French Phrase
Ne laisse jamais la nourriture sans surveillance.
Meaning
Literally, 'Never leave the food unattended.' It is a warning or piece of advice telling someone to keep an eye on food so it doesn't get spoiled, stolen, or cause a mess.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re reminding a friend, a child, or a colleague not to walk away from a plate, a pot on the stove, or any food that needs monitoring. It works both in casual kitchen talk and in more formal safety briefings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nelaissejamaislanourrituresanssurveillance
Negation with Ne...jamais
In French, 'ne' and 'jamais' together form a negative meaning 'never'. The 'ne' often drops in spoken French, but it is required in formal writing.
Imperative of laisser
The verb 'laisser' in the second‑person singular imperative drops the final -s, becoming 'laisse'.
Definite article 'la'
The article 'la' agrees with the feminine noun 'nourriture'.
Preposition 'sans'
'Sans' means 'without' and is followed directly by a noun without an article.
Noun 'surveillance'
A feminine noun meaning 'supervision' or 'watch'.
🗨In Conversation
Je vais mettre le gâteau au four, je reviens dans cinq minutes.
I'm putting the cake in the oven, I'll be back in five minutes.
Ne laisse jamais la nourriture sans surveillance, sinon le gâteau peut brûler.
Never leave the food unattended, otherwise the cake might burn.
✕Common Mistakes
Ne laisse jamais la nourriture sans la surveillance.
The article 'la' before 'surveillance' is unnecessary; 'sans' is directly followed by the noun.
Ne laisse jamais la nourriture sans surveiller.
After 'sans' you need a noun, not a verb. Use the noun 'surveillance' or rephrase with a verb: 'Ne surveille jamais la nourriture.'
Ne laisse jamais la nourriture sans surveillances.
The noun 'surveillance' is singular; adding an 's' makes it incorrect.
↔Alternatives
Ne laisse pas la nourriture sans surveillance.
Don't leave the food unattended.
Garde toujours un œil sur la nourriture.
Always keep an eye on the food.
Surveille la nourriture en permanence.
Watch the food constantly.
Cultural Tip
In French households, leaving food unattended is often seen as careless, especially when cooking with open flames or deep‑fryers. French cuisine values precision and safety, so this warning carries a tone of responsibility. In restaurants, the phrase can also be part of hygiene regulations, reminding staff to keep dishes covered to avoid contamination.