je te déteste
The English phrase "hate you" is translated into French as je te déteste.
This phrase is used to express intense dislike or hatred toward another person. In very informal settings, you may also hear Je te déteste grave to mean "I really hate you".
Which one should you use?
You can use je ne te déteste pas to say "I don't hate you" by wrapping the phrase in ne… pas.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use je vous déteste if you are addressing more than one person or if you are using the formal vous with a single person. If you want to say "you hate me" instead, the object moves before the verb and the verb ending changes, resulting in tu me détestes.
Did you know?
- The word grave in Je te déteste grave is an adverbial slang term. In standard French, grave means 'serious' or 'severe', but in youth slang, it functions as 'really' or 'totally'.
- When expressing hatred toward a thing rather than a person, French speakers avoid détester and often use avoir horreur de, which literally means 'to have horror of'.
- While 'hate' is a heavy word in English, saying je te déteste in French can sometimes be used playfully between friends or lovers to signal minor annoyance.
Examples in context
- Je te déteste toujours.I still hate you.This sentence shows how to express that the hatred is ongoing.Tatoeba #7702165 by Maxence, translation #1887691 by CK
- Je te déteste, raclure !I hate you, creep!This sentence demonstrates using the phrase alongside an insult.Tatoeba #12680792 by Olcyx, translation #6321443 by CarpeLanam
- Laisse-moi tranquille ! Je te déteste !Leave me alone! I hate you!This sentence shows the phrase used as an exclamation.Tatoeba #2217261 by sacredceltic, translation #2216818 by Hybrid
- Je vous déteste pour votre comportement irrespectueux envers moi.I hate you for your disrespectful behavior towards me.
- Je te déteste quand tu me fais pleurer.I hate you when you make me cry.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two teenagers are arguing in a school hallway after a misunderstanding.
- ManonJe te déteste, Nathan !I hate you, Nathan!
- NathanC'est vraiment dommage, Manon.That is a real shame, Manon.
- ManonJe ne veux plus te parler.I don't want to talk to you anymore.
- NathanD'accord, je m'en vais.Okay, I'm leaving.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
