parfois

/paʁ.fwa/
sometimes

Parfois, je vais à la plage le week-end.

Sometimes, I go to the beach on the weekend.


general

At certain times but not always; occasionally.

Il pleut parfois en été.

It sometimes rains in the summer.

Parfois, elle oublie son parapluie.

Sometimes, she forgets her umbrella.

Used to indicate that something happens occasionally but not regularly.

Related Phrases

de temps en tempsphrase
from time to time

Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use 'parfois' to describe actions or events that happen occasionally but not predictably.

Gold Rule

Rule of Thumb

'Parfois' is interchangeable with 'quelquefois' in most contexts.

Word Origin

From Old French 'parfois', from 'par' (by) + 'fois' (time).

Usage Notes

Often used to soften a statement or to indicate that something happens irregularly.

Word Breakdown

par
by
preposition
+
fois
time
noun
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais