j'attends
The English phrase "I am waiting" is translated into French as j'attends.
j'attends is used to state that you are currently in a state of waiting for someone or something.
What does it mean word for word?
j'attends is a contraction of je, meaning "I" and attends, meaning "wait" or "am waiting".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form j'attends is a contraction of je and attends.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying j'attends pour when you mean "I am waiting for". In French, the verb attendre is transitive, meaning it does not require a preposition before the object you are waiting for.
Did you know?
- While j'attends is used for waiting, the phrase faire le pied de grue literally means 'to make the crane's foot'. It is used idiomatically to describe waiting for a long time in one spot.
- The verb attendre is a linguistic 'false friend' to English speakers. Although it looks like the English word 'attend', it does not mean to be present at an event, but rather to wait for it.
- You can use a variation of this verb to describe a breaking point. The expression j'attends que ça craque describes a person waiting for a situation to finally explode or for a secret to be revealed.
Examples in context
- J'attends que le magasin ouvre.I am waiting for the store to open.This sentence shows how to use j'attends when waiting for an event to happen.Tatoeba #127513 by Archibald, translation #259597 by CK
- J'attends mon amie.I am waiting for my friend.This sentence uses j'attends to indicate you are waiting for a person.Tatoeba #754970 by Julien_PDC, translation #2039866 by MarlonX19
- J'attends mon tour.I am waiting my turn.This sentence shows j'attends being used when waiting for your turn.Tatoeba #4323127 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #2783166 by catcher
- Très bien, j'attends avec impatience. Merci beaucoup.Very well, I am waiting eagerly. Thank you very much.
- Super ! J'attends avec impatience. À tout à l'heure !Super! I am waiting eagerly. See you later!
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Lucas are talking on the phone.
- EmmaTu es où, Lucas ?Where are you, Lucas?
- LucasJ'attends le train, je serai là bientôt.I am waiting for the train, I will be there soon.
- EmmaD'accord, je t'attends devant le cinéma.Okay, I am waiting for you in front of the cinema.
- LucasÀ tout de suite !See you in a bit!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
