sabbat
/sa.ba/
The English word "sabbath" is translated into French as sabbat.
sabbat refers to the Sabbath. In a colloquial or folklore context, le sabbat specifically refers to a witches' sabbath, which is a meeting of witches.
Meaning: Sunday (Christianity) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While sabbat can refer to the religious day of rest, in modern French, the standard word used for the Christian Sunday is dimanche.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /sa.ba/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- If you use sabbat to refer to a Sunday in a modern conversation, a French person will likely think you are talking about a gathering of witches.
- The French word for Saturday samedi shares the same ancient root as sabbat. Both originate from the Hebrew word for the day of rest.
- In historical French texts, le sabbat was used by inquisitors to describe illegal gatherings, which cemented the word's association with secrecy and crime.
Examples in context
- Nous sommes en plein Sabbat.We're in the middle of the Sabbath.This sentence shows the use of sabbat to indicate being in the middle of the Sabbath.Tatoeba #8593841 by Micsmithel, translation #12072478 by Slam4
- Qu’est-ce que vous portez donc là, mon petit fieu ? Des crapauds qui t’ont vue au sabbat, vieille sorcière, répondit celui-ci.‘What are you carrying there, my son?’ ‘Toads which saw you at the sabbath, old witch,’ he replied.This sentence uses sabbat in a folklore context regarding a witches' sabbath.
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are discussing their weekly plans.
- LéaEst-ce que tu travailles ce sabbat ?Are you working this sabbath?
- GabrielNon, je me repose tout le jour.No, I am resting all day.
- LéaC'est bien de garder le sabbat sacré.It is good to keep the sabbath sacred.
- GabrielOui, c'est important pour ma famille.Yes, it is important for my family.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry sabbat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sabbat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
