent surveillance.)
*Ce musée expose l'art moderne en permanence. (This museum exhibits modern art permanently.)
*L'équipe travaille en permanence sur ce projet. (The team is working permanently on this project.)

The 'without stopping' or 'incessantly' – sans cesse

The French phrase sans cesse directly translates to 'without stopping' or 'without ceasing'. It is used to describe an action or state that continues perpetually or incessantly.

Sans cesse functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate continuous or repeated action. It conveys a strong sense of persistence or an unending nature.

This phrase emphasizes the relentless and uninterrupted nature of an event, often implying a degree of annoyance or a strong, constant presence. It's more emphatic than simply saying 'always'.

💡 * Il parle sans cesse. (He talks incessantly.)

La pluie tombe sans cesse. (The rain falls without stopping.)

Elle travaille sans cesse pour réussir. (She works non-stop to succeed.)

Ils se plaignent sans cesse. (They complain constantly.)

The 'forever' or 'for always' (with eternity) – à jamais

The French phrase à jamais translates directly to 'forever' or 'for always,' carrying a profound sense of eternity and permanence.

While similar to pour toujours, à jamais often conveys a more poetic, definitive, or solemn sense of 'eternally.' It emphasizes an unbreakable bond with time.

You'll frequently find à jamais in literature, songs, and heartfelt declarations, especially when expressing strong emotions like love, commitment, or lasting impact.

As an adverbial phrase, à jamais is invariable and can be placed after the verb it modifies or at the end of a sentence.

Use à jamais when you want to express 'forever' with an added layer of intensity, solemnity, or poetic flair, truly implying 'for all time.'

💡 * Je t'aimerai à jamais. (I will love you forever.)

Leur souvenir restera gravé à jamais dans nos cœurs. (Their memory will remain engraved forever in our hearts.)

Cette décision a changé sa vie à jamais. (This decision changed his life forever.)

Nous serons unis à jamais. (We will be united forever.)

The 'for always' or 'forever' – pour toujours

The phrase pour toujours is the most common and direct way to express 'for always' or 'forever' in French. Literally translating to 'for always,' it conveys a sense of unending duration.

You'll hear pour toujours used in various contexts, from declarations of love to commitments, or simply describing something that will last indefinitely. It's versatile and understood by all French speakers.

As an adverbial phrase, pour toujours typically follows the verb it modifies or the direct object in a sentence. For example, 'Je t'aimerai pour toujours' (I will love you forever).

While pour toujours is standard, you might also encounter à jamais, which often carries a slightly more poetic or definitive tone, emphasizing an absolute and irreversible 'forever'. Éternellement is another option, meaning 'eternally'.

For most everyday conversations and written communication when you want to say 'forever' or 'for always,' pour toujours is your safest and most natural choice. It's the phrase you'll hear and use most often.

💡 *Je t'aimerai pour toujours. (I will love you forever.)
*Ils sont partis pour toujours. (They are gone for good/forever.)
*Cette chanson restera ma préférée pour toujours. (This song will remain my favorite forever.)
*Promets-tu de rester mon ami pour toujours ? (Do you promise to be my friend forever?)
*Nous serons liés pour toujours. (We will be linked forever.)

The 'from all time' or 'perpetually' – de tout temps

The French expression de tout temps translates directly to "from all time" or "of all time," and it's used to convey the idea that something has always been, or has always been true, throughout history.

This phrase emphasizes the timeless and perpetual nature of a fact, a belief, or a situation. It implies that something has existed or been valid continuously, from the distant past up to the present, without interruption. Think of it as meaning "always" or "eternally" in a historical context.

De tout temps functions as an adverbial phrase. It is invariable, meaning its form does not change regardless of the gender or number of the noun it might relate to. It typically modifies a verb or an entire clause, providing a temporal context of perpetuity.

💡 * L'art a été un moyen d'expression humain de tout temps. (Art has been a means of human expression from all time.)

Les étoiles ont fasciné l'humanité de tout temps. (Stars have fascinated humanity from all time.)

Le besoin de liberté est une aspiration universelle de tout temps. (The need for freedom is a universal aspiration from all time.)

De tout temps, les fleuves ont été des voies de communication importantes. (From all time, rivers have been important communication routes.)

The 'invariably' or 'without change' – invariablement

The adverb invariablement translates directly to 'invariably,' 'always,' or 'without change.' It is used to emphasize a consistent, unchanging nature or action.

When you use invariablement, you are highlighting that something happens or remains the same every single time, without exception or variation. It's often employed to describe habits, rules, or natural phenomena that are constant.

This adverb is formed from the adjective invariable, which means 'unchangeable' or 'constant.' Understanding the root adjective helps reinforce the adverb's core meaning of absolute consistency and lack of deviation.

Think of invariablement as a powerful way to express 'always' when you want to stress that there is absolutely no deviation from a pattern, rule, or state, conveying a sense of certainty and predictability.

💡 *Il arrive invariablement en retard à nos réunions. (He invariably arrives late for our meetings.)
*La loi s'applique invariablement à tous les citoyens. (The law applies invariably to all citizens.)
*Le soleil se lève invariablement à l'est chaque matin. (The sun invariably rises in the east every morning.)
*Ses réponses sont invariablement les mêmes, quelle que soit la question. (His answers are invariably the same, whatever the question.)

The 'each time' or 'every time' (implying always) – à chaque fois

The most common and versatile way to express 'each time' or 'every time' in French, often implying 'always' in a repetitive context, is à chaque fois.

While literally meaning 'at each time,' à chaque fois carries a strong connotation of regularity and repetition, often translating to 'every single time' or even 'always' when referring to recurring events. It emphasizes the consistency of an action or event.

You'll frequently hear à chaque fois in everyday conversations to describe habits, recurring situations, or general truths. It's a natural way to convey that something happens reliably or without fail whenever a specific condition is met.

Although chaque fois (without 'à') can also mean 'each time,' à chaque fois is generally preferred in spoken French and often sounds more natural. The 'à' adds a subtle emphasis on the moment or instance of the repetition. Think of it as 'on each occasion.'

À chaque fois functions as an adverbial phrase, meaning it modifies a verb and doesn't require agreement in gender or number. It can be placed at various points in a sentence, often at the beginning, end, or after the verb it modifies.

💡 * À chaque fois que je le vois, il sourit. (Every time I see him, he smiles.)

Elle oublie ses clés à chaque fois. (She forgets her keys every time.)

Nous visitons Paris à chaque fois que nous sommes en France. (We visit Paris each time we are in France.)

Il pleut à chaque fois que je lave ma voiture. (It rains every time I wash my car.)

À chaque fois, c'est la même histoire. (Every time, it's the same story.)

Are there other ways to say 'always' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'always' in French. However, like any language, French is rich with nuances. You might encounter older expressions, regionalisms, or even emerging slang for this concept.

If you're curious about regional variations, an online search for 'comment dire toujours en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region can be enlightening.

You might discover interesting synonyms or alternative phrases for toujours. Always remember to check a word’s definition and observe its usage in context before incorporating it into your vocabulary.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading, watching, and listening — pay close attention. You might stumble upon different ways to express the idea of 'always' that are not as commonly taught.

For a deeper dive into synonyms and related expressions for toujours, the WordReference entry is an excellent starting point. It often provides a comprehensive list of nuances and contexts.

I hope this article has been helpful. Here's a simple truth to ponder, relating to the constancy of language and learning: 'La vérité est toujours la meilleure.' (Truth is always the best.) Just as truth endures, so too will your French skills with consistent practice!

9 ways to say "always" in French