Dictionary / Preservatives
How to Say "Preservatives" in French
Conservateurs
/kɔ̃sɛʁvatœʁ/
Literally: Preservatives (things that conserve)
Conservateurs
preservatives
Good to know
On packaging you'll see sans conservateurs (preservative-free) and sans colorants ni conservateurs (no colourings or preservatives). Conservateur also means a museum curator, and a political conservative.
Correct
Conservateurs
What people say wrong
Préservatifs
condoms
The mistake to avoid. Préservatifs means condoms. This is the most famous false friend in French, and it turns a label-reading question into an unforgettable one. The word you want is conservateurs, from conserver, to preserve.
In context
Ce yaourt est sans conservateurs.
This yoghurt has no preservatives.
Il y a des conservateurs dans ce pain ?
Are there preservatives in this bread?
Sans colorants ni conservateurs.
No colourings or preservatives.