à jeun

fasting, on an empty stomach

adverb ah-ZHUN Rare

Usage Note

À jeun is a fixed adverbial phrase used in medical and dietary contexts to indicate that no food or drink has been consumed — 'take this medicine à jeun' means before eating anything. The noun le jeûne (with a circumflex) means 'fasting' and is related. The phrase appears routinely on prescriptions and medical instructions in France.

Examples

"Prenez ce médicament à jeun le matin."

Natural Translation

Take this medication on an empty stomach in the morning.

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