Je suis malade
In French, "I am sick" is translated as Je suis malade.
The phrase Je suis malade is used to state that you are feeling unwell or are suffering from an illness.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Je (I), suis (am) and malade (sick).
Which one should you use?
Use Je suis malade to describe being generally unwell or having an illness. If you want to express specific physical pain, such as a headache, use J'ai mal instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malade is gender-neutral, meaning the spelling does not change whether the speaker is male or female.
Did you know?
- While Je suis malade means you are ill, if you say Je suis malade de toi, it is a romantic expression meaning 'I am crazy about you'.
- The word malade comes from the Latin phrase male habitus, which literally meant being 'badly kept' or 'not in good condition'.
- The word malade can be used as a noun to refer to a patient in a hospital setting, rather than just as an adjective.
Examples in context
- Je ne peux pas fumer. Je suis malade.I cannot smoke. I am sick.This sentence shows how to explain that you cannot smoke because you are sick.Tatoeba #11667845 by Amastan, translation #1688791 by Amastan
- Ce n'est que maintenant que je suis malade.I am sick only now.This sentence shows how to say you are only sick starting from this moment.Tatoeba #7048764 by Micsmithel, translation #773314 by marloncori
- Je ne peux pas venir parce que je suis malade.I can not come, because I am sick.This sentence provides a reason for not being able to come using Je suis malade.Tatoeba #8558563 by Micsmithel, translation #9523164 by Taam
- Je suis malade, docteur. Je me sens fiévreux et j'ai mal à la tête.I am sick, doctor. I feel feverish, and I have a headache.
- Pas trop bien, je suis patraque aujourd'hui.Not too well, I am under the weather today.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking on the phone.
- GabrielSalut Manon, tu peux m'aider ?Hi Manon, can you help me?
- ManonBien sûr, qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?Of course, what is the matter?
- GabrielJe suis malade et je dois rester au lit.I am sick and I must stay in bed.
- ManonOh, bon courage Gabriel !Oh, good luck Gabriel!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, malade, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
