pendant/pɑ̃.dɑ̃/
preposition / adjective / noun · A1 · Frequency 304
preposition
Meanings
during, throughout, for the duration of
Used as a preposition to indicate an action or state occurring within a time period, commonly expressing duration.
Examples
Pendant la réunion, chacun a pu donner son avis.
During the meeting, everyone was able to give their opinion.
Nous avons marché pendant deux heures sans nous arrêter.
We walked for two hours without stopping.
Il faut garder le téléphone éteint pendant tout le vol.
The phone must remain switched off throughout the flight.
Collocations
- pendant la réunionduring the meeting
- pendant les vacancesduring the holidays
- pendant une heurefor one hour
Common mistakes
pendant deux heures déjà
depuis deux heures
Pendant indicates an action during a period of time, not an action continuing from the past to present; use depuis instead.
pendant hier
hier
Pendant cannot be used with specific past time points like 'hier'; use the time adverb alone.
Related words
synonymau cours deduring, throughout, in the course of
Grammar note
The preposition pendant is followed by a noun or noun phrase indicating a period of time, meaning throughout the duration.
adjectivemasculine
Meanings
hanging
Used as an adjective to describe something that is hanging, often referring to objects or decorations.
preposition
Used as a preposition followed by a time noun to indicate an action or state occurring within a period of time.
Examples
Un câble pendant descendait du plafond de l'atelier.
A hanging cable descended from the workshop ceiling.
Le drapeau pendant au bout du mât touchait presque le sol.
The flag hanging from the top of the mast almost touched the ground.
Un cordon pendant gênait le passage dans le couloir.
A hanging cord was obstructing passage in the hallway.
Collocations
- un bras pendanta dangling arm
Common mistakes
un pendant suspendu
un objet pendant
The adjective pendant cannot be used as the past participle of the verb suspendre and cannot be combined with verbs.
pendant la nuit entière
pendant toute la nuit
The preposition pendant is usually followed by a specific time period and is not used with 'entière'.
Related words
synonymsuspenduhanging
nounmasculine
Meanings
an object that hangs down, pendant
Usually refers to a hanging ornament, such as a pendant on a necklace or other hanging decoration.
stone that dangles on earrings
Specifically refers to a stone or decoration dangling from earrings.
match, counterpart
Refers to an item that corresponds to or pairs with another.
Examples
Elle a choisi un pendant en verre pour décorer la fenêtre.
She chose a glass hanging ornament to decorate the window.
Le lustre porte un pendant en forme de goutte.
The chandelier has a teardrop-shaped pendant.
Un pendant bleu brillait au bout de chacune de ses boucles d'oreilles.
A blue stone glittered at the end of each of her earrings.
Collocations
- un pendant en argenta silver pendant
- le pendant de cette œuvrethe counterpart of this work
Common mistakes
un pendant de collier
un pendentif de collier
The noun pendant means a hanging object, but the pendant on a necklace is more commonly called 'pendentif'.
le pendant de la robe
le pendant de la boucle d'oreille
Pendant as 'counterpart' usually refers to a matching item, not used for clothing.
Related words
synonympendentifpendant, pendant ornament
synonymbijoujewel, jewelry
antonymmonturesetting, mount
adjectivefeminine
Meanings
hanging
Used as an adjective to describe something that is hanging, often referring to objects or decorations.
preposition
Used as a preposition followed by a time noun to indicate an action or state occurring within a period of time.
Examples
Une chaîne pendante bloquait le passage dans la remise.
A hanging chain blocked the passage in the shed.
La lampe pendante éclairait faiblement la table.
The hanging lamp dimly lit the table.
Il a retiré une branche pendante qui gênait les randonneurs.
He removed a hanging branch that was obstructing the hikers.