tu es réveillé ?
In French, "are you awake?" is translated as tu es réveillé ?
This phrase is a question used to ask if someone is no longer sleeping.
Which one should you use?
While tu es réveillé ? specifically asks if a person has woken up, the alternative phrase tu es debout ? would ask if they are physically up or out of bed.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are asking a woman or a girl if she is awake, add an extra e to the end of the adjective to form tu es réveillée ? When addressing more than one person, or when being formal/polite with a single person, use the vous form: vous êtes réveillé(e)(s) ?
When do people say it?
A standard way to answer this question is to use the first-person singular "je suis" (I am), as in Oui, je suis réveillé.
Did you know?
- French has a specific word grasse matinée to describe the act of sleeping in late, often used when someone answers non to being awake.
- The word tu shares a common ancestor with the English word 'thou', a pronoun that is now mostly obsolete in modern English.
- The word réveillé comes from éveiller, which can also mean to stir up a feeling or arouse a curiosity in a non-physical sense.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, Êtes-vous réveillé(e)?Excuse me, are you awake?
- Bonjour, Êtes-vous déjà réveillé(e)?Good morning, are you already awake?
- Salut, tu es réveillé(e)?Hi, are you awake?
- Hey, t'es déjà réveillé(e)?Hey, are you already awake?
- Est-ce que tu es réveillé ?Are you awake?
- Dis-moi, tu es réveillé ?Tell me, are you awake?
Example conversation
Manon enters the bedroom late at night to check on Gabriel.
- ManonGabriel, tu es réveillé ?Gabriel, are you awake?
- GabrielOui, je peux t'entendre.Yes, I can hear you.
- ManonDésolée, je voulais juste vérifier.Sorry, I just wanted to check.
- GabrielCe n'est pas grave, Manon.It's not a problem, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
