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plutôt. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
plutôt, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
plutôt in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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French
Etymology
From Middle French plustost, see plus + tôt. Compare Italian piuttosto. Compare the etymology of English rather.
Pronunciation
Adverb
plutôt
- (obsolete) earlier, sooner
- Synonym: plus tôt
- rather, instead (indicating preference)
Je n’aime pas le rouge. Je prends plutôt le noir.- I don't like the red one. I'll take the black one instead.
N’importe quoi plutôt que de faire face à la réalité.- Anything but face reality.
- rather (introducing a correction or clarification)
Il y en aura assez, ou plutôt pas trop.- There'll be enough of it, or rather, not too much.
- rather, pretty, kind of (indicating intensity or degree)
Ce bar est plutôt sale.- This bar is pretty dirty.
2018, Zaz, J'aime, j'aime:Qu’est-ce que t’aimes, qu’est-ce que t’aimes ? Je sais pas, moi ; ça dépend. J’aime plutôt les gens honnêtes.- What do you like, what do you like? I don't know; it depends. I quite like honest people.
Usage notes
- Not to be confused with the phrase plus tôt (“earlier”).
Further reading