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ensuite

Etymology and origin of the French word ensuite

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1532, letters of Charles V
Ultimate origin
Latin (in,*sequita)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French en
French ensuite
French envers
French endroit
French enfin
French lendemain
French enlever

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɑ̃.sɥit/[1]

Forms

ensuite (invariable)[1] Still written en suite in the 17th century.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from French en + suite, written as one word.[4][2][1] Suite is the noun of suivre.[5] Wiktionary compares Spanish enseguida.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1532, in letters of Charles V, meaning “later, afterwards”.[4][2]

Semantic evolution

The sense “behind, following” in space is recorded in 1890, and figuratively it introduces a second point (d'abord…, ensuite…).[2][6] The prepositional phrase ensuite de “after” (1636, Corneille; 1652, Pascal) was banned from fine language by Vaugelas in 1647 but took the sense “in consequence of”, ensuite de quoi “after which” survives as a literary phrase.[2][6][7] Francis Jammes used l'ensuite as a noun, “what comes after”, in 1901.[8]

Timeline

  • 1532 – First record.[4]
  • 1636 – Ensuite de, Corneille.[6]
  • 1647 – Vaugelas condemns ensuite de.[2]
  • 1890 – “Behind”, in space.[2][6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. then, afterwards, later: travaillez d'abord, vous vous reposerez ensuite.[6][9]
  2. Next, behind (in a sequence or procession): venait ensuite le gros du cortège.[7][6]
  3. Secondly, besides: d'abord je ne veux pas, ensuite je ne peux pas.[7]
  4. (literary) Ensuite de quoi: after which.[7][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 11, 490b
  6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
Cite this entry

“Ensuite.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/ensuite. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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