pansement
/pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/masculine
The English phrase "band-aid" is translated into French as pansement. Wiktionary also lists sparadrap.
Meaning: adhesive bandage (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pansement | /pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/ | masculine |
| sparadrap | /spa.ʁa.dʁa/ | masculine |
The term is used to refer to an adhesive bandage or a general wound dressing. Because it is a masculine noun, you should use the masculine articles un or le when referring to it, such as in un pansement.
Which one should you use?
Use pansement for a standard adhesive bandage or a general dressing. If you are specifically referring to the adhesive medical tape used to secure a dressing, use sparadrap.
How do you pronounce it?
The word pansement is pronounced /pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- In French, the verb panser is a homophone of penser, meaning 'to think'. This phonetic overlap allows for wordplay in literature and poetry regarding healing the mind versus healing the body.
- While pansement is the standard term, a French speaker might describe a 'quick fix' as un pansement sur une jambe de bois, which literally means 'a bandage on a wooden leg'.
- The word pansement comes from the verb panser, which originally meant to dress a wound but is now also the word used for grooming and brushing a horse's coat.
Examples in context
- Je suis tombé et j'ai besoin d'un pansement adhésif.I fell down and need an adhesive bandage.
- Pouvez-vous m'apporter des compresses adhésives, s'il vous plaît?Can you bring me some adhesive compresses, please?
- Où est le pansement ?Where is the band-aid?
Example conversation
Lucas has a small cut on his finger at home.
- LucasManon, j'ai besoin d'un pansement.Manon, I need a band-aid.
- ManonQu'est-ce qui t'arrive, Lucas ?What happened to you, Lucas?
- LucasJe me suis coupé le doigt.I cut my finger.
- ManonAttends, je vais chercher un pansement.Wait, I'll go get a band-aid.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “band-aid” translations and entries pansement, sparadrap, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
