à part
/a paʁ/
In French, the phrase "on the side" is translated as à part.
When ordering food, use à part to indicate that a condiment, sauce or side dish should be served in a separate container instead of being poured over or mixed directly into the main dish.
Meaning: separate from the main course of a meal (prep_phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase à part literally translates to "apart" or "separately".
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adverbial phrase, à part is invariable. It does not change its form regardless of the gender or number of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
/a paʁ/
Did you know?
- In French, à part can also be used as an adjective to mean 'exceptional' or 'extraordinary', as in describing someone who is 'in a class of their own'.
- In French theatre, à part is the official term for an 'aside', where a character speaks directly to the audience while other characters remain unaware.
- In a French restaurant, if you want a side dish like fries or vegetables rather than a sauce on the side, you would use the word accompagnement instead of à part.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais avoir du ketchup à part.I'd like to have ketchup on the side.This sentence shows how to request a condiment served à part.Tatoeba #2596341 by Aiji, translation #62591 by CK
- J'écris des poèmes à mes heures perdues.I write poems in my spare time/on the side.
- J'effectue des traductions en parallèle de mon travail principal.I do translations on the side of my main job.
- Je donne des conférences en tant qu'activité complémentaire à ma profession d'avocat.I give lectures as a complementary activity to my lawyer profession/on the side of being a lawyer.
- Je fais de la couture en parallèle de mes études universitaires.I do sewing on the side of my university studies.
- Il répare des voitures à ses heures perdues.He fixes cars in his spare time/on the side.
- Tu veux la sauce à part ?Do you want the sauce on the side?
- Il a demandé les frites à part.He asked for the fries on the side.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are ordering food at a restaurant.
- LéaTu veux la vinaigrette sur la salade ?Do you want the dressing on the salad?
- HugoNon, je la veux à part, s'il te plaît.No, I want it on the side, please.
- LéaD'accord, je vais demander ça au serveur.Okay, I will ask the waiter for that.
- HugoMerci, c'est plus pratique pour moi.Thanks, it is more practical for me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry à part, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
