je suis fauché
In French, 'I am broke' is expressed as je suis fauché.
The phrase is used to communicate that you have no money. You might use the informal expression J'ai les poches vides to say you have empty pockets, or the colloquial expression je suis à sec to mean you have run out of money.
What does it mean word for word?
The adjective fauché literally means 'mown' or 'cut down', suggesting that one's resources have been cut down to nothing.
Which one should you use?
While je suis fauché is a common way to express being broke, je suis à sec is a colloquial alternative that translates to 'I am dry'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Je suis fauché is an informal expression and is best used with friends or peers rather than in a professional setting. If you need to be formal, you should use the phrase Je suis dans une situation financière difficile to say 'I am in a difficult financial situation'.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, the adjective fauché takes an extra 'e' at the end to become fauchée.
Did you know?
- While fauché comes from the verb meaning to mow grass, it can also describe someone who has been 'snatched' or 'hit' by a car in a slang context.
- In the phrase je suis, the word suis is a survivor of a linguistic oddity. While most Latin-derived verbs followed a predictable path, suis comes from a version of Latin influenced by the past tense 'I was' rather than the present tense 'I am'.
- The phrase je suis à sec is used for both money and physical liquids, such as when a bottle of wine is completely empty.
Examples in context
- Je n'ai plus un rond pour sortir ce soir.I am broke and can't go out tonight.
- Désolé, je suis fauché ce mois-ci.Sorry, I am broke this month.
- Je ne peux pas sortir, je suis fauché.I cannot go out, I am broke.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are deciding where to eat dinner.
- GabrielOn va au restaurant ce soir ?Shall we go to a restaurant tonight?
- ChloéJe ne peux pas, je suis fauchée.I can't, I am broke.
- GabrielOn peut commander une pizza alors.We can order a pizza then.
- ChloéC'est une bonne idée, merci Gabriel.That is a good idea, thanks Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
