adverbpreposition

hors

outside

Cela indique que quelque chose est à l’extérieur d’un endroit ou d’une limite.

Definition & meaning

Hors is an invariable French word that most often means outside, out of, beyond, or except, depending on context. It is commonly followed by de.

Outside or beyond a place, limit, or subject: hors de la ville means “outside the city”; hors sujet means “off topic.”
Except or apart from: hors quelques exceptions means “apart from a few exceptions.”
Unavailable or not functioning: hors service means “out of service.”
Beyond comparison: hors pair means “exceptional” or “without equal.”

By itself, hors is less common than in expressions with de or in established phrases.

Grammar & Word origin

Hors is invariable: its spelling does not change. It is chiefly used as a preposition, often in the construction hors de (“outside of,” “out of,” or “apart from”). It also appears in fixed expressions.

The word comes from Old French hors, ultimately from Latin foris, meaning “outside” or “outdoors.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Possible synonyms depend on the context:

en dehors de — “outside of” or “apart from”; often a close alternative, though it can sound more explicit.
à l’extérieur de — “on the outside of”; primarily refers to physical location.
sauf and excepté — “except”; these fit exclusion contexts, but not the physical meaning “outside.”
au-delà de — “beyond”; emphasizes passing a limit rather than simply being outside it.