conditionnel

French

Etymology

From Medieval Latin conditiōnālis (“conditional”), from conditiō (“condition”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.di.sjɔ.nɛl/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

conditionnel (feminine conditionnelle, masculine plural conditionnels, feminine plural conditionnelles)

1. conditional, depending on conditions

Related terms

• condition
• conditionnellement

Noun

conditionnel m (plural conditionnels)

1. (linguistics, grammar) Conditional, the conditional mood or the conditional tense

Usage notes

French makes a distinction between conditionnel as a mood (as in the Si je le pouvais, je le ferais) and as a tense (as in Je lui avais promis que je le ferais), where it is required by tense harmony after a past main clause (it replaces the futur simple of the equivalent Je lui ai promis que je le ferai).

See also

• irréel

Further reading

• “conditionnel”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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Norman

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

conditionnel m (plural conditionnels)

1. (Jersey, grammar) conditional