French Phrase
N'affronte pas les intrus.
Meaning
The sentence warns someone not to confront the intruders, suggesting that avoiding a direct clash is the safer choice.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a safety warning, in a story where characters are told to stay hidden, or when advising someone to let authorities handle a dangerous situation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
N'affrontepaslesintrus
Negative Imperative
To form the negative imperative for -er verbs, drop the final -s of the present tense and place 'ne' before the verb (contracted to N') and 'pas' after it.
Negation Particle
'Pas' follows the verb in negative commands, reinforcing the prohibition.
Definite Article (Plural)
'Les' is the plural definite article used before a specific group of nouns.
Intrus (Noun)
'Intrus' is a masculine plural noun meaning 'intruders' or 'trespassers'.
🗨In Conversation
N'affronte pas les intrus, ils sont armés.
Do not confront the intruders, they are armed.
D'accord, je vais appeler la police.
Alright, I'll call the police.
✕Common Mistakes
Ne affronte pas les intrus.
While grammatically correct, the negative imperative for -er verbs usually contracts 'ne' to N' before a vowel, so N'affronte is the natural spoken form.
N'affrontez pas les intrus.
Use the singular form 'affronte' when addressing one person; 'affrontez' is for plural or formal 'vous'.
↔Alternatives
Ne confronte pas les intrus.
Do not confront the intruders.
Évite de t'opposer aux intrus.
Avoid opposing the intruders.
Ne t'attaque pas aux intrus.
Don't attack the intruders.
Cultural Tip
In French, the negative imperative often drops the 'ne' and contracts it to N' before a vowel, as in N'affronte. 'Affronter' is a strong verb implying a face‑to‑face clash; in everyday speech, many French speakers prefer the softer 'confronter' or the more neutral 'éviter'. Remember that 'intrus' can refer to literal trespassers or figurative intruders (e.g., unwanted guests in a conversation).