je m'inquiète
In French, "I am worried" is translated as je m'inquiète.
The phrase is used to express that one feels anxious or uneasy about a possible problem.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is a reflexive construction where m'inquiète literally means "worry myself".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase je m'inquiète uses the present tense to express a current state of being worried rather than using an adjective. If you want to say "I was worried," use the imperfect tense: je m'inquiétais. When specifying the cause of the worry, the verb is typically followed by the preposition de (as in je m'inquiète de…). However, you can use pour instead of de if you are expressing worry specifically for the well-being of a person or a specific entity.
Did you know?
- To express an extreme or sudden state of worry, a French speaker might use the expression être rongé par l'inquiétude, which literally means to be 'gnawed' by worry.
- While je m'inquiète expresses a state of worry, French speakers often use the phrase avoir le trac to describe the specific type of anxiety felt before performing in public.
- The French verb s'inquiéter is related to the Latin word inquietus, which means 'restless' or 'not at rest'.
Examples in context
- Je m'inquiète pour l'examen de demain.I am worried about tomorrow's exam.
- Je m'inquiète de ne pas avoir de nouvelles.I am worried about not having any news.
- Je m'inquiète pour la santé de mon chat.I am worried about my cat's health.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about a late friend.
- LéaIl n'est pas encore arrivé.He hasn't arrived yet.
- LucasIl a peut-être eu un problème.Maybe he had a problem.
- LéaJe m'inquiète pour lui, Lucas.I am worried about him, Lucas.
- LucasNe t'inquiète pas, tout va bien.Don't worry, everything is fine.
