sauter
/so.te/
In French, to skip is translated as sauter.
The verb sauter is used as a synonym for skip when you want to omit or disregard intermediate items or stages, such as skipping a meal. To indicate skipping something directly or going straight to a point, you can use the adverb directement. Note that the noun benne refers to an open-topped rubbish bin.
Meaning: omit or disregard intermediate items or stages (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb sauter literally means 'to jump'.
Which one should you use?
While sauter is used to mean skipping an item or a stage, it is also the standard verb for the physical action of jumping. Other options include the formal verb omettre and the informal zapper. The informal expression faire l'impasse is used when someone wants to skip something intentionally or avoid it altogether.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /so.te/. It has 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may mistakenly use sauter to mean skipping a class or playing truant. In French, sauter implies skipping a step in a process or a meal. Instead, use sécher un cours to talk about skipping school.
Did you know?
- While sauter means 'to jump', it is also the culinary term for 'to sauté'. This comes from the idea of tossing food so that it 'jumps' in the pan.
- The verb sauter can be used as a slang term meaning 'to have sex' or 'to pounce on someone'. Using it in a suggestive context is very different from skipping a meal.
- To skip school, the French use sécher un cours, which literally means 'to dry a class'. This evokes the idea of the student evaporating or disappearing from the room.
Examples in context
- Je compte sauter le déjeuner.I plan to skip lunch.This sentence is useful for expressing a plan to skip lunch.Tatoeba #9761671 by lbdx, translation #3199055 by CK
- Ce n'est pas bon pour la santé de sauter des repas.It's not healthy to skip meals.This sentence shows how skipping meals can be unhealthy.Tatoeba #8565415 by valhentai, translation #681440 by Source_VOA
- Ça ne va pas te tuer de sauter un repas.It won't hurt you to skip one meal.This sentence is useful for saying it won't hurt to skip a meal.Tatoeba #970889 by NomadSoul, translation #27668 by CK
- Il est préférable d'omettre cette étape dans le processus.It is better to skip this step in the process.
- Nous allons passer cette partie de la présentation pour gagner du temps.We will skip this part of the presentation to save time.
- Je vais zapper cette émission télévisée, elle est ennuyeuse.I'm going to skip this TV show, it's boring.
- J'ai décidé de faire l'impasse sur cette fête, je suis trop fatigué.I've decided to skip this party, I'm too tired.
- Allons directement à la question suivante.Let's skip directly to the next question.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are discussing their study plan for a textbook.
- EmmaOn peut sauter ce chapitre, non ?We can skip this chapter, right?
- GabrielOui, c'est trop facile pour nous.Yes, it's too easy for us.
- EmmaParfait, on passe directement au suivant.Perfect, we'll go straight to the next one.
- GabrielD'accord, Gabriel est prêt à commencer.Okay, Gabriel is ready to start.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “skip” translations and entries sauter, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
