French Language

Discuss and learn French: French vocabulary, French grammar, French culture etc.

French Vocab Games app for iPhone/iPad French-English dictionary French grammar French vocab/phrases

For the latest updates, follow @FrenchUpdates on Twitter!

any difference between them?  are both frequently used?  Tx

Views: 333

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I think the difference is very very very little.

I think subitement means more "fast" (and unexpected) and soudainement means  more "unexpected" (and fast)

But it's not really obvious.

Yes the both are commonly used. Some words are used with one or the other.  "il est mort subitement" . we don't say "il est mort soudainement".

i first learned "tout a coup" so i was surprised when i encountered recently the other two.  

the italian word "subito" means "immediately."  maybe that sheds some light

i would also add that in english, i think "suddenly" connotes more that something arose unexpectedly, "out of the blue" 

"i suddenly realized"... versus "i immediately realized" or "i was walking down the street when all of a sudden i heard a loud noise."  the emphasis is more on the unexpected occurrence than the immediacy i would say.  

RSS

Follow BitterCoffey on Twitter

© 2024   Created by Neil Coffey.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service