sauf

The French word "sauf" is a preposition and conjunction that means "except" or "save" in English. It is used to indicate an exception or exclusion.

Meaning:

• Preposition: It excludes someone or something from a general statement.
  Example: Tout le monde est là, sauf Paul.
  (Everybody is here, except Paul.)

• Conjunction: It connects two parts of a sentence where the second part is an exception to the first.
  Example: Je serais venu, sauf que j'étais malade.
  (I would have come, except that I was sick.)

Synonyms and differences:

• À l'exception de: A more formal way to say "except."
  Usually used in written or formal contexts, for example: Tous les enfants, à l'exception de Marc, sont partis.
  (All the children, except Marc, left.)

• Excepté: Also formal, similar to "sauf," often interchangeable in meaning, e.g., Excepté toi, tout le monde est prêt.

• Hormis: Another synonym meaning "except," often used in formal writing.
  Example: Hormis cet incident, la réunion s’est bien déroulée.
  (Except for this incident, the meeting went well.)

• Sinon: Generally means "otherwise," but in some contexts (in negative phrases), it can function similarly.

Summary:

• Sauf is widely used in both spoken and written French to exclude something.
• It is less formal than exception de, excepté, or hormis.
• It can link clauses (as conjunction) or introduce exceptions (as preposition).

Use sauf when you want a concise and versatile way to point out an exception in everyday language.