je suis malade
The English phrase "I am ill" is translated into French as je suis malade.
je suis malade is a statement used to communicate that you are currently experiencing poor health or a sickness. While the English "I am sick" can sometimes imply a temporary feeling of nausea, je suis malade is the standard, general way to express any state of being unwell or having an illness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the adjective malade, which does not change its spelling based on the gender of the speaker.
Did you know?
- If you want to say you feel nauseous or 'sick to your stomach', avoid je suis malade and instead use the verb avoir mal au cœur, which literally means 'to have pain in the heart'.
- While je suis malade is a medical statement, calling someone malade in a casual context can sometimes be used as slang to mean they are 'crazy' or 'insane'.
- The word malade is built from the Latin words for 'badly' and 'kept', literally translating to being 'badly kept' or 'not in good condition'.
Examples in context
- Bonjour madame, je suis malade et ne pourrai pas venir travailler aujourd'hui.Hello ma'am, I am ill and won't be able to come to work today.
- Je suis malade aujourd'hui.I am ill today.
- Désolé, je suis malade et je ne peux pas venir.Sorry, I am ill and I cannot come.
- Je pense que je suis malade.I think that I am ill.
Example conversation
Lucas calls Léa to explain why he is staying home.
- LucasSalut Léa, je ne peux pas travailler.Hi Léa, I cannot work.
- LéaOh non, qu'est-ce qui se passe ?Oh no, what is happening?
- LucasJe suis malade, j'ai de la fièvre.I am ill, I have a fever.
- LéaBon rétablissement, Lucas.Get well soon, Lucas.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, malade, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
