"Sometimes" is a word we use all the time, whether we're talking about how often we do something or expressing a bit of uncertainty.While "parfois" is likely the first French word that springs to mind, the language actually offers a fascinating array of alternatives to convey this idea.Knowing these different expressions will not only make your French sound more natural and nuanced but also give you the precision you need in various contexts.Ready to move beyond just "parfois"? Let's explore 9 different ways to say "sometimes" in French!

The standard 'sometimes' – parfois

The standard "sometimes" – parfois

Parfois is the most common and versatile French word for "sometimes" or "at times."

It can be used in almost any context, from formal writing to casual conversations, making it your go-to choice for expressing "sometimes."

Unlike many adverbs of frequency, parfois typically follows the conjugated verb in simple tenses and the auxiliary verb in compound tenses.

In French, parfois usually comes after the conjugated verb in simple tenses (e.g., Je lis parfois) and after the auxiliary verb (avoir/être) in compound tenses (e.g., J'ai parfois lu).

While parfois is standard, you might also encounter synonyms like quelquefois (sometimes, a few times) or de temps en temps (from time to time). Parfois is generally the most neutral and widely applicable.

For instance, "Il va parfois au cinéma" (He sometimes goes to the cinema) clearly shows parfois after the verb. In a compound tense, "Nous avons parfois vu ce film" (We have sometimes seen this movie) places it after "avons."

It's rarely used at the very beginning of a sentence, though not strictly incorrect. Its natural flow is usually after the verb for a smoother sound.

Fortunately, parfois is quite straightforward. You don't need to worry about agreement or complex rules; just place it correctly in the sentence.

Parfois is a very common adverb in French, reflecting the natural need to express occasional actions or occurrences in daily conversation and writing.

💡 * Je vais parfois à la piscine. (I sometimes go to the swimming pool.)

Elle lit parfois des romans policiers. (She sometimes reads detective novels.)

Nous avons parfois mangé au restaurant. (We have sometimes eaten at the restaurant.)

Il est parfois difficile de comprendre. (It is sometimes difficult to understand.)

Parfois, il pleut en été. (Sometimes, it rains in summer.)

The common 'sometimes' – quelquefois

When you want to express the idea of "sometimes" or "occasionally" in French, quelquefois is one of the most common and versatile adverbs you can use.

Its straightforward meaning makes it an excellent choice for learners, as it can be applied in a wide variety of contexts without much ambiguity.

As an adverb, quelquefois is invariable, meaning it doesn't change its form to agree with gender or number. This simplifies its use considerably.

Typically, quelquefois is placed after the verb in simple tenses (e.g., Je lis quelquefois) or after the auxiliary verb in compound tenses (e.g., J'ai quelquefois lu). It can also sometimes appear at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis.

While other adverbs like parfois or phrases like de temps en temps also mean 'sometimes,' quelquefois is often perceived as slightly more formal or literary than parfois, but still perfectly common in everyday speech and writing.

Mastering quelquefois will significantly enhance your ability to express varying frequencies in French, making it an indispensable part of your vocabulary.

💡 * Je vais quelquefois au marché le samedi. (I sometimes go to the market on Saturday.)

Elle lit quelquefois des romans policiers. (She sometimes reads detective novels.)

Nous avons quelquefois voyagé en train. (We have sometimes traveled by train.)

Il est quelquefois difficile de comprendre. (It is sometimes difficult to understand.)

As-tu quelquefois visité le Canada ? (Have you sometimes visited Canada?)

The 'from time to time' – de temps en temps

The phrase that expresses occasional actions – de temps en temps.

In French, de temps en temps directly translates to "from time to time" or "occasionally." It's used to describe actions or events that happen infrequently or irregularly.

This adverbial phrase implies a moderate level of frequency – not constant, but also not extremely rare. It suggests something happens periodically, but without a strict schedule.

De temps en temps functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when or how often an action occurs.

Typically, de temps en temps is placed at the end of a sentence or clause. It can also be placed at the beginning for emphasis, though this is less common for simple statements of frequency.

