hélas means “unfortunately” | MotiTan French Dictionary

More examples

Hélas, il a perdu son emploi.

Alas, he lost his job.

A sigh placed beside an unwelcome fact, marking regret while accepting that the fact cannot be changed.

dommage: A simple exclamation showing that an event is unfortunate.
tant pis: A resigned exclamation about an outcome that cannot be changed.

Exprime le regret face à un fait fâcheux ou inévitable, souvent traduisible par « malheureusement ».

French hélas comes from Old French helas, formed from the exclamation hé and las, which traces back to Latin lassus, meaning tired or weary.

Hélas sounds literary or formal in everyday speech, where tant pis or dommage is often more natural.