hélas
/e.las/
The French word for "alas" is hélas.
hélas is used as an interjection to express sorrow, regret or grief.
Meaning: exclamation of sorrow, etc. (intj)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hélas is a somewhat literary or formal term. It is less common in casual, everyday spoken French than the English word "alas" is in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an interjection, hélas does not change its form regardless of the subject or the tense used in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /e.las/. It consists of two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word hélas is a linguistic fossil that literally means 'ah, weary'. It combines an exclamation of surprise with the Latin root for being tired or exhausted.
- Using hélas in a modern, casual environment like a cafe can make a speaker sound as if they are reciting a 19th-century novel.
- Beyond the interjection, the word las still exists in French as a formal adjective meaning 'weary' or 'tired'.
Examples in context
- Hélas, j'étais en retard.Alas, I was late.This sentence shows how to use hélas to express regret about being late.Tatoeba #9167292 by simias, translation #2965417 by astyng
- Hélas !Alas!This example shows the use of hélas as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #7481859 by theachaean, translation #3874107 by Gal
- Hélas, je meurs au-dessus de mes moyens.Alas, I am dying beyond my means.This sentence demonstrates hélas used in a literary context regarding one's means.Tatoeba #1785872 by inastar, translation #1785867 by inastar
- Je ne pourrai pas venir demain, malheureusement.I will not be able to come tomorrow, unfortunately.
- Hélas, les résultats ne sont pas à la hauteur de nos attentes.Alas, the results are not up to our expectations.
- Zut, j'ai oublié mon porte-monnaie à la maison.Darn, I forgot my wallet at home.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are talking about a missed opportunity.
- ChloéHélas, le spectacle est déjà fini.Alas, the show is already over.
- HugoC'est vraiment dommage, Chloé.That is a real shame, Chloé.
- ChloéOn aurait dû venir plus tôt.We should have come earlier.
- HugoOui, on a manqué notre chance.Yes, we missed our chance.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alas” translations and entries hélas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hélas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
