French · Time, Numbers & Colors
"Last week" in French: la semaine dernière
la semaine dernière
Last week in French is la semaine dernière. Put it at the start or end of a past sentence. La semaine dernière j'étais à Lyon is a clear pattern.
Work update
La semaine dernière, on a fini le projet.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce la semaine dernière
Say it
lah suh-MEN dair-NYAIR
/la sə.mɛn dɛʁ.njɛʁ/
La semaine: lah suh-MEN. Dernière: dair-NYAIR. Soft final e on dernière.
"Last week" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la semaine dernière | last week Default time phrase. | Default time phrase. |
| semaine dernière | last week Article sometimes dropped in speech. | Article sometimes dropped in speech. |
| la semaine passée | last week / the past week Close cousin. | Close cousin. |
| il y a une semaine | a week ago Similar idea, different shape. | Similar idea, different shape. |
How to use la semaine dernière in real life
- 1Work update
La semaine dernière, on a fini le projet.
Last week we finished the project.
Full phrase first.
- 2Travel chat
J'étais à Nice la semaine dernière.
I was in Nice last week.
Phrase at end.
- 3Sports recap
La semaine dernière mon équipe a gagné.
Last week my team won.
Narrative past.
Mistakes English speakers make with la semaine dernière
Incorrect: Le semaine dernière.
Correct: La semaine dernière.
Semaine is feminine: la.
Incorrect: La semaine dernier.
Correct: La semaine dernière.
Agree: dernière with semaine.
Good to know
French prefers week framing (la semaine dernière) as often as calendar dates. In offices it marks the previous Monday–Sunday block; weekends may be named separately (le week-end dernier).
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Catching up after vacation
ChatPal
Tu étais où la semaine dernière ?
Where were you last week?
You
La semaine dernière j'étais chez mes parents.
Last week I was at my parents'.
ChatPal
Moi, la semaine dernière, j'ai beaucoup travaillé.
Me, last week I worked a lot.
You
Cette semaine on se repose.
This week we rest.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Last week" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Last week" in French
How do you say last week in French?
La semaine dernière.
Can I say la semaine passée?
Yes — it's a close cousin.
Why dernière not dernier?
Semaine is feminine.
How do you pronounce dernière?
dair-NYAIR.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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