je suis enfant unique
The phrase je suis enfant unique is used to say "I am the only child" in French.
This phrase is used to state that a person has no brothers or sisters.
What does it mean word for word?
The term unique in this context means "only" or "sole", rather than "strange" or "unusual".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the idiomatic construction je suis enfant unique, you do not need an article like un or le before enfant. However, you may use gender-specific forms: je suis un enfant unique if the speaker is male and je suis une enfant unique if the speaker is female. Note that enfant unique is often used as an invariable expression of status regardless of gender.
Did you know?
- The French word enfant is derived from the Latin word īnfantem, which literally meant 'unable to speak'.
- In many French-speaking cultures, being an enfant unique can be a subject of intense conversation, as family size is often a key part of social identity.
- In French, the word unique functions both as a way to denote a single sibling and as a term used in the art and fashion industries to describe 'one-of-a-kind' pieces.
Examples in context
- Est-ce que tu as des frères ou des sœurs ? Non, je suis enfant unique.Do you have brothers or sisters? No, I am an only child.
- Comme je suis enfant unique, je n'ai pas de frères.Since I am an only child, I don't have any brothers.
- Est-ce que tu as des sœurs ? Non, je suis enfant unique.Do you have sisters? No, I am an only child.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their families during lunch.
- ChloéTu as des frères ou des sœurs ?Do you have brothers or sisters?
- NathanNon, je suis enfant unique.No, I am an only child.
- ChloéAh, je comprends, Nathan.Ah, I see, Nathan.
- NathanEt toi, Chloé ?And you, Chloé?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries enfant, je, suis, unique, CC BY-SA 4.0.
