French Conversation · Level 4
88 words
French word
sans
Pronunciation
IPA/sɑ̃/
Meaning
- prepositionwithout
Example
Il a réussi sans aide.
He succeeded without help.
More examples
Il a accepté l'offre sans hésiter.
He accepted the offer without hesitating.
Core concept
A needed element is absent, and that absence changes the situation or prevents an action.
Common phrases
sans sucre
without sugar
sans argent
without money
sans hésiter
without hesitating
Similar words
faute de: Indicates that the lack of something necessary leads to using another means.
Definition in French
Marque qu'une chose manque ou qu'une action n'a pas lieu, souvent suivie d'un nom ou d'un infinitif.
Word origin
French sans developed through Old French sanz and sens from Latin sine, retaining the preposition's sense of absence.
Usage tips
- The final s in sans is normally silent, and the word is pronounced roughly like the nasal vowel in French dans.