Learning French: when to use au fait versus en fait

En fait, enfaite, en effet, de fait, au fait, par le fait - which phrase is the intruder?

En fait and au fait are considered neutral language and are used in many different situations, both in written and spoken French. 

They pop up all the time in conversations to the point where they are considered language tics. However, they are often misspelt, misused and confused. 

Get into the habit of using these phrases correctly and you will sound like a native in no time. 

What does au fait mean?

Au fait literally translates as, to the fact.

It is most often used as an interjection to say, by the way, like the synonym d’ailleurs:

• Au fait, tu as reçu le courriel que je t'ai envoyé ? - By the way, did you get the email I sent you?

This phrase can also express impatience: get to the point!

• Tu m'ennuies. Au fait ! - You’re boring me. Spit it out already! 

Au fait de can be seen as a less common version of au courant de (to be aware/informed of):

• Il m’a mis au fait de la reunion. - He brought me up to speed on the meeting.

Read also: How to use ‘alors’ like a French native speaker

What does en fait mean?

This similar phrase has a rather different meaning. Depending on the context, the literal translation of this French phrase can be pretty close to English: en fait, means in fact, or actually.

This phrase is used all the time, usually without any real meaning, as a way of adding emphasis to a conversation.

However, as a general rule of thumb, en fait indicates a contradiction, justification or clarification and can often be heard in response to a question or claim:

• Je l'ai cru à l'époque. En fait, ce n'était qu'un mensonge - I believed him at the time. In fact, it was all just a lie.

• En fait, non, il disait la vérité ! - Actually, no, he was telling the truth!

Synonyms for this phrase include: 

• A vrai dire - to tell you the truth

• En vrai/réellement - actually/really

• En réalité – in reality

• Au contraire - on the contrary

French speakers often use mais (but) and en fait in the same phrase, or as interchangeable synonyms, however, the Académie française says this is an error and should be avoided.

Read also: Understanding french filler words: a guide to everyday conversational phrases

What does enfaite mean?

The word enfaite does not exist and is a very common mistake. 

En fait is found in both spoken and written French. However, the everyday pronunciation of the ‘t’ in fait leads many people to wrongly add an ‘e’ when writing this phrase. 

“En faiteeeh” can also be considered a cliché or language tic of ‘Parisian French.’ Some speakers from the rest of France mock the overuse and overemphasis of this phrase, much like tu vois (you get me), du coup (so) or genre (like). 

Also, the correct expression is separated and so should never appear as, enfait or enfaite. 

Read more: 10 common French expressions involving ‘coup’ 

Any other fait phrases?

You may come across more similar expressions which have slightly different meanings.

De fait confirms what came previously:

• Ta mère avait raison, ta chambre est de fait très mal rangée. - Your mum was right, your bedroom truly is a mess.

Par le fait emphasises the reality of a situation and can be used in the same way as 'by the fact':

• Cela s'explique notamment par le fait que la température est très élevée. - One of the reasons for this is the very high temperature.

En effet affirms a response:

• a me plaît beaucoup, en effet. - Yes indeed, I really like that.

Read also: Understanding 'dis donc': the versatile French expression