je suis étudiant
The English phrase "I am a student" is translated into French as je suis étudiant.
This phrase is used to identify your current status or occupation as someone who studies at an educational institution.
Which one should you use?
The form étudiant is used for a male student or as a generic masculine form, whereas the feminine form étudiante is used specifically for a female student.
How does it change in a sentence?
A female speaker must use the feminine form je suis étudiante instead of the masculine je suis étudiant.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly include the article un or une when stating their occupation in French. Instead of saying je suis un étudiant, it is more natural to say je suis étudiant.
Did you know?
- If you say je suis in a different context, it could also mean 'I am following' because it is a form of the verb suivre.
- In many French-speaking contexts, if you say je suis étudiant, people might assume you are a university student. For younger students in primary or secondary school, the term élève is much more common.
- The word étudiant comes from the verb étudier, which shares a root with the English word 'study'. This is because both trace back to the Latin 'studere', meaning to be eager.
Examples in context
- Je suis étudiant, mais lui, non.I am a student, but he isn't.This sentence is useful for contrasting your status with someone else's using je suis étudiant.Tatoeba #1344999 by sacredceltic, translation #256687 by CK
- Je suis étudiant à l'université d'Oxford.I am a student at Oxford University.This sentence is useful for specifying the institution where you study using je suis étudiant.Tatoeba #13853 by Aiji, translation #29028 by CK
- Je suis étudiant.I am a student.This sentence is useful for a simple statement of your status using je suis étudiant.Tatoeba #6692 by U2FS, translation #252287 by CK
- Bonjour, je m'appelle Sophie et je suis étudiante.Hello, my name is Sophie and I am a student.
- Salut, je suis étudiant(e) en médecine.Hi, I am a medical student.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are meeting for the first time at a cafe.
- GabrielSalut, moi, je suis étudiant, et toi ?Hi, I am a student, and you?
- EmmaMoi, je suis journaliste.I am a journalist.
- GabrielC'est un travail intéressant.It is an interesting job.
- EmmaMerci, Nathan.Thanks, Nathan.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
