Bien sûr is probably the first way you learned to say “of course” in French. But did you know there are many other ways to express this common phrase? As you become more comfortable speaking French, you’ll want to add nuance and variety to your conversations. Knowing different ways to say “of course” will help you sound more natural and express different shades of meaning. Let’s dive into 9 different ways to say “of course” in French, so you can choose the perfect phrase for any situation!

The standard and most common way – bien sûr

When you want to say 'of course' in French, the most common and standard phrase you'll hear and use is bien sûr.

Literally, bien sûr translates to 'well sure' or 'quite sure', but its idiomatic meaning is firmly 'of course' or 'naturally'.

This phrase is incredibly versatile and can be used in almost any situation where you want to express agreement, affirmation, or an obvious truth.

Bien sûr fits comfortably in both formal and informal contexts, making it a reliable choice for speakers of all levels.

Beyond simple affirmation, bien sûr can also convey a sense of mild surprise or emphasize something that is self-evident. For example, 'You're coming, bien sûr?'

In rapid spoken French, you might sometimes hear it pronounced more like 'biensûr' or even a slightly contracted 'b'en sûr', though the written form remains bien sûr.

💡 * Tu viens à la fête ? Bien sûr ! (Are you coming to the party? Of course!)

Il faut étudier pour réussir, bien sûr. (One must study to succeed, of course.)

Bien sûr, je t'aiderai si tu as besoin. (Of course, I'll help you if you need it.)

Vous avez faim ? Bien sûr que oui ! (Are you hungry? Of course I am!)

Ce n'est pas difficile, bien sûr. (It's not difficult, of course.)

The emphatic and obvious way – évidemment

The emphatic and obvious way – évidemment

When you want to express that something is obvious, evident, or self-explanatory in French, the adverb évidemment is your go-to word. It directly translates to “obviously” or “evidently” and carries a strong, clear meaning.

Évidemment is used to underscore a point that requires no further explanation because it's already clear to everyone. It adds a layer of emphasis, making the statement more assertive and sometimes, depending on context and tone, a little rhetorical.

As an adverb, évidemment is quite flexible in its placement. It can appear at the beginning of a sentence, before the verb, or after the verb (especially in compound tenses). Its position often influences the nuance and flow of the sentence.

While usually straightforward, évidemment can sometimes carry a sarcastic or exasperated tone, implying 'Duh!' or 'Isn't that clear?' This largely depends on the speaker's intonation and the context of the conversation.

While similar to bien sûr (of course) or certainement (certainly), évidemment often implies a stronger degree of self-evidence or logical conclusion. Bien sûr can be a simple affirmation, whereas évidemment suggests the truth is undeniable, almost a matter of fact.

Using évidemment correctly shows a good grasp of French expression. It's a common and natural way to convey shared understanding or to assert a fact with confidence, adding a touch of native fluency to your speech.

💡 * Tu es fatigué après ce long voyage, n'est-ce pas ? Évidemment !

Évidemment, il faut travailler dur pour réussir.

Elle a gagné le match, évidemment.

Le soleil se lève à l'est, évidemment.

S'il pleut, évidemment que nous resterons à la maison.

The natural and logical way – naturellement

The French adverb naturellement is a very common and versatile word that translates most directly to "naturally" or "of course" in English.

Like many French adverbs, naturellement is formed by adding the suffix -ment to the feminine form of the adjective naturel (natural), which is naturelle.

Its primary meaning aligns with the English "naturally," indicating something that occurs in a natural way, without artificiality, or as an inherent characteristic. It can also mean 'spontaneously' or 'instinctively'.

Naturellement is also very frequently used to mean "of course" or "obviously," often at the beginning of a sentence, to express agreement, confirmation, or to state something that is self-evident.

As an adverb, naturellement typically follows the verb in simple tenses (e.g., Il parle naturellement bien), or can be placed before the past participle in compound tenses (Elle a naturellement réagi). It can also start or end a sentence for emphasis, especially when meaning 'of course'.

