French Conversation · Level 18
89 words
French word
passant
Pronunciation
IPA/pasɑ̃/
Meaning
- masculine nounpasserby
Example
Le passant a aidé la vieille femme.
The passerby helped the old woman.
More examples
Un passant a indiqué le chemin.
A passerby indicated the way.
Core concept
A person who appears momentarily while moving through a public place.
Common phrases
un passant
a passerby
des passants
passersby
le passant
the passerby
Similar words
piéton: A person traveling on foot along a road or sidewalk.
promeneur: A person walking slowly for a stroll or relaxation.
touriste: A person visiting a place for travel or sightseeing.
Definition in French
Individu de passage, généralement à pied, aperçu momentanément dans un espace public.
Word origin
The noun passant developed from French passer, whose history goes back through Old French to Late Latin passare.
Usage tips
- Passant emphasizes someone merely passing by, whereas piéton more generally means a pedestrian.