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surtout

Etymology and origin of the French word surtout

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1470, Comptes de Doullens (sur tout “in all”)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /syʁ.tu/[1]

Forms

surtout[1] Written sur tout until the Académie joined it in 1718.[2]

Etymology

It is a compound of sur and tout.[2][3][4][5][1] It replaced older adverbs built from the same words, such as Old French ensobretot (late 10th century), “ensorquetot” (about 1050) and “surketut” (about 1240).[3][2][4]

Compare Italian soprattutto and Spanish sobre todo.[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found, isolated, in 1470 in the accounts of Doullens, meaning “in all”; at the end of the 15th century Commynes uses it for “above all, principally”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The sense “above all, more than anything” has become archaic except to strengthen an order or advice: surtout, ne dites rien (before 1549, Marguerite de Navarre).[3][6] The usual modern sense, “especially, particularly”, singles out one element among others.[3][7] Sur tout que meant “principally” in 1539, and the familiar surtout que “all the more so as” is recorded in 1903 (Francis Jammes).[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1050 – The older ensorquetot.[3]
  • 1470 – Sur tout “in all”.[2]
  • Late 15th century – “Principally”, in Commynes.[2]
  • 1718 – The Académie writes surtout.[2]
  • 1903 – Surtout que “especially as”, in Francis Jammes.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. especially, particularly, mainly: il travaille surtout la nuit.[7][1]
  2. above all (strengthening an order): surtout, ne dis rien, n'entrez surtout pas.[7][6]
  3. (familiar, criticized) Surtout que: all the more so as.[7][2]

Usage notes

A separate noun surtout, formed from the same words in 1684, named a loose overcoat and, from 1690–1694, a decorative centrepiece for the table, Furetière called it new that year.[8][3][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 13/2, 126a
  6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
Cite this entry

“Surtout.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/surtout. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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