à l'improviste

unexpectedly

adverb ah-lahn-proh-VEEST Rare

Also means

without warning

Usage Note

À l'improviste is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'unexpectedly' or 'without prior notice'. It commonly appears in prendre quelqu'un à l'improviste (to catch someone off guard) and arriver à l'improviste (to arrive unannounced). The word improviste does not exist independently outside this phrase in modern French.

Examples

"Il est arrivé à l'improviste hier soir."

Natural Translation

He arrived unexpectedly last night.

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