ils ne passeront pas
The English phrase "they shall not pass" is translated into French as ils ne passeront pas.
This phrase is used to express a resolute refusal to allow an enemy or an obstacle to advance beyond a certain point.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is constructed with the subject ils (they), the negation particles ne… pas (not), and the future tense of passer (to pass/go through). Literally, it translates to "they not will pass not".
Which one should you use?
If the group being referred to consists entirely of females, ils must be replaced with elles to form elles ne passeront pas.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ils ne passeront pas, the verb passeront is the third-person plural future indicative of passer.
Did you know?
- While ils ne passeront pas is the standard French version, the phrase is famously associated with the Spanish Civil War via its translation no pasarán.
- The word pas in ils ne passeront pas was originally a noun meaning 'a step', meaning the phrase once literally claimed the enemy would not move a single step forward.
- While standard French uses ils, many regional dialects like Norman or Picard still use variants like i or 'is' to mean 'they'.
Examples in context
- Dans cette bataille, les ennemis ne passeront pas!In this battle, the enemies shall not pass!
- Personne ne passera sans autorisation.No one shall pass without permission.
- Ils ne passeront pas, nous resterons ici.They shall not pass, we will stay here.
- Face à l'ennemi, ils ne passeront pas.Facing the enemy, they shall not pass.
- Gardez votre position, ils ne passeront pas !Hold your position, they shall not pass!
Example conversation
Two people are defending a door in a game.
- HugoRegarde, l'armée arrive !Look, the army is coming!
- LéaOn doit bloquer l'entrée.We must block the entrance.
- HugoIls ne passeront pas, Léa !They shall not pass, Lea!
- LéaExactement, Hugo. On tient bon !Exactly, Hugo. We hold our ground!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ils, ne, pas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
