je suis fils unique
To say "I am an only child" in French, use je suis fils unique.
This phrase is used to state that a person does not have any siblings.
Did you know?
- While 'only child' is a single concept in English, French splits the concept into two distinct categories based on whether the person is a 'fils' (son) or a 'fille' (daughter).
- In French, the concept of being an 'only child' is expressed by describing oneself as 'unique' rather than 'alone'.
- The word fils in the phrase is a linguistic oddity where the final 's' is traditionally silent, though it was once pronounced in certain pauses.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are talking about their families.
- LucasTu as des frères ou des sœurs ?Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- ChloéNon, je suis fille unique.No, I am an only child.
- LucasMoi aussi, je suis fils unique.Me too, I am an only child.
- ChloéC'est sympa d'avoir ça en commun !It's nice to have that in common!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fils, je, suis, unique, CC BY-SA 4.0.
