juste

Juste is a French word that functions as both an adjective and an adverb, with several closely related senses. As an adjective, juste means fair, just, or impartial, and can also mean proper or appropriate in a given situation. As an adverb, juste often corresponds to English just and can express immediacy, exactness, or limitation, depending on context.

Etymology and range. The term comes from Latin iustus, via Old French, and is cognate with words such as justice and justify. Its core idea is correctness or rightful quality, which extends from moral fairness to accuracy and timeliness in everyday speech.

Common uses and examples. As an adjective: une décision juste (a fair decision), un prix juste (a fair price), une répartition juste des ressources (a fair distribution of resources). As an adverb: je viens juste d’arriver (I have just arrived), tout juste (barely, almost not), il est juste à temps (he is just in time). Expressions such as à juste titre mean rightly or justifiably, while agir de manière juste describes acting in a fair or proper way.

Translations and nuance. In English, juste can translate as just, fair, or exact, depending on context. The nuance between senses is often clarified by accompanying words and word order, as in tout juste (barely) versus un prix juste (a fair price) or c’est juste (that’s right/true or that’s fair, depending on context). The phrase à juste titre is used to indicate that something is deserved or warranted.