Lorsque (en. When)

/lɔʁsk/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

conjunction

Introduces a subordinate clause that specifies the moment of an action.

He began to cry when his mother left.

Il a commencé à pleurer lorsque sa mère est partie.

Indicates a specific moment when an action takes place.

When I arrived, it was raining.

Lorsque je suis arrivé, il pleuvait.

Used to express a temporal condition.

We will go for a walk when the sun shines.

Nous irons nous promener lorsque le soleil brillera.

The origin of the word 'lorsque' comes from the Latin 'quando' through Old French.

When we talk about the wolf

An expression used to refer to someone being talked about, often in rumor.

Lorsque l'on parle du loup

When hens have teeth

An expression to say that something will never happen.

Lorsque les poules auront des dents

It is when the cat is away that the mice dance

It means that people feel free to do things in the absence of authority.

C'est lorsque le chat est parti que les souris dansent

when

Conjunction/Adverb indicating time.

quand

Conjunction used to express a condition.

while

Conjunction introducing opposition or simultaneity.

tandis que

At that moment (in a familiar way)

I don't know where he was, but when it happened, he had already left.

Je ne sais pas où il était, mais lorsque c'est arrivé, il était déjà parti.

When it gets hot (slang for a heated situation)

We will all be there when it gets hot.

On sera tous là lorsque ça chauffe.