Useful French Connectors for TCF
Connectors elevate your French from basic to structured. Here are the most useful ones for speaking and writing tasks.
Published February 26, 2026
Connectors (also called discourse markers or linking words) are one of the fastest ways to improve how your French sounds in TCF speaking and writing tasks. They signal structure, show relationships between ideas, and make your responses feel organized and fluent.
Why Connectors Matter for TCF
Examiners evaluate coherence: how well your ideas connect. Using connectors demonstrates that you can organize thoughts logically, which is especially important in speaking Task 3 and writing Tasks 2 and 3.
Essential Connectors by Function
Adding information
- « De plus »: Moreover
- « En outre »: Furthermore
- « Également »: Also
- « Par ailleurs »: Furthermore / Besides
Contrasting ideas
- « Cependant »: However
- « En revanche »: On the other hand
- « Néanmoins »: Nevertheless
- « Toutefois »: However
Cause and effect
- « Par conséquent »: Consequently
- « Donc »: So / Therefore
- « C'est pourquoi »: That's why
- « En effet »: Indeed
Structuring arguments
- « Tout d'abord »: First of all
- « Ensuite »: Then / Next
- « Enfin »: Finally
- « En conclusion »: In conclusion
How to Practice
Pick 2–3 connectors from each category and use them in your next speaking or writing practice. Do not try to memorize all of them at once. Focus on the ones that feel natural to you and use them consistently.
Want help applying this?
Practise it with me, 1-on-1.
We work on your level, your weak spots and real TCF tasks, at your pace.