je suis un homme
The English phrase "I am a man" is translated into French as je suis un homme.
This phrase is used by a person to identify their gender as male.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of je (I), suis (am), un (a) and homme (man).
Which one should you use?
To say "I am a woman", you would replace un homme with une femme.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb suis is the first-person singular conjugation of the irregular verb être (to be).
Did you know?
- The phrase je suis can also mean 'I follow', as it is the first-person conjugation of the verb suivre.
- The word homme shares a surprising ancestral link with the word for 'earthling', as it stems from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'earth'.
- In French, homme can be used to refer to 'humankind' or 'people' in general, regardless of gender.
Examples in context
- Je suis un homme.I am a man.Tatoeba #127479 by sacredceltic, translation #386704 by Mouseneb
- Je suis un homme toujours malade.I am a man that is always sick.Tatoeba #7046438 by Micsmithel, translation #773312 by marloncori
- Je suis un homme qui ne supporte pas d'être seul.I am a man who can't stand being alone.Tatoeba #1199183 by sacredceltic, translation #262242 by CC
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan is clarifying his identity during a serious discussion about gender roles.
- NathanJe suis un homme, pas une femme.I am a man, not a woman.
- ManonJe comprends ce que tu veux dire.I understand what you mean.
- NathanC'est important pour moi de le préciser.It is important for me to specify it.
- ManonD'accord, Nathan, j'ai bien compris.Okay, Nathan, I understood clearly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries homme, je, suis, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
