sois à moi
The English phrase "be mine" can be translated into French as sois à moi.
This phrase is used as a romantic request to ask someone to become your partner or lover.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative form of the verb être (to be), the preposition à (to/belonging to) and the stressed pronoun moi (me).
Which one should you use?
While sois à moi is the standard way to express possession in a romantic sense, sois mien is a more archaic, poetic or literary construction that is rarely used in modern spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the imperative mood of the verb être, which is used here to express a command or a strong desire.
Did you know?
- In modern French, using sois à moi in a real conversation can sound overly dramatic or cinematic, as it is more common in novels and films than in dating.
- In French, the concept of 'being mine' is closely linked to the term mon coeur ('my heart'), which is used as a common romantic nickname.
- The preposition à in sois à moi is the result of a linguistic merger between the Latin words 'ad' and 'ab'.
Examples in context
- Chéri, je t'aime tellement. Sois à moi pour toujours.Darling, I love you so much. Be mine forever.
- Lucie, veux-tu être à moi? Je ne peux pas imaginer ma vie sans toi.Lucie, do you want to be mine? I can't imagine my life without you.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are walking in a park at night.
- EmmaNathan, je ne peux plus garder ce secret.Nathan, I can't keep this secret anymore.
- NathanDe quoi s'agit-il, Emma ?What is it about, Emma?
- EmmaJe t'aime passionnément, sois à moi.I love you passionately, be mine.
- NathanJe t'aime aussi, je suis à toi.I love you too, I am yours.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moi, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
