par hasard
/pa.ʁ‿a.zaʁ/
The English phrase "by any chance" can be translated into French as par hasard. Wiktionary also lists à tout hasard.
Meaning: possibly, perhaps (prep_phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| par hasard | /pa.ʁ‿a.zaʁ/ |
| à tout hasard | /a tu a.zaʁ/ /a tu.t‿a.zaʁ/ |
Both par hasard and à tout hasard are used to express the idea of possibly or perhaps. In a question, par hasard is typically placed at the end of the sentence or immediately after the verb to soften the query.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase par hasard is composed of the preposition par (by) and the noun hasard (chance/luck).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of par hasard is /pa.ʁ‿a.zaʁ/ and consists of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word hasard actually traces its roots back to the Arabic word for 'dice', specifically referring to the 'flower' pattern on a die. This connection is why we use the word to describe luck or chance today.
- In French, hasard is used in the expression le hasard fait bien les choses, which suggests that chance often arranges things for the best.
- While par hasard means 'by chance' in a general sense, it is also used to mean 'accidentally'. If you say Je l'ai rencontré par hasard, you are saying you met them 'by chance' or 'by accident'.
Examples in context
- Es-tu Tom Jackson par hasard ?Are you Tom Jackson by any chance?This is useful for asking if someone is a specific person using par hasard.Tatoeba #4479304 by mouche, translation #4016743 by CK
- Le connaissez-vous par hasard ?Do you know him, by any chance?Tatoeba #3665254 by THURET, translation #2258160 by _undertoad
- À tout hasard, seriez-vous médecin ?Are you a doctor by any chance?This is useful for asking about someone's profession using à tout hasard.Tatoeba #11900818 by zogwarg, translation #11900732 by CK
- Pourriez-vous, par hasard, me donner le numéro de téléphone du directeur?Could you, by any chance, give me the phone number of the director?
- Par hasard, connaissez-vous l'horaire d'ouverture du musée?By any chance, do you know the museum's opening hours?
- Par hasard, auriez-vous des informations sur les dernières mises à jour du projet?By any chance, do you have any information about the latest updates on the project?
- Est-ce que, au cas où, tu aurais réservé une table au restaurant?By any chance, did you make a reservation at the restaurant?
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are talking in a cafe.
- NathanManon, tu as mon sac, par hasard ?Manon, do you have my bag, by any chance?
- ManonNon, je ne l'ai pas.No, I don't have it.
- NathanC'est étrange, il était sur la chaise.That's strange, it was on the chair.
- ManonRegarde peut-être sous la table.Maybe look under the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “by any chance” translations and entries par hasard, à tout hasard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hasard, par, tout, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
