Hi went for a blood test, receptionist asked if i had eaten, the nurse used the same phrase but the only keyword I could make out was something like ‘argent’ . At my slightly confused look she re-rephrased it and all was ok, Any one know what the actual phrase is , guesing its several words run into one or something that doesn’t translate directly
thanks
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Est-ce que vous êtes à jeun ?
Edited for crap spelling 
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Sorry spelling may be wrong, my written French needs some serious work!
Yep, what @toryroo said 
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With an accent, says Mme Pedant - à
Interestingly I am always asked even if having a blood test that doesn’t require fasting.
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Thanks, that sounds about right - à jeun. Seems to be a word I have never heard of,
that phrase is exactly what I hear… too often unfortunately… never mind your spelling … 
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At our local blood test place if you arrive before 9h00 there are massive queues and it takes 30 mins - if you go after 10h30 there are no queues at all and it is instant.
The question of whether you have eaten and I indicate no at 10h30 is met with complete bemusement- how on earth have I not eaten breakfast?!! Unless I indicate I am a little hungry they simply don’t believe me!
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Actually you probably have without knowing it, because you probably know the word déjeuner = to eat a (usually midday) meal. The word Jeûner means to fast, so literally, dé-jeuner is to “de”-fast. Just like our word Breakfast.
Hopefully that might help you to remember the word!
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great explanation, thanks
When the vet explained what we needed to do for our dog’s operation, we thought she said we had to go to Agen. We were puzzled because the op was taking place nowhere near there… Since then we’ve never forgotten how to say à jeun !
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à jeûne = fasting (maybe à jeûn shortened but I am not sure). Un jeûne = a fast (intended), or just a period without food that can be accidental.
I always miss it when said, wondering are you asking Am I jeune? (young), thought it had to do with Agen and prunes the first time 
… then mumble it back and eventually…twig.
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Edited, thanks Jane!
Maybe this will make it clearer - à jeun is what you are before you have your déjeuner. 
The circumflex is on the U only on le jeûne, jeûner and le jeûneur, it disappears on à jeun and déjeuner.
Argh just saw @Sandcastle beat me to it! 
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New word for today 
Re-edited thanks for the lesson!
took me several tries to figure that one out!
yes, it took a while for me too. “A jeun” means fasting so it figures that’s where dejeuner comes from