Humanities Languages Learn to Use the French Word 'Tout' and Its Variations Share Flipboard Email Print "avoir toute liberté" (to be completely free). Thomas Barwick / Getty Images Languages French Grammar Basics Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Resources for Teachers English as a Second Language Spanish German Italian Japanese Mandarin Russian English Grammar View More by ThoughtCo Updated January 28, 2019 The French word tout, which has many meanings including "all," "any," "every," "entire," and "most important," is one of the most common words in the French language. It has four possible forms: singularpluralmasculinetouttousfemininetoutetoutesTout is also one of the most flexible French words, as it can be an adjective, adverb, noun, or pronoun. masculinefeminineinvariable singularpluralsingularplural adjectivetouttoustoutetoutes adverb toutetoutestoutnoun le toutpronoun tous toutestout "Tout" as an AdjectiveTout as an adjective has four forms (tout, toute, tous, toutes) and various meanings. It can be used to modify all of the following:Nouns:À tout âge > at any ageAvoir toute liberté > to be completely freeEn tout cas > in any caseTout enfant > every childToutes taxes comprises > with taxDefinite articles:Tous les enfants > all the childrenTout le temps > all the timeTous les jours > every dayTous les deux jours > every other dayToute la journée > all day Tous les 36 du mois > once in a blue moonPossessive adjectives:Prendre tout son temps > to take one's timeTous mes amis > all my friendsToute ma famille > my whole familyT outes nos affaires > all of our thingsDemonstrative adjectives:Tous ces gens > all these peopleToute cette tristesse > all this sadnessTout ce temps > all this timeToutes ces idées > all of these ideasThe different forms of adjectives are pronounced: Tou: [tu]Tous: [tu]Toute: [tut]Toutes: [tut]As an AdverbTout as an adverb is nearly always invariable and can be used with adverbs, adjectives, and the prepositions à and de. Tout doucement > very quietlyTout droit > straight aheadTout haut > very loudlyTout loin d'ici > very far from hereTout près > very near Normally French adverbs are invariable, but tout is a special case. It sometimes requires agreement, depending on the gender and first letter of the adjective it modifies. With all masculine adjectives, singular and plural, tout is invariable:Il est tout seul. > He's all alone.Ils sont tout seuls. > They are all alone.Nous sommes tout étonnés. > We are very surprised.With feminine adjectives, singular and plural, that begin with h muet or a vowel, tout is invariable:J'ai mangé la tarte tout entière. > I ate the whole pie.J'ai mangé les tartes tout entières. > I ate the whole pies.Elle est tout heureuse. > She is very happy.Elles sont tout heureuses. > They are very happy.C'est une tout autre histoire. > That's a whole other story.With feminine adjectives that begin with h aspiré or consonant, tout needs agreement: it must be feminine as well as singular or plural, depending on the number of the adjective:Elle est toute petite. > She is very small.Elles sont toutes petites. > They are very small.Elle est toute honteuse. > She is very ashamed.Elles sont toutes honteuses. > They are very ashamed.Les toutes premières années. > The very first years.The different adverbs are pronounced as follows: Tout: [tu]Toute: [tut]Toutes: [tut]The prepositions: à and de are used with tout as follows:Tout à coup > all of a suddenTout à fait > absolutelyTout à l'heure > shortly, right awayTout au contraire > on the contraryTout de suite > immediatelyTout de même > all the same, anywayTout d'un coup > all at onceAs a NounLe tout is a noun meaning "whole" or "all," and is invariable in terms of gender and number, though the definite article le may contract or be replaced as usual.Les éléments forment un tout. > The elements make a whole.Le grand Tout > the Great Whole (the universe)Mon tout > my whole (in the French game charades)Pas du tout > not at allRien du tout > nothing at allLe tout, c'est de faire vite. > The main thing is to be quick about it.The noun tout is pronounced [tu].As a PronounTout can be two different kinds of pronouns. When it's a neuter pronoun, tout is invariable and means "all" or "everything":Avant tout > above allMalgré tout > in spite of everythingC'est tout > that's allTout va bien > everything is fineTout est en règle > everything is in orderTout ce qui brille n'est pas or > All that glitters isn't goldAs a plural pronoun, there are two forms, tous and toutes, which mean "everyone" or "all" and usually have an antecedent.Où sont mes amis? Tous sont ici. Ils sont tous ici. > Where are my friends? Everyone is here. They're all here.Je ne vois pas les filles. Elles sont parties toutes ensemble. > I don't see the girls. They all left together.The different pronouns are pronounced:Tout: [tu]Tous: [tus]Toutes: [tut] Continue Reading