je suis maigre
To say "I am skinny" in French, use je suis maigre.
This phrase is used to describe oneself as having very little body fat. It often carries a slightly negative connotation of being underweight or scrawny.
Which one should you use?
The word maigre often implies being scrawny or underweight. A more polite or complimentary way to say 'I am skinny' is je suis mince, which means "I am slim".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase je suis maigre uses the masculine form of the adjective.
Did you know?
- The word maigre shares an ancient root with the English word 'meager', which describes something lacking in quantity or quality.
- While maigre describes thinness, the opposite of a maigre (lean) diet in historical French culture was a gras (fat) diet, often dictated by religious fasting calendars.
- In French culinary terms, maigre refers to food that contains no animal fat, such as fish or vegetables.
Examples in context
- Je suis maigre, je dois manger plus.I am skinny, I must eat more.
- Je suis maigre à cause du sport.I am skinny because of sports.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their physical appearance at a cafe.
- GabrielJe suis maigre, n'est-ce pas ?I am skinny, aren't I?
- EmmaOui, tu es très mince, Gabriel.Yes, you are very slim, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe voudrais prendre un peu de poids.I would like to gain some weight.
- EmmaMange plus de fromage, alors !Eat more cheese, then!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, maigre, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
