sac à main
/sa.k‿a mɛ̃/masculine
The English phrase 'handbag' is translated into French as sac à main. Wiktionary also lists sacoche.
Meaning: small bag carried in the hand (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sac à main | /sa.k‿a mɛ̃/ | masculine |
| sacoche | /sa.kɔʃ/ | Belgium, Canada, feminine |
sac à main refers to a small bag carried in the hand. The term sacoche can also be used to describe a pouch or a small bag used for carrying items like a wallet or a phone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sac à main is composed of sac (bag) and à main (for the hand).
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word sacoche is used in Belgium and Canada.
How does it change in a sentence?
When pluralizing sac à main to say 'handbags', only the word sac takes an s, resulting in des sacs à main. The à main part remains unchanged.
How do you pronounce it?
/sa.k‿a mɛ̃/
Did you know?
- While sac à main describes a purse, the word sac is also a relative of the English word 'ransack', which comes from the Old Norse word saka.
- In French, a sacoche is not just a handbag, but often refers specifically to a messenger bag or a crossbody pouch used by cyclists and postal workers.
- In some traditional French contexts, a sacoche was historically a pouch tied around the waist, a style that predates the modern handheld sac à main.
Examples in context
- Ce sac à main est à moi.This handbag is mine.This sentence is useful for showing possession of a sac à main.Tatoeba #4963248 by franlexcois, translation #1479242 by weihaiping
- À qui est ce sac à main ?Whose handbag is this?This sentence is useful for asking who the owner of a sac à main is.Tatoeba #1779136 by sacredceltic, translation #60634 by CK
- Ce sac à main coûte cher.That handbag is dear.This sentence is useful for describing the cost of a sac à main.Tatoeba #7748322 by Blabla, translation #9457149 by sundown
- J'aime beaucoup ton nouveau sac à main . Où l'as-tu acheté ?I really like your new handbag. Where did you buy it?
- Le magasin vend des sacs à main de différentes marques et styles.The store sells handbags from different brands and styles.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is looking for her bag before leaving the house.
- GabrielOù est ton sac à main, Léa ?Where is your handbag, Léa?
- LéaJe ne le trouve plus.I can't find it anymore.
- GabrielIl est sur la table.It is on the table.
- LéaAh oui, merci Gabriel !Oh yes, thank you Gabriel!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “handbag” translations and entries sac à main, sacoche, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries main, sac, sac à main, sacoche, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
