D'ici vendredi: a French deadline, not just a day

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

D'ici vendredi means "by Friday", not "on Friday". Compare d'ici, avant, dans and pour with timelines, workplace examples and a short check.

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In short

D'ici vendredi means "by Friday" or "between now and Friday": a deadline. Vendredi alone means the action happens on Friday. Dans trois jours places it three days from now, and pour vendredi says when something must be ready.

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A person finishes a folder at a tidy office desk.
Finish the work d’ici vendredi, before the deadline. Illustration: Atelier

vendredion Friday

Focus: the day the action happens

action + day

Je t'envoie le dossier vendredi.
I'll send you the file on Friday.

d'ici vendrediby Friday

Focus: any time between now and Friday

d'ici + deadline

Je t'envoie le dossier d'ici vendredi.
I'll send you the file by Friday.

dans trois joursin three days

Focus: a point counted from now

dans + duration

Le colis arrive dans trois jours.
The parcel arrives in three days.

What else can d’ici mean in French?

D'ici la fin du mois, on aura déménagé.

By the end of the month, we'll have moved.

D'ici often pairs with the futur antérieur: done before the deadline.

D'ici là, repose-toi.

In the meantime, get some rest.

D'ici là means "until then".

On voit la mer d'ici.

You can see the sea from here.

The original sense: "from here".

Deadline words compared
ExpressionMeaningTypical use
d'ici vendrediby Friday (at the latest)promises, planning
avant vendredibefore Friday (Friday excluded)strict cut-offs
pour vendredi(due) for Fridayhomework, orders
au plus tard vendredion Friday at the latestofficial deadlines

In an email, Pourriez-vous me répondre d'ici jeudi ? is polite and clear. Avant jeudi is stricter: it suggests Wednesday at the latest. If you need precision, add au plus tard.

Au bureau
  1. Responsable

    Tu peux finir la présentation d'ici vendredi ?

    Can you finish the presentation by Friday?

  2. Toi

    D'ici vendredi, oui. Mais pas avant jeudi soir.

    By Friday, yes. But not before Thursday evening.

  3. Responsable

    Parfait. D'ici là, envoie-moi le plan.

    Perfect. In the meantime, send me the outline.

Question 1No account needed
"I'll have finished by June."

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

J'aurai fini d'ici juin.. A deadline is d'ici juin. En juin says the action happens in June.

Question 2No account needed
Rendez le devoir pour lundi. means…

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Hand in the homework for Monday.. Pour lundi names the due date.

Question 3No account needed
D'ici là means…

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

until then. D'ici là: between now and that moment.

Question 4No account needed
"The bus comes in ten minutes."

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le bus arrive dans dix minutes.. A duration counted from now takes dans.

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