Va-et-vient (en. Back and forth)

/va.e.vjɛ̃/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Repetitive movement of going and returning.

The back-and-forth of the waves on the beach is soothing.

Le va-et-vient des vagues sur la plage est apaisant.

Movement of people or things within a given space.

The constant flow of customers in the store is steady.

Le va-et-vient des clients au magasin est constant.

State of alternation between two positions or situations.

The back-and-forth of negotiations makes the project uncertain.

Le va-et-vient des négociations rend le projet incertain.

From the French 'va' and 'vient', derived from the verbs aller and venir.

to go back and forth

To go and come, to make trips back and forth.

faire le va-et-vient

to go

Verb meaning to move to a place.

aller

to come

Verb meaning to move to the place where one is.

venir

movement

Movement from one place to another.

déplacement

Constant movement, often used in a lively context.

There is a constant back-and-forth in this café during peak hours.

Il y a un va-et-vient constant dans ce café pendant les heures de pointe.