There are different ways to use tout in French - as a pronoun, an adjective or an adverb - to express slightly different things.
Learn how to use tout in French
Tout = everything
Used on its own, the pronoun tout means everything. Note that it never changes.
Â
Tout/tous/toute/toutes + [article] + [chose(s)]= All + [article] + [things] / [article] whole [thing(s)]
To say all (the) [things] or (the) whole [thing], you will use the adjective tout, as follows :
tout/tous/toute/toutes + article + noun
Note that as an adjective, tout agrees in gender and number with the thing it refers to, as such:
|  | Masculine  | Feminine |
| Singular  | tout |
toute |
| Plural | tous |
toutes |
In this case, tous is always pronounced [too]: the -s is silent.
Tous / toutes = all [of them]
Used on their own, the pronouns tous and toutes replace already mentioned nouns. As such, tous/toutes agree in gender with the things they're replacing (they always express a plural quantity!)
Tous/toutes can be used either as:
- the subject of the verb = All [of them] did that.
- a complement to the existing plural subject = They all did that.
In this last case, tous/toutes is placed after the verb in simple tenses, or between the auxiliary and the past participle in compound tenses.
In this case, tous is always pronounced [toos], to differenciate it from tout (everything).
Â
Tout + [adverbe] =Â Very + [adverb]
The adverb of intensity tout can be used in front of another adverb to mean very. In this case, tout never changes.
 Â
Tout/toute + [adjectif] = Very/Completely + [adjective]
As an adverb, tout can also be used to modify the intensity of an adjective = very/completely.
In this context, tout never changes in front of masculine adjectives.
In this context, tout never changes in front of masculine adjectives.
However, when it's used with feminine adjectives, the rules of agreement get pretty complicated!
Here are some examples followed by a summary table:
Â
Mes filles sont toutes honteuses de leur comportement.My daughters are very ashamed of their behaviour.
|  | Adjectives starting with a consonant or aspirated 'h' |
Adjectives starting with a vowel or mute 'h' |
| Feminine Singular |
toute | Â tout |
| Feminine Plural |
toutes | tout |
This rule's main aim is to make sure the pronunciation is always [toot] in the feminine. Indeed, in front of a vowel and mute 'h', the last 't' of tout is pronounced because of the liaison, hence no need for the extra 'e'.
Beware of these nuances:
Â
Pronunciation guide
Tout (masc. sg.) => [too] (you pronounce [toot] as a liaison when followed by a vowel or mute h)
Tous (masc. pl.) => [too] or [toos] depending on usage: see above.
Toute (fem. sg.) => [toot]
Toutes (fem. pl.) => [toot] (the -s is always silent, even when followed by a vowel: NO liaison!)
Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
They're very merry.
