donc

French

Etymology

From Middle French donc, variant of doncques, from Old French donkes (“then”). Of uncertain and disputed origin. Perhaps an apheresis of adonc, from Latin ad-tunc (compare Romanian atunci), or a blend of (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin dum (“while”) + tum, tunc (“then”). Compare also Italian dunque or Catalan doncs.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɔ̃k/

• audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔ̃k

Adverb

donc

1. therefore, consequently; thus.

   René Descartes, 17^th Century

   Je pense, donc je suis.

   I think, therefore I am.

Further reading

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