par contre

On the Other Hand with Par Contre

Level 4

Par contre is the most frequent way to express contrast in spoken French. It is highly versatile and used to introduce a point that contrasts with what was just said, whether that point is positive or negative.

How It Works

Par contre is an invariable phrase used to point out a difference between two ideas.

1. Usage and Nuance
Often translated as "on the other hand," par contre is the most common contrast marker in everyday French. While it is the preferred choice for introducing a negative point (e.g., L'appartement est grand ; par contre, il est bruyant), it is also used for neutral or positive contrasts in speech (e.g., Je n'aime pas le café ; par contre, j'adore le thé). Unlike au contraire, which signals a direct contradiction, par contre simply adds a contrasting fact.

2. Sentence Position
It is highly flexible in spoken French:

  • Initial: Par contre, il est en retard. (On the other hand, he is late.)
  • Medial: C'est, par contre, plus difficile. (It is, however, more difficult.)
  • Final: Je n'ai pas faim ; j'ai soif, par contre. (I'm not hungry; I am thirsty, though.)

3. Register
In formal writing, par contre was historically criticized. While now widely accepted, en revanche or cependant are still often preferred in professional contexts. Placing par contre at the very end of a sentence is a hallmark of informal spoken French.

Examples (4)

  1. Le film était un peu long. Par contre, les acteurs étaient excellents.

    The movie was a bit long. On the other hand, the actors were excellent.

    Word by Word: The film was a bit long. By against, the actors were excellent.

    Here, 'par contre' introduces a positive counterpoint to a negative observation.

  2. Je ne bois pas de café. Par contre, j'adore le thé.

    I don't drink coffee. However, I love tea.

    Word by Word: I not drink not of coffee. By against, I love the tea.

    This shows a simple contrast between two preferences.

  3. Il n'a pas beaucoup d'expérience. Il apprend très vite, par contre.

    He doesn't have much experience. He learns very fast, though.

    Word by Word: He not has not much of experience. He learns very fast, by against.

    In this example, 'par contre' is used at the end of the sentence, functioning like the English word 'though'.

  4. La maison est petite, mais par contre elle a un grand jardin.

    The house is small, but on the other hand it has a big garden.

    Word by Word: The house is small, but by against she has a big garden.

    While 'mais par contre' is common in speech, it is technically redundant because both words express opposition.

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking only 'par contre' can introduce a negative point.

    Different MeaningIl a gagné au loto ; en revanche, il a tout perdu le lendemain.
    Il a gagné au loto ; par contre, il a tout perdu le lendemain.

    Both sentences are correct. 'En revanche' often suggests a balancing advantage, but it is also used for plain contrast, and it is a little more formal. 'Par contre' is the usual choice in speech, though some writers avoid it in formal text.

  • Confusing 'par contre' with 'au contraire'.

    Il n'est pas triste ; par contre, il est très heureux.
    Il n'est pas triste ; au contraire, il est très heureux.

    Use 'au contraire' when the second statement is the direct opposite/reversal of the first. Use 'par contre' for different but not necessarily opposite traits.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

par contreLevel 4On the Other Hand with Par Contre

Learn This First

To use 'par contre' effectively, a learner needs to be able to construct complete sentences and understand the concept of contrastive conjunctions, specifically how it relates to its more formal synonym 'en revanche'.

Words in This Pattern

par contre