à l'issue de

§ What 'à l'issue de' means

The French phrase 'à l'issue de' is very useful to know. It means 'at the end of', 'following', or 'upon the conclusion of'. It's often used in more formal contexts, but you'll hear it and see it regularly in spoken and written French. Think of it as a way to say 'after something has finished'.

French Word

à l'issue de

CEFR Level

A2

English Definition

At the end of, following; upon the conclusion of.

§ How to use 'à l'issue de' in a sentence

This phrase is a prepositional phrase, which means it introduces a noun or a noun phrase. It's always followed by 'de' (or 'd' if the next word starts with a vowel or a silent 'h'). You use it to specify when something happened, usually at the conclusion of an event, period, or process.

Hint: At the end of the meeting, we will make a decision.

Here, 'la réunion' (the meeting) is the event that concludes. The decision is made 'at the end of' it.

Hint: Following the exams, the students will be able to go on vacation.

Notice how 'des' is used here. It's a contraction of 'de les'. This happens when the noun following 'de' is plural.

Hint: Upon the conclusion of a long discussion, they found an agreement.

Here, 'd'' is used because 'une longue discussion' starts with a vowel sound.

§ Common uses and contexts

You'll often find 'à l'issue de' in formal announcements, reports, or when talking about official processes. However, it's also common in everyday conversations when you want to clearly state that something happens *after* another event has fully finished.

• Business and Meetings: It's very common to use this phrase when discussing the results or next steps after a meeting, negotiation, or project phase.
• Events and Competitions: You'll hear it to describe what happens after a sporting event, a concert, or a competition.
• Legal and Administrative: In legal documents or administrative instructions, 'à l'issue de' is frequently used to specify timelines or conditions.

Consider these additional examples:

Hint: The results will be announced at the end of the jury's deliberation.

Hint: He resigned following his term/mandate.

So, next time you want to express that something happens after an event has fully run its course, remember 'à l'issue de'. It's a precise and elegant way to convey that meaning in French!