Usage note : all

As a pronoun

When all is used to mean everything, it is translated by tout :

is that all?

= c’est tout?

all is well

= tout va bien

When all is followed by a that clause, all that is translated by tout ce qui when it is the subject of the verb and tout ce que when it is the object :

all that remains to be done

= tout ce qui reste à faire

that was all (that) he said

= c’est tout ce qu’il a dit

after all (that) we’ve done

= après tout ce que nous avons fait

we’re doing all (that) we can

= nous faisons tout ce que nous pouvons

all that you need

= tout ce dont tu as besoin

When all is used to refer to a specified group of people or objects, the translation reflects the number and gender of the people or objects referred to ; tous is used for a group of people or objects of masculine or mixed or unspecified gender and toutes for a group of feminine gender :

we were all delighted

= nous étions tous ravis

‘where are the cups?’ ‘they’re all in the kitchen’

= ‘où sont les tasses?’ ‘elles sont toutes dans la cuisine’

For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.

As a determiner

In French, determiners agree in gender and number with the noun they precede. So all is translated by tout + masculine singular noun :

all the time

= tout le temps

by toute + feminine singular noun :

all the family

= toute la famille

by tous + masculine or mixed gender plural noun :

all men

= tous les hommes

all the books

= tous les livres

and by toutes + feminine plural noun :

all women

= toutes les femmes

all the chairs

= toutes les chaises

For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.

As an adverb

When all is used as an adverb meaning completely it is generally translated by tout :

my coat’s all dirty

= mon manteau est tout sale

he was all alone

= il était tout seul

they were all alone

= ils étaient tout seuls

the girls were all excited

= les filles étaient tout excitées

However, when the adjective that follows is in the feminine and begins with a consonant the translation is toute/toutes :

she was all alone

= elle était toute seule

the bill is all wrong

= la facture est toute fausse

the girls were all alone

= les filles étaient toutes seules

For more examples and particular usages see the entry all.

Phrases such as all along, all but, at all, for all and of all are each treated separately in the entry all.

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.