en-cas
snack
noun ahn-KAH Rare
Origin: Compound of 'en' + 'cas' (case), meaning 'in case of need'.
Usage Note
En-cas (also written encas) is a light meal or snack kept ready 'just in case' one gets hungry. It implies forethought — a packed snack rather than an impulse buy. The word is invariable: both singular and plural are en-cas. It is slightly more formal or literary than snack, which is also widely used in everyday French.
Examples
"Elle a préparé un en-cas pour le voyage."
Natural Translation
She prepared a snack for the journey.
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