habituellement

Habituellement is a French adverb meaning usually, normally, or as a rule. It describes actions or states that occur on a regular basis or under typical circumstances. It can modify verbs, phrases, or entire clauses, and is common in both spoken and written French. In some contexts it carries a slightly more formal tone than the everyday expression d'habitude, though both are widely understood.

Etymology and form: habituellement is formed from the adjective habituel (usual) with the suffix -ment to create an adverb. The adjective habituel comes from Old French habituel and ultimately from Latin habitālis, meaning pertaining to habit, usual, or customary. The adverb retains the same core meaning of normality or frequency, with no distinct feminine or masculine form.

Usage notes: Habituellement is used to indicate routine or general tendencies rather than absolutes. It can introduce a statement about typical behavior or conditions. Examples include: “Habituellement, il se lève à six heures.” “La réunion est habituellement courte.” It can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. Synonyms include ordinairement and généralement; the phrase d'habitude remains a common alternative in informal speech.

See also: habituel, d'habitude, ordinairement, généralement.