rarement

Rarement is a French adverb meaning seldom or rarely. It is used to express that an action or state occurs infrequently, and it can modify verbs in simple or compound tenses. In contrast to parfois (sometimes), rarement conveys a stronger sense of infrequency and a lower likelihood of repetition. It can also appear for emphasis in certain contexts, though it remains more common in written or formal language than in casual speech.

Etymology and form: Rarement derives from the adjective rare, meaning scarce or infrequent, with the standard adverbial suffix -ment. Its ultimate origin traces to Latin rarus, meaning loose or scarce. The word functions as a straightforward adverb in modern French, with no comparative or superlative forms.

Usage notes: Rarement is typically placed before the main verb in simple tenses (Il mange rarement des fruits), though it can appear after the verb in some constructions for emphasis or in more complex sentences (Ils sont rarement arrivés à l’heure). It is generally considered more literary or formal than other frequency adverbs, such as souvent or parfois, and may be less common in everyday spoken French.

Translations and related terms: In English, rarement corresponds to rarely or seldom. Similar expressions in other Romance languages include Spanish rara vez or raramente, Italian raramente, and Portuguese raramente. Opposites or near-antonyms include souvent or fréquemment in French, meaning often or frequently.

See also: Frequency adverbs, French grammar, Adverbs of degree.