dans le passé
/dɑ̃ l(ə) pa.se/
The English phrase "in the past" can be translated into French as dans le passé. If unsure, use dans le passé. Wiktionary also lists par le passé.
Meaning: at a past time (prep_phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| dans le passé | /dɑ̃ l(ə) pa.se/ /dɑ̃ l(ə) pɑ.se/ |
| par le passé | /paʁ lə pa.se/ |
dans le passé is used to refer to a time that has already gone by. It can be used to describe a specific period in a person's history or used figuratively, such as when someone is living in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dans le passé is a literal translation of the English phrase: dans means "in", le means "the" and passé means "past".
Which one should you use?
dans le passé is the most common and neutral way to express this idea in both speech and writing. In contrast, par le passé is a more formal version often found in professional or written contexts to refer to a general period of time.
How do you pronounce it?
/dɑ̃ l(ə) pa.se/
Did you know?
- French has a specific term, le passé composé, which literally means 'the composed past' to describe its most common past tense.
- While dans le passé is common, French speakers often use the phrase autrefois to express the same idea in a single word.
- The word dans actually originates from the Latin ‘dē intus’, which literally means 'from within'.
Examples in context
- Marie vit dans le passé.Mary lives in the past.This sentence shows the figurative use of dans le passé.Tatoeba #13076746 by Rovo, translation #13065339 by rul
- Il semble avoir été riche dans le passé.He seems to have been rich in the past.This sentence shows how to use dans le passé to refer to a person's previous state.Tatoeba #7696087 by Maxence, translation #13813065 by tieguy
- As-tu éprouvé des symptômes de sevrage dans le passé ?Have you experienced withdrawal symptoms in the past?This sentence shows how to use dans le passé when asking about historical experiences.Tatoeba #9983080 by Micsmithel, translation #9850945 by NurseMeeks
- Dans le passé, les gens voyageaient en charrette.In the past, people used to travel by cart.
- Autrefois, les rois étaient considérés comme des dirigeants divins.In the past, kings were considered divine rulers.
- Jadis, ces terres étaient couvertes de forêts sauvages.In the past, these lands were covered in wild forests.
- Autrefois, on se promenait librement dans cette rue.In the past, people used to stroll freely on this street.
- Avant, on ne pouvait pas imaginer vivre sans internet.In the past, one couldn't imagine living without the internet.
- Les parcs étaient magnifiques autrefois.The parks used to be beautiful in the past.
- Il y a dix ans, j'étais encore étudiant.Ten years ago, I was still a student.
- Hier, nous sommes allés au cinéma.Yesterday, we went to the cinema.
- L'année dernière, j'ai visité Paris.Last year, I visited Paris.
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing their old hobbies.
- GabrielTu faisais du sport dans le passé ?Did you play sports in the past?
- LéaOui, je jouais au tennis.Yes, I used to play tennis.
- GabrielC'est différent de maintenant.That's different from now.
- LéaLe temps change beaucoup.Time changes a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “in the past” translations and entries dans le passé, par le passé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dans, le, par, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
