bientôt vs tout de suite
French word comparison
Listen to bientôt
Listen to tout de suite
| bientôt | tout de suite |
|---|---|
/byan-TOH/ adverb | /too duh sweet/ adverb |
| soon; in the near future | right away; immediately |
How they differ
“Tout de suite” is stronger than “bientôt” and means there will be almost no delay. “Bientôt” can still allow some waiting, but “tout de suite” suggests action now or very nearly now.
When to use each
When to use bientôt: Use “bientôt” when something will happen in a short time, but not necessarily immediately.
When to use tout de suite: Use “tout de suite” when you mean “right now” or “at once,” not just “soon.”
Side-by-side examples
- Le médecin arrivera bientôt.
(The doctor will arrive soon.) - Le médecin arrivera tout de suite.
(The doctor will arrive right away.)
Register & nuance: “Tout de suite” is common in everyday speech and can sound more urgent than “bientôt.”