What does it mean word for word?
The word suis is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb être (to be).
Which one should you use?
suis-je uses subject-verb inversion. est-ce que je suis maintains the usual subject-verb order. je suis… ? uses the statement je suis with rising intonation to ask am I?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
suis-je is a formal way to express "am I" using subject-verb inversion. est-ce que je suis is a formal way of asking "am I" that maintains the usual subject-verb order and is a more common way to form this question in standard spoken French. In casual spoken French, one often simply uses the statement je suis with rising intonation to ask "am I?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of France, gaga means crazy or obsessed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form suis-je is created by inverting the subject pronoun je (I) and the verb suis (am).
Did you know?
- The verb être used in suis-je is one of the most irregular verbs in French, having roots in three different Latin verbs to cover its various meanings.
- While suis-je is grammatically perfect, using it in a casual conversation at a cafe might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century French novel.
- The phrase est-ce que used in est-ce que je suis literally translates to 'is it that', effectively turning a question into a statement preceded by a marker.
Examples in context
- Suis-je le seul ?Am I the only one?This sentence shows how to use suis-je to ask if one is the only person.Tatoeba #3278750 by sacredceltic, translation #3267230 by Hybrid
- Suis-je à Paris ?Am I in Paris?This sentence shows how to use suis-je to ask about one's location in Paris.Tatoeba #8741674 by Julien_PDC, translation #6149783 by robbieheslop
- Suis-je un chat ?Am I a cat?This sentence shows how to use suis-je to ask about one's identity as a cat.Tatoeba #9965203 by Rovo, translation #9963970 by DJ_Saidez
- Suis-je prêt pour cette réunion ?Am I ready for this meeting?
- Est-ce que je suis clair dans mes explications ?Am I clear in my explanations?
- Est-ce que je suis bien installé ici ?Am I settled in well here?
- Je suis prêt pour cette soirée ?Am I ready for this party?
- Suis-je le seul à trouver cette série captivante ?Am I the only one finding this series captivating?
- Suis-je gaga de lui ?Am I crazy about him?
- 197 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon is asking Hugo for feedback on her professional appearance.
- ManonSuis-je assez élégante pour le dîner ?Am I elegant enough for the dinner?
- HugoOui, tu es parfaite, Manon.Yes, you are perfect, Manon.
- ManonEt suis-je trop formelle avec cette robe ?And am I too formal in this dress?
- HugoPas du tout, c'est très joli.Not at all, it is very pretty.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
