toutefois

Toutefois is a French adverb meaning nevertheless, however, or still. It is used to introduce a contrast or counterpoint to a previous statement and is common in formal written French, journalism, and academic prose. It is not a conjunction; it typically connects clauses or sentences and helps mark a shift in argument or balance.

In terms of placement, toutefois can appear at the beginning of a sentence after a semicolon, or in the middle of a sentence after a main clause. Examples: “Le plan semble viable; toutefois, des risques subsistent.” “Toutefois, il faut reconnaître les progrès accomplis.” In everyday speech, pareil meanings are often conveyed with moins formal alternatives such as cependant or néanmoins, but toutefois retains a more formal or literary tone.

Etymology and status: the word originates from older French, with forms that linked tout and foi or fois in the sense of “in any case” or “in all truth.” Over time it became the fixed adverb toutefois, used to signal concession in written and formal French. It is widely recognized across Francophone regions and remains a standard option alongside synonyms like cependant, néanmoins, and pourtant.

See also: synonyms and related adverbs used to introduce contrast in French discourse. Notes on usage highlight that toutefois carries a slightly more formal register and is particularly common in official, scholarly, or journalistic contexts.