💡 * Je vais au cinéma de temps en temps. (I go to the cinema from time to time.)

Elle rend visite à ses parents de temps en temps. (She visits her parents occasionally.)

Nous mangeons au restaurant de temps en temps. (We eat out from time to time.)

Il lit un livre de temps en temps. (He reads a book now and then.)

De temps en temps, il pleut en été. (From time to time, it rains in summer.)

The 'occasionally' – occasionnellement

The French word for 'occasionally' is occasionnellement. It's an adverb used to describe actions or events that happen from time to time, but not regularly.

As an adverb, occasionnellement modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing information about the frequency or circumstance of an action. It's derived from the noun occasion (occasion).

Using occasionnellement implies that something happens now and then, on certain occasions, or without a set pattern. It conveys a sense of irregularity or infrequency, similar to 'sometimes' or 'from time to time' but often with a slightly more formal nuance.

Typically, occasionnellement is placed after the verb it modifies in simple tenses, or after the auxiliary verb in compound tenses. It can also appear at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis.

💡 * Je le vois occasionnellement au marché. (I see him occasionally at the market.)

Elle travaille occasionnellement le week-end. (She occasionally works on weekends.)

Occasionnellement, il aime voyager seul. (Occasionally, he likes to travel alone.)

Nous nous rencontrons occasionnellement pour un café. (We occasionally meet for coffee.)

Ces problèmes surviennent occasionnellement. (These problems occur occasionally.)

The 'on occasion' – à l'occasion

The 'on occasion' – à l'occasion

The French phrase à l'occasion directly translates to 'on the occasion' or 'on occasion,' meaning 'occasionally,' 'sometimes,' or 'when the opportunity arises.'

It's used to describe actions or events that happen infrequently, not regularly, but when a specific opportunity presents itself. It implies a degree of spontaneity or opportunism rather than strict scheduling.

While similar to parfois (sometimes), à l'occasion often carries the nuance of 'if the opportunity arises' or 'when it's convenient.' It's less about simple frequency and more about favorable circumstances.

This adverbial phrase can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, or sometimes after the verb, to modify the action's frequency or condition.

Use à l'occasion when you want to express that something happens, or you'd like it to happen, but only if the right circumstances permit it.

💡 *Je vais au marché à l'occasion. (I go to the market on occasion/sometimes.)
*À l'occasion, on pourrait prendre un café. (On occasion/If the opportunity arises, we could grab a coffee.)
*Il vient nous voir à l'occasion, quand il est de passage. (He comes to see us sometimes/when he's passing through.)
*Tu devrais lire ce livre à l'occasion, il est excellent. (You should read this book sometime/when you get a chance, it's excellent.)

The 'from time to time' (another variant) – de temps à autre

While de temps en temps is the most common way to say "from time to time" or "occasionally" in French, de temps à autre is another valid and frequently used variant. It conveys a similar meaning but often carries a slightly different nuance.

De temps à autre tends to sound a bit more formal or literary than de temps en temps. You might encounter it more in written French, speeches, or more elegant conversations, although it's still perfectly acceptable in everyday speech.

Think of the difference as akin to "occasionally" versus "every now and then" in English. Both are correct, but one might feel slightly more elevated. De temps à autre suggests a less regular, more sporadic occurrence than de temps en temps might imply.

Literally, de temps à autre translates to "from time to other." Temps means 'time,' and autre means 'other.' This construction emphasizes the idea of moving from one instance of time to another, rather than 'time in time' (de temps en temps).

Use de temps à autre when you want to vary your vocabulary, or when the context calls for a slightly more polished or less colloquial expression for "occasionally." It's a great phrase to add to your repertoire to sound more fluent and nuanced.

💡 * Il va au cinéma de temps à autre. (He goes to the cinema from time to time.)

De temps à autre, elle aime lire un bon livre. (From time to time, she likes to read a good book.)

Nous nous rencontrons de temps à autre pour prendre un café. (We meet from time to time for coffee.)

