Want to talk about things that happened "before" something else in French? It might seem straightforward, but just like in English, there isn't just one way to express this concept. In fact, French offers a rich variety of words and phrases to convey the idea of "before" depending on the context, nuance, and type of word that follows.

Mastering these different expressions will significantly enhance your fluency and help you communicate more precisely and naturally. Ready to expand your French vocabulary?

Let's dive into 9 essential ways to say "before" in French!

1. The standard 'before' (preposition) – avant

The standard 'before' (preposition) – avant

Avant is the most common and versatile French word for 'before'.

Primarily, avant acts as a preposition of time, indicating something happens earlier than another event or point in time. It is directly followed by a noun, pronoun, or an adverb of time.

When you want to say 'before doing something' (i.e., before a verb), you must use the construction avant de followed by an infinitive verb. This is a crucial distinction from English 'before' + -ing verb.

To express 'before something happens' when followed by a subordinate clause (a full sentence with a subject and a conjugated verb), you use avant que. Remember that avant que always triggers the subjunctive mood in the following verb.

It's important not to confuse avant with devant. While both can translate to 'before' in some contexts, avant almost exclusively refers to time or order, whereas devant means 'in front of' (spatial location).

You'll often encounter avant in common expressions such as avant tout (first and foremost), avant-hier (the day before yesterday), or avant-propos (foreword).

To summarize, remember these key forms for 'before': avant (preposition + noun/pronoun), avant de (+ infinitive verb), and avant que (+ clause + subjunctive).

💡 *Je dois finir ce travail avant midi. (I must finish this work before noon.)
*Lavez-vous les mains avant de manger. (Wash your hands before eating.)
*Il faut que tu arrives avant qu'il ne soit trop tard. (You must arrive before it's too late.)
*Elle a lu le livre avant de regarder le film. (She read the book before watching the movie.)
*Avant tout, nous devons nous organiser. (First and foremost, we must organize ourselves.)

The standard 'before' (adverb) – avant

The standard 'before' (adverb) – avant

When you want to express “before” in French, the most common and versatile word you'll use is avant. It primarily functions as an adverb or a preposition, indicating a preceding time or order.

As an adverb, avant refers to a preceding time or event without needing a direct object. It stands alone, often at the end of a sentence or clause. For example, “I'll eat before” would be Je mangerai avant.

More frequently, avant is used as a preposition, meaning it's followed by a noun, pronoun, or an infinitive verb (in which case it's usually preceded by de). It indicates a point in time or order prior to something else.

It's crucial not to confuse avant with devant. While both can sometimes translate to 'before' in English, devant exclusively refers to spatial position ('in front of'), whereas avant refers to time or sequential order.

A very common and important construction is avant de + infinitive, which means 'before doing something'. This allows you to express actions that precede another action. For instance, Avant de partir, je dois finir mon travail (Before leaving, I must finish my work).

Unlike verbs, avant itself doesn't conjugate. Its form remains constant, making it relatively straightforward to use once you understand its contexts as an adverb or preposition.

💡 * Je dois partir avant. (I have to leave before.)

• Elle est arrivée avant moi. (She arrived before me.)
• Lisons le livre avant le film. (Let's read the book before the movie.)
• Avant de manger, lave tes mains. (Before eating, wash your hands.)
• Il faut finir ce projet avant vendredi. (We need to finish this project before Friday.)

The 'before' (conjunction, requiring subjunctive) – avant que

When you want to express 'before' as a conjunction, connecting two clauses with different subjects, the French phrase you'll use is avant que.

Crucially, avant que always requires the subjonctif (subjunctive mood) in the clause that follows it. This is a non-negotiable grammatical rule in French.

It signifies that the action in the main clause happens prior to the action in the dependent clause introduced by avant que. It sets up an anticipated or hypothetical event.

The structure typically looks like: Main Clause + avant que + Subject + Subjunctive Verb + Rest of Dependent Clause.

The subjunctive is used here because the action in the avant que clause is often an anticipated event, something that has not yet happened or is uncertain at the time of the main clause's action. It expresses a sense of expectation or potential.

