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French Phrase

Passe par le portique de sécurité maintenant.

/pas paʁ lə pɔʁ.tik də se.ky.ʁi mɛ̃.tə.nɑ̃/
Meaning"Go through the security gate now."
💡

Meaning

A direct, informal command telling someone to go through the security gate right away. It is concise and typical of spoken instructions in public places like airports or event venues.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you need to give a quick, informal instruction to a single person you know well (e.g., a colleague, a friend, or a child) to move through a security checkpoint immediately.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Passeparleportiquedesécuritémaintenant

1

Imperative of *passer* (tu)

For the informal second‑person singular, the imperative of *passer* drops the final -s, giving *Passe* (pronounced with a double s).

2

Preposition *par*

*Par* means ‘through’ or ‘by’; it is used with a noun to indicate the route taken.

3

Noun phrase *le portique de sécurité*

*Portique* = gate; *de sécurité* specifies its function. The article *le* is mandatory.

4

Adverb placement – *maintenant*

*Maintenant* (now) is usually placed at the end of an imperative sentence for emphasis.

🗨In Conversation

A

Passe par le portique de sécurité maintenant.

Go through the security gate now.

D'accord, j'y vais tout de suite.

Okay, I’m heading there right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Passez par le portique de sécurité maintenant.

    Use *Passe* for the informal singular; *Passez* is for formal/plural.

  • Passe par le portique sécurité maintenant.

    The article *le* and the preposition *de* are required.

  • Maintenant passe par le portique de sécurité.

    *Maintenant* normally goes at the end of an imperative for emphasis.

↔Alternatives

  • Utilise le portique de sécurité maintenant.

    Use the security gate now.

  • Passez par le portique de sécurité maintenant.

    Go through the security gate now. (formal/plural)

  • Allez par le portique de sécurité tout de suite.

    Go through the security gate right away.

fr

Cultural Tip

In French airports and large venues, announcements often use the informal imperative when addressing a single person, but the polite plural *passez* is preferred for strangers. Remember the liaison between *par* and *le* (‑r l‑) which gives the smooth sound /paʁ lə/. Also, French speakers tend to place *maintenant* at the end for urgency, unlike English where it can appear earlier.