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what is toutefois in french ?

### Understanding “Toutefois” in French: Usage and Translation

French is known for its elegant turns of phrase and nuanced expressions. One such word in the French language that elegantly captures nuance is “toutefois.” In this post, let’s delve into how “toutefois” is used in French, its translations, and its equivalents in English and other languages.

#### What Does “Toutefois” Mean in French?

“Toutefois,” pronounced as “too-te-fov,” is a term that often translates into English as “however.” It is commonly used in formal and written French as a transitional word to introduce contrasting or unexpected information.

#### Usage in English

In English, “toutefois” is translated as “however,” “nevertheless,” or “nonetheless.” It is a versatile term that shows up frequently in formal and informal texts, and even in conversations.

For instance, consider this sentence in a legal document or a professional communication: “In reality, however, the requested information is often denied.” This is a simple yet effective way that “toutefois” can be applied in English, corresponding to “Dans la réalité toutefois, l’information demandée est très souvent refusée” in French.

#### Usage in Other Languages

The usage of “toutefois” isn’t unique to French. It translates to:

– German: jedoch
– Greek: ωστόσο (ostoso)
– Italian: tuttavia
– Japanese: でも (demo)
– Korean: 그러나 (geurojaga)
– Norwegian: imidlertid
– Polish: jednakże
– Portuguese: contudo
– Romanian: totuși
– Russian: однако (obyache)
– Spanish: sin embargo
– Swedish: hur…än (hur än)
– Thai: อย่างไรก็ตาม (yàangrai kàtamai)
– Turkish: ancak
– Ukrainian: проте (prote)

#### “Toutefois” in French: Examples and Context

Toutefois serves as a way to contrast ideas in French. Consider these sentences:

1. **”Dans la réalité toutefois, l’information demandée est très souvent refusée.”**
– This translates to: “In reality, however, the requested information is very often denied.”

2. **”Certains pays de la région ont toutefois réalisé des progrès importants.”**
– In English, it would be: “Within the region, however, some countries have made significant progress.”

3. **”La Commission a estimé que Gemplus n’avait pas publié d’informations trompeuses concernant ses résultats financiers, toutefois.”**
– Translates to: “The Commission did not see that Gemplus had published fraudulent information concerning its financial results; however.”

#### Synonyms in French

In French, as in English, there is a variety of terms to express contrasting information. Some synonyms of “toutefois” are:
– Cependant
– Néanmoins
– Pourtant

Each of these words carries a slight tonal difference, and “toutefois” is often chosen for its broad and clear connotations in professional writing or speaking.

#### Final Thoughts

“Toutefois” is a practical word in the French language, vital for expressing contrast or exception in written and spoken communication. Understanding its role and studying sentence structure with this term can enhance your fluency in French.

Next time you find yourself needing to introduce a contrast in your dialogue, whether in French or any of the other languages where it has equivalents, try to incorporate “toutefois” or its counterparts to enrich your conversations and writings.