parfois

Parfois is a French adverb meaning "sometimes" or "at times," used to indicate that an action occurs only on occasion rather than regularly. It can modify verbs and, less commonly, entire clauses.

Etymology and history: The word comes from Old French parfois, formed from par “by” or “through” plus fois “times.” It has been part of the French lexicon since the Middle Ages and remains a common, neutral way to express irregular occurrence.

Usage and grammar: Parfois is invariable, meaning it does not change for gender or number. It can appear before or after the verb it governs, and it can begin a sentence for emphasis. Examples: Je voyage parfois. Parfois, il faut savoir attendre. J’ai parfois vu des choses étranges. It commonly coexists with various tenses, such as the present, passé composé, or imperfect.

Nuance and synonyms: Parfois shares meaning with de temps en temps and quelquefois. De temps en temps is slightly more literal about measured intervals and can feel more colloquial, while quelquefois is somewhat more literary or old-fashioned. Parfois tends to be a straightforward, neutral term suitable for most registers.

Translations and cross-linguistic notes: In English, parfois is typically translated as "sometimes" or "at times." While the exact frequency implied by each synonym can vary by context, tous convey a similar idea of irregular occurrence rather than a regular pattern.