Justement or exactement: “exactly” is only part of the story
Compare exact details with timely replies: exactement for a precise match, justement for a relevant point. Try two scenes and four questions.
In short
Exactement means “exactly”: a precise time, an identical detail or confirmation that someone has understood. Justement often means “as it happens” or “that is precisely the point”: it connects your reply to what was just said.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out
An exact match or a useful connection?
exactementexactly
Focus: precision or a match
exactement + le même / à … heures exactement
Les deux messages donnent exactement la même date.
The two messages give exactly the same date.
Le cours commence à neuf heures exactement.
The class starts at exactly nine.
justementas it happens; precisely the point
Focus: why this detail matters now
Justement, … / je voulais justement…
Je voulais justement te parler de ce cours.
As it happens, I wanted to talk to you about that class.
C’est justement ce qui me gêne.
That’s precisely what bothers me.
What is the difference between justement and exactement?
- Nora
On se retrouve à neuf heures, devant la bibliothèque ?
Are we meeting at nine, outside the library?
- Samir
Exactement. À neuf heures, devant l’entrée principale.
Exactly. At nine, outside the main entrance.
- Nora
Tu peux me dire où elle est exactement ?
Can you tell me exactly where it is?
- Samir
En face de l’arrêt de bus.
Opposite the bus stop.
Samir confirms that Nora has the details right. Her next exactement asks for a more precise location. In à neuf heures exactement, the point is the exact time. Justement would bring a connection or a reason into the exchange instead.
How do you use justement to make an objection?
- Samir
Nous serons vingt, mais la petite salle coûte moins cher.
There’ll be twenty of us, but the small room costs less.
- Nora
Justement, elle n’a que dix places. Il nous faut une autre salle.
That’s precisely the point: it only has ten seats. We need another room.
- Samir
D’accord, je vais chercher une salle plus grande.
OK, I’ll look for a bigger room.
Nora picks up Samir’s point about the group size and uses the seating limit to object to his suggestion. Justement picks up a point; the words that follow show whether the speaker agrees, objects or adds something. Translate the whole reply: “precisely”, “as it happens” and “that’s the point” each suit different moments.
| Reply | What it does |
|---|---|
| Exactement, c’est ce que je voulais dire. | Confirms an accurate restatement. |
| Justement, je voulais t’en parler. | Connects the topic with an earlier intention. |
| Justement, c’est pour cela que je refuse. | Uses the same point as a reason to refuse. |
— Tu connais ce roman ? — Justement, je viens de le terminer !
“Do you know this novel?” “As it happens, I’ve just finished it!”
The question arrives at a timely moment. The recent action is expressed by venir de + infinitive.