French Phrase
Oui, valide en sortant.
Meaning
The speaker confirms that something – a ticket, a coupon, a pass, etc. – is still valid at the moment of leaving. It is a short, affirmative answer to a question about the status of a document or permission.
When to use
Use this phrase at a checkpoint, gate, or any situation where someone asks if a ticket or pass works when you are about to exit a venue, a train, a museum, or a parking lot.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouivalideensortant
Oui
An interjection meaning “yes”. It can stand alone or precede a clause.
valide (adjective)
Used as an adjective meaning “valid” or “still good”. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes.
en + present participle
The construction “en + present participle” expresses a simultaneous action, similar to “while/when …ing” in English.
sortant (present participle)
The present participle of sortir, meaning “leaving”. In the phrase it forms the temporal clause “en sortant”.
🗨In Conversation
Est‑ce que le ticket fonctionne ?
Does the ticket work?
Oui, valide en sortant.
Yes, it’s valid when leaving.
✕Common Mistakes
Oui, valide à sortir.
The preposition *à* is incorrect here; use the “en + present participle” construction.
Oui, valide quand je sors.
While understandable, the idiomatic French phrase is *en sortant* rather than *quand je sors* for a short confirmation.
Oui, valides en sortant.
The adjective must agree with the noun it modifies; *valide* stays singular unless the noun is plural.
↔Alternatives
Oui, il est valable à la sortie.
Yes, it’s valid at the exit.
Oui, ça marche en sortant.
Yes, it works when you leave.
Oui, c’est encore valide au moment de sortir.
Yes, it’s still valid at the moment of leaving.
Cultural Tip
In French, both *valide* and *valable* can describe a ticket’s status, but *valable* is slightly more common in everyday speech. The “en + present participle” construction is very natural in French and often replaces English “while …ing”. Remember to keep the tone polite; you can add *s’il vous plaît* or *merci* if you’re speaking to staff.