Remember that avant que is a conjunction used to link two clauses with different subjects. If the subject of both actions is the same, you would use the preposition avant de followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., avant de partir - before leaving). The distinction is key for correct usage.

💡 * Il faut que tu finisses tes devoirs avant que nous allions au cinéma. (You must finish your homework before we go to the cinema.)

• Elle veut partir avant qu'il ne pleuve. (She wants to leave before it rains.)
• Je t'appellerai avant que tu partes. (I will call you before you leave.)
• Dépêchez-vous avant qu'il ne soit trop tard. (Hurry up before it's too late.)
• Nous mangerons avant que les invités arrivent. (We will eat before the guests arrive.)

The 'previously' or 'beforehand' (adverb) – auparavant

The French adverb auparavant translates to 'previously,' 'beforehand,' or 'before that point in time' in English. It signifies something that happened at an earlier moment.

Auparavant is exclusively an adverb of time. It is typically placed after the verb in compound tenses (e.g., passé composé) or at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis, modifying the entire clause.

While similar to avant (before), auparavant specifically refers to a more general 'before' without necessarily specifying an immediate preceding event. It often implies a state or action that existed 'before then' relative to a current or described past situation.

This adverb is frequently used to highlight a change in circumstances, habits, or locations, indicating what was true or occurred 'before' a particular event or period being discussed.

💡 * Il habitait à Paris auparavant. (He used to live in Paris previously.)

• Elle n'avait jamais vu ça auparavant. (She had never seen that beforehand.)
• Auparavant, nous allions souvent au cinéma. (Previously, we often went to the cinema.)
• J'ai travaillé comme enseignant auparavant. (I worked as a teacher before that.)
• Ils se sont rencontrés et, auparavant, ils ne se connaissaient pas. (They met, and before that, they didn't know each other.)

The 'beforehand' or 'previously' (more formal adverb) – préalablement

When you want to express "beforehand" or "previously" in a more formal or administrative context in French, the adverb préalablement is an excellent choice.

Préalablement translates directly to "previously," "beforehand," or "prior to this/that." It signifies an action or event that occurred or must occur before another.

Unlike more common adverbs like avant (before) or auparavant (previously), préalablement carries a distinctly formal or administrative tone. You'll often encounter it in official documents, legal texts, or precise instructions.

It is frequently used to indicate a prerequisite condition or a necessary preceding step. For instance, in a recipe, you might be told to préalablement heat the oven.

As an adverb, préalablement modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, providing information about the timing of an action relative to another.

Choose préalablement when you need to convey "prior to" or "in advance" with precision and a degree of formality, emphasizing a necessary sequence of events.

💡 * Veuillez lire préalablement les instructions. (Please read the instructions beforehand.)

• Le formulaire doit être rempli préalablement à l'entretien. (The form must be filled out prior to the interview.)
• Nous avons préalablement discuté de cette question. (We had previously discussed this matter.)
• L'accord a été signé préalablement à la transaction. (The agreement was signed prior to the transaction.)

The 'before' (followed by an infinitive verb) – avant de

In French, to express "before" when it's followed by an action (a verb), you typically use the construction avant de. This phrase is crucial for sequencing events in a sentence.

The key rule to remember is that avant de is always followed by an infinitive verb. This means the verb will be in its unconjugated form (e.g., manger, parler, finir, aller).

You primarily use avant de when the subject of the action before and the action after is the same. For instance, in "I eat before I leave," the "I" performs both actions. This construction simplifies sentence structure by avoiding a subordinate clause.

A common mistake for learners is to try to conjugate the verb after avant de. Always resist this urge! Think of de in this construction as requiring the infinitive, much like après avoir/être for "after doing something."

💡 *Je me brosse les dents avant de dormir. (I brush my teeth before sleeping.)
*Il faut lire les instructions avant de commencer. (You must read the instructions before starting.)
*Elle prend un café avant de partir au travail. (She has a coffee before leaving for work.)
*N'oublie pas de fermer la porte avant de sortir. (Don't forget to close the door before going out.)
*Ils ont dîné avant de regarder le film. (They had dinner before watching the movie.)

The 'in front of' or 'before' (spatial) – devant

In French, when you want to express the idea of being 'in front of' something or someone, the word you're looking for is devant.

