French · Greetings & Essentials
"Without" in French: sans
sans
Without in French is sans: un café sans sucre, je pars sans parapluie. Sans problème means no problem. It comes right before the noun or pronoun.
Café order
Un thé sans sucre, s'il te plaît.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce sans
Say it
sahn
/sɑ̃/
Sans: nasal sahn, like the start of song without a hard g.
"Without" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| sans | without Before nouns and pronouns. | Before nouns and pronouns. |
| sans sucre | without sugar Drinks and food. | Drinks and food. |
| sans problème | no problem Agreeing easily. | Agreeing easily. |
| sans doute | probably / no doubt Set phrase. | Set phrase. |
How to use sans in real life
- 1Café order
Un thé sans sucre, s'il te plaît.
A tea without sugar, please.
Sans + noun.
- 2Leaving home
Je sors sans mon téléphone aujourd'hui.
I'm going out without my phone today.
Sans before the object left behind.
- 3Helping a friend
Tu peux venir sans apport, on a tout.
You can come without bringing anything — we have everything.
Sans apport = empty-handed for a meal.
Mistakes English speakers make with sans
Incorrect: Un café without sucre.
Correct: Un café sans sucre.
Use sans, not English without.
Incorrect: Sans de lait.
Correct: Sans lait.
No de after sans before a noun.
Good to know
Sans is everywhere on menus: sans gluten, sans lactose, sans oignons. Sans souci and sans problème are friendly, informal reassurances.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a café
ChatPal
Tu prends ton café avec ou sans sucre ?
Are you taking your coffee with or without sugar?
You
Sans sucre, merci.
Without sugar, thanks.
ChatPal
Et sans lait aussi ?
And without milk too?
You
Oui, juste noir.
Yes, just black.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Without" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Without" in French
How do you say without in French?
Sans.
How do you say without sugar?
Sans sucre.
Do you say sans de…?
No — sans + noun, no de.
How do you pronounce sans?
Nasal sahn.
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
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