je suis gay
The English phrase "I am gay" is translated into French as je suis gay.
The phrase is used by a person to state that they are sexually attracted to people of their own gender.
Which one should you use?
In French, the word gay is used specifically to refer to sexual orientation, whereas in older English it could mean "happy" or "carefree".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, the slang term Je suis pédé is used, but it is considered somewhat offensive.
Did you know?
- While you use je suis gay today, the word gay is actually a modern loanword from English that was re-imported into French. It functions as a linguistic circle that traveled from 16th-century French to English and back to modern French.
- In French, the term gay is almost exclusively used for men, whereas lesbienne is the standard term for women, whereas English 'gay' is often used as an umbrella term for all sexual orientations.
- The phrase je suis gay avoids the gender-marking typical of French adjectives because gay is borrowed from English and does not change to a feminine form like gaye in common usage.
Examples in context
- Mais qu’est-ce que ça peut faire si je suis gay ? Est-ce que c’est un crime ?So what if I am gay? Is it a crime?This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of je suis gay in a rhetorical question.Tatoeba #3916 by zmoo, translation #2107 by hoangngocson
- Salut, je suis gay et fier(e) de l'être!Hi, I am gay and proud to be!
- Permettez-moi de vous informer que je suis homosexuel(le).Allow me to inform you that I am gay.
Example conversation
Lucas is explaining his identity to his friend Emma.
- LucasEmma, je dois te dire quelque chose.Emma, I have to tell you something.
- EmmaQu'est-ce qui se passe, Lucas ?What is happening, Lucas?
- LucasJe suis gay.I am gay.
- EmmaMerci de me l'avoir dit.Thank you for telling me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gay, je, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
