Etymology From French en garde. Noun en garde (fencing) The command to go to starting positions; used regardless of language of the participants; in the sequence "en garde, prêts, allez". Coordinate terms: prêt, aller See also French: En garde! Prêts? Allez! Etymology From French en garde. Pronunciation IPA(key): /ɑn ˈɡɑɹd/ Interjection en garde (fencing) Used to warn one's opponent to take a defensive position prior to a fight. Translations Translations Arabic: اِحْتَمِ (iḥtami) (to masc sg), اِحْتَمِي (iḥtamī) (to fem sg) Bulgarian: ангард (angard) Dutch: en garde French: en garde (fr) German: en garde Italian: in guardia Portuguese: em guarda! Russian: защищайтесь! impf (zaščiščajtesʹ!) Spanish: en guardia See also have at you Noun en garde (uncountable) (fencing) Ellipsis of en garde position.; the start position in fencing. Anagrams Redange, agender, angered, derange, enraged, grandee, grenade Pronunciation Audio:(file) Audio (Belgium):(file) Adverb en garde (relational) of a ready defensive position (relational) of a state of heightened attention Derived terms mettre en garde Adjective en garde (invariable) on guard Derived terms mise en garde Noun en garde (fencing) Ellipsis of position en garde.; the ready position, ready to attack or defend, in a face-off Interjection en garde (fencing) Part of the sequence En garde! Prêts? Allez!