French · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Backpack" in French: sac à dos
le sac à dos
Backpack in French is le sac à dos, masculine. Un sac à dos is a backpack. Students and hikers both use the same phrase.
School morning
N'oublie pas ton sac à dos près de la porte.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce sac à dos
Say it
luh sak ah doh
/lə sak a do/
sak ah doh. Sac is sak; à is ah; dos is doh with a closed o. No final s sound in dos.
"Backpack" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le sac à dos | the backpack Default noun. | Default noun. |
| un sac à dos | a backpack Buying or packing. | Buying or packing. |
| porter un sac à dos | to wear/carry a backpack Everyday verb pair. | Everyday verb pair. |
| sac à dos de randonnée | hiking backpack Outdoor gear. | Outdoor gear. |
How to use sac à dos in real life
- 1School morning
N'oublie pas ton sac à dos près de la porte.
Don't forget your backpack by the door.
Ton sac à dos.
- 2Hiking shop
Je cherche un sac à dos léger.
I'm looking for a light backpack.
Shopping.
- 3Train travel
Mon sac à dos est trop plein pour le filet.
My backpack is too full for the rack.
Travel hassle.
Mistakes English speakers make with sac à dos
Incorrect: Mon sac dos est lourd.
Correct: Mon sac à dos est lourd.
Keep à: sac à dos.
Incorrect: Une sac à dos.
Correct: Un sac à dos.
Masculine: un sac à dos.
Good to know
French kids talk about le cartable for a school satchel, but sac à dos is the universal backpack for travel, uni, and hiking.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Packing for a day trip
ChatPal
Tu prends ton sac à dos ou une valise ?
Are you taking your backpack or a suitcase?
You
Le sac à dos, c'est plus simple.
The backpack is simpler.
ChatPal
OK, j'en prends un aussi.
OK, I'll take one too.
You
Parfait.
Perfect.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Backpack" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Backpack" in French
How do you say backpack in French?
Le sac à dos.
Is it masculine?
Yes: un sac à dos.
Cartable vs sac à dos?
Cartable is more a school bag; sac à dos is the general backpack.
How do you pronounce sac à dos?
sak ah doh.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
