et vous êtes
The English phrase "and you are" is translated into French as et vous êtes.
This phrase is used to ask for information about the other person after the speaker has introduced themselves.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the conjunction et (and) and the second-person plural/formal conjugation of the verb être (to be).
Which one should you use?
The phrase Et toi, comment tu te nommes ? means And you, what is your name? and is a slightly more informal way to ask someone's name.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form et vous êtes is used to be polite to a stranger or to address a group of people. Use et tu es instead of et vous êtes when speaking to a single person you know well, such as a friend, family member or child.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb êtes in this phrase is the present indicative form of être.
Did you know?
- While et vous êtes is a direct translation, French speakers often avoid asking for a name so bluntly. They might instead say Je ne me suis pas présenté meaning 'I have not introduced myself'.
- The French formal pronoun vous is a linguistic cousin to the Russian pronoun вы (vy). Both are used to address people formally or in the plural.
- While et vous êtes is the standard formal way to ask 'and you are', using the informal et tu es can actually sound condescending if used with a stranger.
Examples in context
- Je suis vôtre et vous êtes mien.I am yours and you are mine.Tatoeba #2159390 by sacredceltic, translation #1787892 by sadhen
- Vous étiez vivant lorsque vous êtes né et vous êtes vivant en ce moment, donc vous deviez être vivant à n'importe quel instant entre les deux. Cela implique que la vie de tout un chacun est convexe.You were alive when you were born and you are alive at this moment, so you must have been alive at every point in between. That implies that everyone's life is convex.Tatoeba #689176 by Micsmithel, translation #689174 by AlanF_US
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma meet for the first time at a business conference.
- HugoBonjour, je m'appelle Hugo.Hello, my name is Hugo.
- EmmaEnchantée, je suis Emma.Nice to meet you, I am Emma.
- HugoJe suis le consultant, et vous êtes ?I am the consultant, and you are?
- EmmaJe suis la nouvelle responsable.I am the new manager.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries et, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
