Par (en. By)

/paʁ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
preposition
Indicates the manner, means, or cause.
He came by train.
Il est venu par le train.
Used to indicate a sequence or a course.
He crossed the city through the small streets.
Il a traversé la ville par les petites rues.
Indicates a comparison or a relationship.
He is, by excellence, the best in his class.
Il est par excellence le meilleur de sa classe.

Etymology

The word 'par' comes from the Latin 'per', meaning through or by means of.

Common Phrases and Expressions

by chance
without intention, accidentally.
par hasard
to speak in hints
to make indirect references.
parler par allusions
to go through
to use or borrow a path or method.
passer par
out of concern for
in order to take something into account or avoid something.
par souci de

Related Words

route
the path or route taken.
parcours
partner
a person with whom one collaborates, often in a business relationship or context.
partenaire
parallel
indicating a similarity or a match.
parallèle

Slang Meanings

to use a roundabout way to obtain something.
He managed to get the job through friends.
Il a réussi à obtenir le job par des copains.
to do something without it being planned or official.
They met by pure chance in the street.
Ils se sont rencontrés par pur hasard dans la rue.