Au contraire
Example: Je ne suis pas fatigué, au contraire, je suis en forme.
Definition
"Au contraire" is a French expression used to introduce a statement that opposes or contradicts what was previously said, similar to saying "on the contrary" in English. It emphasizes an opposite viewpoint or fact in a conversation or argument.
Etymology
The phrase "au contraire" comes from Old French, combining "au" meaning "to the" or "at the" and "contraire" meaning "opposite" or "contrary." Interestingly, it literally translates as "to the opposite," perfectly capturing its use to signal a contrasting idea.
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"Au contraire" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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