French Phrase
Saute pas quand tu t'étires.
Meaning
A warning not to jump while you are stretching, because doing so can cause a muscle strain or other injury.
When to use
Use this phrase in a gym, sports class, or any informal setting where someone is about to combine a jump with a stretch. It’s a typical safety reminder from a coach, trainer, or a friend.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sautepasquandtut'étires.
Imperative (Saute)
‘Saute’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘sauter’ (to jump).
Negation without ‘ne’
In spoken French the particle ‘ne’ is often dropped, leaving only ‘pas’ after the verb.
Temporal clause (quand)
‘Quand’ introduces a subordinate clause meaning ‘when’.
Reflexive verb (t'étire)
‘S’étirer’ means ‘to stretch oneself’; the correct present‑tense form for ‘tu’ is ‘t’étire’.
🗨In Conversation
Je vais faire un grand saut avant de m'étirer.
I’m going to do a big jump before I stretch.
Saute pas quand tu t'étires, tu pourrais te blesser.
Don’t jump when you stretch, you could hurt yourself.
✕Common Mistakes
Saute pas quand tu t'étires.
The correct conjugation of ‘s’étirer’ for ‘tu’ is ‘t’étire’. The extra ‘s’ is a common mistake.
Saute pas quand tu t'étire.
In formal French you should keep the ‘ne’: ‘Ne saute pas…’. Dropping ‘ne’ is acceptable in casual speech.
↔Alternatives
Ne saute pas pendant que tu t'étire.
Don’t jump while you stretch.
Évite de sauter pendant que tu t'étire.
Avoid jumping while you stretch.
Ne fais pas de saut pendant l'étirement.
Don’t make a jump during the stretch.
Cultural Tip
In everyday French the negative ‘ne’ is frequently omitted, especially in spoken imperatives, which is why the phrase appears as ‘Saute pas…’. However, in formal writing you would keep the ‘ne’: ‘Ne saute pas…’. Also note that the correct reflexive form is ‘t’étire’; ‘t’étires’ is a common learner error.