je suis tellement excité
The English phrase "I am so excited" can be translated into French as je suis tellement excité.
This phrase is used to express a strong feeling of eagerness or enthusiasm about something.
Which one should you use?
While je suis tellement excité can be used to mean excited in a general sense, it often carries a connotation of being agitated, hyperactive or sexually aroused. In contrast, the expression j'ai tellement hâte specifically targets the feeling of anticipation for a future event and is a more natural way to express being excited.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, you may hear the informal expression J'suis super emballé(e) ! to mean "I am super excited!"
What mistakes should you avoid?
In many contexts, using excité to describe a person can imply sexual arousal rather than just enthusiasm. To avoid this ambiguity, use j'ai tellement hâte to express eagerness.
Did you know?
- The informal expression je suis emballé uses the word emballé, which literally means 'wrapped' or 'packed' like a parcel.
- The word suis actually comes from the Latin word 'sum', but it developed from an even earlier form 'sui' that was influenced by the past tense 'fuī'.
- While excité can mean enthusiastic, it is also the standard term for a child who is hyperactive or acting out in a classroom.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are discussing an upcoming trip to Paris.
- LucasOn part enfin demain pour Paris !We are finally leaving for Paris tomorrow!
- EmmaOui, je suis tellement excitée !Yes, I am so excited!
- LucasMoi aussi, je suis tellement excité de visiter le Louvre.Me too, I am so excited to visit the Louvre.
- EmmaCe sera un voyage magnifique.It will be a wonderful trip.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, suis, tellement, CC BY-SA 4.0.
