pansement
/pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/masculine
In French, the English word "bandage" can be translated as either bandage or pansement.
Meaning: medical binding made with strip of gauze or similar (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pansement | /pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/ | masculine |
| bandage | /bɑ̃.daʒ/ | masculine |
Both words refer to medical bindings, but they are used in different contexts. The word pansement is the most common term used for a small dressing or an adhesive bandage. The verb panser means to treat or dress a wound.
Which one should you use?
pansement is the most common word for a small dressing or an adhesive bandage (like a Band-Aid). In contrast, bandage refers specifically to a long strip of material used for wrapping a limb or wound.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both bandage and pansement are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɑ̃s.mɑ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use 'bandage' to mean a small adhesive strip, but in French, pansement is the more natural term for a small dressing.
Did you know?
- The verb panser is also used in a completely different context to describe the act of grooming a horse's coat with a brush.
- In French, the phrase mettre un pansement sur une jambe de bois literally means 'putting a bandage on a wooden leg', used to describe a useless or futile effort.
- The verb panser is a homophone for penser, meaning 'to think'. This leads to common puns in French literature and comedy where treating a wound is compared to mental reflection.
Examples in context
- Je dois changer ce pansement.I need to change that bandage.This sentence is useful for practicing how to say you need to change a pansement.Tatoeba #8412013 by lbdx, translation #3722337 by CM
- Tom portait un bandage à la main gauche.Tom had a bandage on his left hand.This sentence is useful for describing someone wearing a bandage.Tatoeba #7105375 by Micsmithel, translation #5788599 by CK
- Il enroula un bandage autour de la blessure.He wound a bandage around the wound.This sentence is useful for describing the act of winding a bandage around a wound.Tatoeba #809582 by sacredceltic, translation #665541 by darinmex
- Je vais changer mon pansement demain.I'm going to change my bandage tomorrow.
- Le médecin a appliqué un pansement sur ma blessure.The doctor put a bandage on my wound.
- Il a utilisé une bande pour maintenir le pansement.He used a strip to secure the bandage.
- Elle a enlevé la bande après la guérison complète.She removed the bandage after complete healing.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are in the kitchen after a small accident.
- NathanEmma, tu t'es coupé avec le couteau ?Emma, did you cut yourself with the knife?
- EmmaOui, j'ai besoin d'un pansement, s'il te plaît.Yes, I need a bandage, please.
- NathanTiens, j'ai un pansement dans la boîte.Here, I have a bandage in the box.
- EmmaMerci Nathan, c'est très gentil.Thanks Nathan, that's very kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bandage” translations and entries pansement, bandage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
