je suis bilingue
To say "I am bilingual" in French, you use je suis bilingue.
This phrase is used to state that a person can speak two languages fluently.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bilingue is invariable in gender. This means the word remains the same whether the person speaking is male or female.
Did you know?
- The word suis in je suis bilingue was shaped by the Latin word for 'I was', fuī, rather than following the standard path from the word for 'I am'.
- In regions like Quebec or parts of Africa, bilingue can describe the legal status of a whole territory or population rather than just a person.
- While bilingue refers to speaking two languages, French uses the specific word polyglotte for someone who speaks three or more.
Examples in context
- Je suis bilingue en français et en anglais.I am bilingual in French and English.
- Comme je suis bilingue, je peux traduire pour vous.Since I am bilingual, I can translate for you.
- Je suis bilingue, donc je cherche un travail à Paris.I am bilingual, so I am looking for a job in Paris.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are discussing job requirements during a coffee break.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu parles plusieurs langues, Nathan ?Do you speak several languages, Nathan?
- NathanOui, je suis bilingue en espagnol et en français.Yes, I am bilingual in Spanish and French.
- EmmaC'est impressionnant pour ce nouveau poste !That is impressive for this new position!
- NathanMerci, Emma, c'est très utile au travail.Thank you, Emma, it is very useful at work.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bilingue, je, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
