Depuis (en. Since)

/dəpɥi/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

preposition

Indicates the starting point of an action or state.

I have lived here for five years.

Je vis ici depuis cinq ans.

Used to express the duration of an ongoing action.

He has been working since Monday.

Il travaille depuis lundi.

Marks a moment in the past up to the present moment.

We have been friends since childhood.

Nous sommes amis depuis notre enfance.

Can introduce a cause with consequences up to the present.

I have been happy since I got a new job.

Je suis heureux depuis que j'ai un nouveau travail.

Origin of the word "since": from Latin 'de post', meaning 'from behind'.

for a long time

Indicates a prolonged duration.

depuis longtemps

since

Introduces a temporal clause.

depuis que

recently

Indicates a recent period.

depuis peu

before

Indicates a moment earlier than another.

avant

then

Indicates a sequence in time.

puis

while

Indicates the simultaneity of two actions.

tandis que

The expression 'since' in colloquial language can indicate nostalgia.

It’s been years since I’ve seen this place, since I left.

Ça fait des années que je n'ai pas vu cet endroit, depuis que je suis parti.

Used ironically to refer to something that is supposed to no longer be true.

Oh yes, I have been happy since I skate every day... especially in winter!

Oh oui, je suis heureux depuis que je fais du skate tous les jours... surtout en hiver!