Devant is a preposition used to indicate a spatial relationship, meaning literally 'in front of' or 'before' in terms of physical location. It answers the question 'where?'

It's important not to confuse devant (spatial 'in front of') with avant (temporal 'before'). While both can sometimes translate to 'before' in English, devant is strictly for physical position.

💡 * Le chien est devant la porte. (The dog is in front of the door.)

• Je t'attends devant le cinéma. (I'm waiting for you in front of the cinema.)
• Elle s'est garée juste devant notre maison. (She parked right in front of our house.)
• Mets les clés devant moi sur la table. (Put the keys in front of me on the table.)
• L'enfant se cachait derrière l'arbre, pas devant. (The child was hiding behind the tree, not in front.)

The 'earlier' or 'sooner' – plus tôt

The phrase plus tôt literally translates to “more early” or “more soon,” and it means earlier or sooner in French. It's used to indicate a point in time that is before another expected or usual time.

A very common point of confusion for French learners is the difference between plus tôt (two words) and plutôt (one word). While they sound similar, their meanings are distinct and not interchangeable.

Plus tôt always refers to time. You use it when you want to express that something happens at an earlier moment or sooner than something else. Think of it as indicating a comparison in time.

On the other hand, plutôt (one word) means rather or instead. It's used to express a preference, a correction, or to intensify a statement, but never to refer to time. For example, Je préfère plutôt rester à la maison (I'd rather stay home).

💡 * Je dois me lever plus tôt demain. (I have to get up earlier tomorrow.)

• Nous devrions arriver plus tôt pour avoir de bonnes places. (We should arrive sooner to get good seats.)
• Il est parti plus tôt que prévu. (He left earlier than expected.)
• Je préférerais plutôt un film d'action. (I'd rather have an action movie.)
• C'est plutôt une bonne idée. (It's rather a good idea.)

The 'prior to' or 'upstream of' (more formal) – en amont de

The French expression en amont de literally translates to “upstream of.” However, in a broader, often more formal context, it signifies “prior to,” “ahead of,” or “before” an event or process.

This phrase is frequently encountered in professional, administrative, or technical language. It implies a preparatory or preceding stage, emphasizing planning, prevention, or a logical sequence of actions.

While it can describe a physical location (e.g., en amont d'une rivière - upstream of a river), its figurative use is more common. It refers to actions or decisions that need to happen before something else takes place, often to influence or enable it.

Using en amont de suggests a deliberate and often strategic preceding action. It's stronger and more formal than simply avant (before), highlighting a dependency or a phase that must be completed first for the subsequent stage to proceed effectively.

💡 * La réunion a été organisée en amont de la signature du contrat. (The meeting was organized prior to the contract signing.)

• Des études de faisabilité sont nécessaires en amont du projet. (Feasibility studies are necessary prior to the project.)
• Le village se situe en amont de la centrale hydroélectrique. (The village is located upstream of the hydroelectric plant.)
• Il faut anticiper les problèmes en amont de leur apparition. (One must anticipate problems prior to their appearance.)
• Une bonne communication est essentielle en amont de toute décision importante. (Good communication is essential prior to any important decision.)

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

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

Our article covered the most common ways to say 'before' in French, like avant and avant de. However, the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, including more formal expressions, literary terms, or even regional variations that convey a sense of 'before'.

To delve deeper, you could perform an online search for "autres expressions pour dire avant en français" or "synonymes de avant" to uncover more specific or less common phrases.

When you encounter new expressions for 'before,' always make sure to check their precise meaning and observe how they are used in various contexts to ensure you use them appropriately.

As you continue to read, watch, and listen to French content, pay close attention to how native speakers express the concept of 'before' — you might be surprised by the variety of phrases you discover.

For a comprehensive list of synonyms and related expressions, the WordReference entry for avant is an excellent resource to explore the full spectrum of ways to say 'before' in French.

I hope this article has helped clarify the different ways to express 'before' in French. As a final thought, here’s a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that speaks to looking ahead: "L'avenir n'est jamais que du présent à mettre en ordre. Tu n'as pas à le prévoir, mais à le permettre." (The future is never anything but the present to be put in order. You don't have to foresee it, but to enable it.)