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Depuis, Pendant, Pour: How to Translate 'For' in French Without Sounding Foolish

Mar 30, 2027

The "For" Trap

When it comes to talking about time, the English language is incredibly lazy. Whether we are talking about the past, the present, or the future, we use the exact same word: for. ("I have lived here for years," "I slept for an hour," "I am leaving for a week.") If you try to use the French word pour for all of these sentences, native speakers will instantly know you are translating in your head. In French, the word you choose depends entirely on the timeline of the action!

1. Depuis (Ongoing Actions)

Depuis translates to "since" or "for." You use it when an action started in the past and is still happening right now. Because the action is still ongoing, you almost always use the present tense with depuis, which feels very strange to English speakers who want to use the past tense!

  • Depuis + Point in Time (Since): J'habite à Paris depuis 2018. (I have lived in Paris since 2018.)
  • Depuis + Duration (For): J'habite à Paris depuis 5 ans. (I have lived in Paris for 5 years. -> And I still live there now!)

2. Pendant (Completed Actions)

Pendant translates to "for" or "during." You use it to describe the entire duration of an action that has a clear beginning and end. The action is usually finished and in the past, or it is a general habit.

  • Finished Past Action: J'ai étudié pendant trois heures. (I studied for three hours. -> The studying is over.)
  • General Habit: Il dort toujours pendant le vol. (He always sleeps during the flight.)

Pro Tip: In spoken French, native speakers often drop the word pendant entirely! (e.g., "J'ai dormi trois heures" instead of "J'ai dormi pendant trois heures").

3. Pour (Future Plans)

Pour translates directly to "for," but when talking about time, it is ONLY used for scheduled future events. It expresses the intended duration of a plan.

  • Je pars en vacances pour deux semaines. (I am going on vacation for two weeks.)
  • Il vient en France pour un an. (He is coming to France for a year.)

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

Before you say the word "for," pause and ask yourself these three questions:

  • Is it still happening right now? -> Use Depuis (with the present tense).
  • Is it completely finished? -> Use Pendant (with the past tense).
  • Is it a scheduled plan for the future? -> Use Pour.

Want a structured path through grammar like this? Explore our French learning parcours for a complete course roadmap.