De temps à autre, il m'envoie des nouvelles. (Every now and then, he sends me news.)

The 'it happens that...' (implying 'sometimes') – il arrive que...

The French expression il arrive que literally translates to 'it happens that...' but is often used to convey the meaning of 'sometimes' or 'occasionally.' It's a more formal or nuanced way to express that something occurs from time to time.

A crucial point to remember is that il arrive que always requires the subjunctive mood for the verb in the dependent clause. This reflects the uncertainty or possibility inherent in the 'it happens that' construction, making it distinct from simple statements of fact.

While similar to parfois (sometimes) or quelquefois (sometimes), il arrive que often carries a slightly more formal tone and can emphasize the infrequent or unexpected nature of an event. It's particularly useful when you want to express that something can happen, rather than just stating that it does happen sometimes.

💡 * Il arrive que je travaille tard le soir. (It happens that I work late in the evening. / Sometimes I work late in the evening.)

Il arrive qu'il pleuve en été. (It happens that it rains in summer. / Sometimes it rains in summer.)

Il arrive qu'elle oublie ses clés. (It happens that she forgets her keys. / Sometimes she forgets her keys.)

Il arrive que nous allions au restaurant le dimanche. (It happens that we go to the restaurant on Sunday. / Sometimes we go to the restaurant on Sunday.)

Il arrive que les trains soient en retard. (It happens that trains are late. / Sometimes trains are late.)

The 'at certain moments' – à certains moments

The phrase à certains moments translates to “at certain moments” or “at times.” It's used to describe actions or states that occur intermittently or specifically at particular, unspecified points in time.

This expression implies that something is not constant or continuous, but rather happens occasionally or under specific, often unstated, circumstances. It suggests a variability or an intermittent nature.

It's a useful phrase for conveying that an event or feeling isn't always present but manifests during specific, possibly unpredictable, periods. It adds a touch of nuance to descriptions of recurring but not constant phenomena.

💡 À certains moments, je me sens seul. (At certain moments, I feel lonely.)
*Elle est très joyeuse, mais à certains moments, elle devient pensive. (She is very joyful, but at certain moments, she becomes pensive.)
À certains moments, il faut prendre des décisions difficiles. (At certain moments, one must make difficult decisions.)
*Le trafic est dense à certains moments de la journée. (Traffic is heavy at certain moments of the day.)

How to Say 'Intermittently' in French: Par Intermittence

How do you say 'intermittently' in French? The most common and direct way to express 'intermittently' in French is with the adverbial phrase par intermittence.

Par intermittence directly translates to 'by intermittence' or 'with intermittence.' It signifies something that occurs at irregular intervals, stopping and starting, rather than continuously.

This phrase is widely used to describe phenomena like rain, pain, signals, or even work that is not constant. It emphasizes the breaks or interruptions in an action or state.

While par intermittence is precise, other adverbs can convey similar ideas depending on the context. For instance, de temps en temps (from time to time) suggests less regularity, and sporadiquement (sporadically) implies even greater irregularity or infrequency. Par intermittence specifically highlights the stopping and starting nature.

Par intermittence functions as an adverbial phrase and is usually placed after the verb it modifies or at the end of the sentence.

💡 *La pluie tombe par intermittence depuis ce matin. (The rain has been falling intermittently since this morning.)
*Il travaille par intermittence sur son projet. (He works intermittently on his project.)
*Le signal radio est coupé par intermittence. (The radio signal is cut off intermittently.)
*Elle ressent une douleur par intermittence. (She feels pain intermittently.)
*Les lumières clignotent par intermittence. (The lights flicker intermittently.)

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

Are there other ways to say “sometimes” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “sometimes” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire parfois en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for parfois on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about frequency and express “sometimes”.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different nuances of “sometimes,” or other adverbs of frequency in French, the WordReference entry for parfois is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is a perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Charlemagne: Apprendre une nouvelle langue, c'est comme avoir une nouvelle âme. (To learn a new language is to have a new soul.)

9 ways to say "sometimes" in French