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How to Say ‘I wouldn't want to leave her stranded.’ in French

Je ne voudrais pas la laisser en plan.

zhuh nuh voo-dray pah lah leh-SAY on plahn

[zhuh nuh voo-dray pah lah leh-SAY on plahn]

🇫🇷 In France: Mentioning that you don't want to abandon a friend is a polite way to hesitate. It also signals you're not alone.

Phrase Breakdown

Je ne voudrais pas

zhuh nuh voo-dray pah

I wouldn't want

A polite way to express reluctance. In speech the 'ne' is often nearly swallowed: 'jeun voo-dreh pa'.

Example

Je ne voudrais pas déranger.

I wouldn't want to disturb.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[nuh]

(negation) not

Negation particle used with another negative word (ne… rien). In speech, it can be dropped, but it’s standard in writing.

Example

Ne me raconte rien sur l’anime, je veux garder la surprise.

Don’t tell me anything about the anime, I want to keep the surprise.

voudrais

[voo-dray]

would like

A polite conditional form of vouloir, used to say would like.

Example

Je voudrais une table près de la fenêtre.

I would like a table near the window.

pas

[pah]

not (negation)

Second part of negation in “ne… pas.” Together: “Don’t worry.”

Example

Ne t’inquiète pas, je ne dis rien.

Don’t worry, I’m not saying anything.

la laisser en plan.

lah leh-SAY on plahn

to leave her in the lurch.

Object pronoun, infinitive and idiom together. There is no liaison between 'laisser' and 'en'.

Example

Il m'a laissé en plan.

He left me in the lurch.

Words in this phrase

[lah]

her

Direct object pronoun meaning “her,” referring to the hen.

Example

Gardez-la au chaud et au calme.

Keep her warm and calm.

laisser

[leh-SAY]

to leave

To leave someone or something somewhere.

Example

Je vais laisser mon sac ici.

I'll leave my bag here.

[on]

A preposition indicating inclusion within a space.

Example

Il est en France.

He is in France.

plan

[plahn]

stranded (in idiom)

In 'en plan', means abandoned or left hanging.

Example

Il m'a laissé en plan.

He left me hanging.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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