je suis grand
The English phrase "I am tall" is expressed in French as je suis grand.
This phrase is used to describe one's own height as being above average.
Which one should you use?
The word grand can mean both "tall" and "big/large" depending on the context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain African countries, the phrase Je suis grand(e) de taille. is used to mean "I am of tall height."
How does it change in a sentence?
If the speaker is female, the adjective must take the feminine form grande, resulting in je suis grande.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use haut (high) instead of grand (tall) when describing human height.
Did you know?
- Because grand can mean 'big', a very small child might say je suis grand to mean 'I am big/grown up' rather than just referring to their height.
- The word suis evolved from the Latin sum, but it was likely influenced by fuī, which means 'I was'.
- The word grand can be used as a noun in the phrase les grands, referring to people of high social rank or the 'greats' of history.
Examples in context
- Je suis grand.I am tall.This sentence is useful for practicing the basic statement je suis grand.Tatoeba #522380 by lechaz, translation #436275 by lukaszpp
- Tu mesures combien ?How tall are you?
- Je suis grand pour mon âge.I am tall for my age.
- Je suis grand, donc je joue au basket.I am tall, so I play basketball.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their physical characteristics.
- ManonEst-ce que tu es grand, Hugo ?Are you tall, Hugo?
- HugoOui, je suis grand.Yes, I am tall.
- ManonMoi, je suis petite.Me, I am short.
- HugoCe n'est pas grave, Manon.It doesn't matter, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grand, je, suis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
