alors

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/alɔʁ/

adverb

therefore

then (consequence)

J'étais fatigué, alors je suis allé me coucher.

I was tired, so I went to bed.

Synonyms:donc, par conséquent, du coup

adverb

then

at that time

Il habitait à Lyon alors.

He was living in Lyon then.

Synonyms:à l'époque, à ce moment-là

interjection

well

so (used to start a question, prompt, or fill a pause)

Alors, on y va ?

So, shall we go?

Synonyms:bon, eh bien

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Alors is an adverb meaning "so," "then," or "at that time." It connects ideas, indicates sequence, or refers to a past moment.

USAGE

It often introduces a consequence: "Il pleut, alors je reste." (It's raining, so I'm staying.) Or a sequence: "J'ai fini, alors je suis parti." (I finished, then I left.) It can also mean "at that time": "J'étais enfant alors." (I was a child then.)

TRAPS

While similar to "donc" (therefore), alors is more common in casual speech and often conveys a softer consequence. It can also be an interjection, like "Alors?!" (Well?!) or "Alors..." (So...).