Using naturellement often conveys a sense of logical consequence or inevitability, suggesting that a statement is not just true, but evidently so, or that an action is an expected response.

💡 * Naturellement, nous acceptons votre invitation. (Of course, we accept your invitation.)

Elle a naturellement beaucoup de talent pour la musique. (She naturally has a lot of talent for music.)

Le soleil se lève naturellement à l'est. (The sun naturally rises in the east.)

Il est naturellement timide, mais il fait des efforts. (He is naturally shy, but he makes efforts.)

Vous avez besoin d'aide ? Naturellement ! (You need help? Of course!)

The strong affirmation – certainement

The French adverb certainement directly translates to 'certainly,' 'surely,' or 'most assuredly' in English. It's used to express a high degree of conviction or agreement.

This powerful adverb serves to affirm a statement with strong confidence, indicating that something is definitely true or will definitely happen. It conveys an unwavering belief.

Certainement typically precedes the verb in simple tenses or follows the auxiliary verb in compound tenses. It can also appear at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.

When used in response to a question or statement, certainement acts as a strong affirmation, similar to saying 'absolutely' or 'without a doubt' in English, leaving little room for doubt.

💡 * Il viendra certainement. (He will certainly come.)

Elle a certainement raison. (She is certainly right.)

Certainement, je peux vous aider. (Certainly, I can help you.)

Vous avez certainement vu ce film. (You have certainly seen this movie.)

C'est certainement la meilleure solution. (It's certainly the best solution.)

The absolute agreement – absolument

Absolument is a versatile French adverb primarily meaning “absolutely,” “definitely,” or “certainly.”

When used on its own or to reinforce an affirmative statement, it conveys strong agreement or confirmation. It's like saying 'yes, definitely!'

Crucially, absolument also pairs with negation to mean “absolutely not” or “not at all.” For instance, pas du tout can be strengthened to absolument pas or absolument pas du tout.

As an adverb, absolument modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, adding emphasis to the action or quality.

While powerful, absolument is suitable for both formal and informal conversations, making it a highly useful word in everyday French.

💡 * Tu viens à la fête ? - Absolument ! (Are you coming to the party? - Absolutely!)

C'est absolument nécessaire de le faire. (It's absolutely necessary to do it.)

Tu n'aimes pas le chocolat ? - Absolument pas ! (You don't like chocolate? - Absolutely not!)

Je suis absolument d'accord avec vous. (I absolutely agree with you.)

Il est absolument certain qu'elle viendra. (It is absolutely certain that she will come.)

The 'well understood' way – bien entendu

The "well understood" way – bien entendu

The French phrase bien entendu literally translates to “well understood.” However, its most common usage is to express “of course,” “naturally,” or “evidently.” It signifies that something is obvious or goes without saying.

Bien entendu is used to confirm information, express strong agreement, or state something that is a logical conclusion. It often implies a shared understanding or an expected outcome, making it a polite way to emphasize certainty.

While similar to bien sûr (of course), bien entendu can sometimes carry a slightly more formal or emphatic tone. It suggests a deeper level of agreement or a more considered acknowledgment of a fact. It's suitable for both formal and informal conversations.

In practice, use bien entendu when you want to convey that a statement is self-evident, fully agreed upon, or a natural consequence. It's a versatile expression that adds a touch of conviction to your French communication.

💡 *Tu viendras nous voir demain ? – Bien entendu !
*Il est important de bien manger pour être en forme, bien entendu.
*Nous respecterons les horaires, bien entendu.
*Ce projet demandera beaucoup de travail, bien entendu.

The 'without a doubt' way – sans aucun doute

To express the idea of 'without a doubt' or 'undoubtedly' in French, the most common and direct phrase you'll encounter is sans aucun doute.

This phrase literally translates to 'without any doubt' and is used to emphasize absolute certainty about a statement or fact. It's a strong affirmation, leaving no room for questioning.

Sans aucun doute can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It often appears at the beginning or end of a sentence, or sometimes within it, to add conviction to your speech.

💡 * Il est, sans aucun doute, le meilleur candidat pour le poste. (He is, without a doubt, the best candidate for the position.)

Elle réussira son examen, sans aucun doute. (She will pass her exam, without a doubt.)

Sans aucun doute, c'est la meilleure décision que nous ayons prise. (Without a doubt, it's the best decision we've made.)

Ce projet sera un succès, sans aucun doute. (This project will be a success, without a doubt.)

The emphatic 'but yes' – mais oui

The emphatic “but yes” – mais oui is a quintessential French expression that you’ll hear frequently in everyday conversation. It’s far more than just a simple “yes.”

Literally translating to “but yes,” mais oui is used to express strong agreement, confirmation, or to emphasize that something is obvious or goes without saying. It carries a sense of assurance and often a hint of mild exasperation or surprise that the question was even posed.

You'll typically use mais oui when you want to affirm something with conviction, perhaps in response to a rhetorical question, or when correcting a misunderstanding with a firm 'of course!' or 'yes, indeed!'

While oui simply means 'yes,' mais oui adds an extra layer of certainty and emphasis. Think of it as 'yes, absolutely!' or 'why, yes!'

💡 * Tu viens avec nous? – Mais oui! (Are you coming with us? – Of course!)

C'est facile, n'est-ce pas? – Mais oui, c'est très simple! (It's easy, isn't it? – Yes, it's very simple!)

Tu as compris? – Mais oui, j'ai tout compris. (Did you understand? – Yes, I understood everything.)

Il fait beau aujourd'hui. – Mais oui, c'est une journée magnifique! (The weather is nice today. – Yes, it's a magnificent day!)

The formal 'it goes without saying' – il va de soi

To express 'it goes without saying' in a formal context in French, the most appropriate phrase is il va de soi.

Literally, il va de soi translates to 'it goes of itself,' perfectly conveying the idea that something is obvious or self-evident without needing explicit mention.

This expression is primarily used in formal writing, professional discussions, or when addressing an audience with respect. It signals that a point is so fundamental or widely accepted that it doesn't require further explanation.

Structurally, il va de soi is an impersonal verb phrase, always used with the impersonal pronoun il (it) and typically conjugated in the present tense. It can be followed by que + a clause or de + an infinitive.

While similar to bien sûr (of course) or évidemment (evidently), il va de soi carries a stronger, more formal implication of inherent truth or logical necessity. It's less common in casual spoken French.

💡 *Il va de soi que la sécurité est primordiale. (It goes without saying that safety is paramount.)
*Il va de soi d'être poli avec tout le monde. (It goes without saying to be polite with everyone.)
*Il va de soi que ce projet est complexe. (It goes without saying that this project is complex.)
*Pour une bonne santé, il va de soi de manger équilibré. (For good health, it goes without saying to eat a balanced diet.)

Are there other ways to say 'of course' in French?

Are there other ways to say “of course” in French?

Our list features the most common and versatile ways to say “of course” in French. However, French, like any rich language, has many nuances, including regional expressions, informal slang, and less common idiomatic phrases that convey similar meanings. This article focuses on the most widely understood options, but the language's depth offers even more.

If you're curious about specific regional variations, try an online search for “comment dire bien sûr en ___” followed by a particular Francophone country or region, like “comment dire bien sûr en Québec” for Canadian French.

As you explore, you might encounter other expressions. Always make sure to check their exact meaning and observe how native speakers use them in different contexts before incorporating them into your own vocabulary.

Immerse yourself in French content — whether it's books, films, podcasts, or conversations. Pay close attention to how speakers affirm or agree, and you’ll naturally pick up on new ways to express “of course”.

For a comprehensive look at synonyms and expressions related to certainty or agreement, the WordReference entry for bien sûr is an excellent starting point. It often provides various translations and usage examples.

I hope this article has provided you with helpful ways to express “of course” in French. To conclude, here’s a thought from Montaigne on the nature of certainty: “Chacun appelle barbarie ce qui n'est pas de son usage.” (Everyone calls barbarism what is not in his own usage.) This reminds us that language is diverse and ever-evolving!

9 ways to say "of course" in French