j'ai une sœur
To say "I have one sister" in French, use j'ai une sœur.
This phrase is a statement used to say that a person has one female sibling.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of j' (I), ai (have), une (one/a) and sœur (sister).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form j'ai is a contraction of je (I) and ai (have) that occurs because ai begins with a vowel. In this phrase, the word une functions as both the number "one" and the indefinite article "a" or "an".
Did you know?
- In French, the term sœur can also refer to a nun, regardless of whether she has any siblings.
- The word sœur traces its lineage back to the Proto-Indo-European root *swésōr, the same ancient ancestor that gave us the English word 'sister'.
- In French, the term sœur can be used to describe a close female friend or a fellow member of a spiritual community, reflecting a bond of chosen kinship rather than just biology.
Examples in context
- J'ai une sœur.I have one sister.This sentence is useful for stating that you have one sister.Tatoeba #1447098 by Aiji, translation #370738 by saeb
- Je suis Anna, et j'ai une sœur merveilleuse.I am Anna, and I have a wonderful sister.
- Salut! J'ai une petite sœur géniale.Hi! I have an awesome little sister.
- J'ai une sœur qui habite à Paris.I have one sister who lives in Paris.
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are talking about their families.
- LucasEst-ce que tu as des frères et sœurs ?Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- LéaOui, j'ai une sœur.Yes, I have one sister.
- LucasComment s'appelle-t-elle ?What is her name?
- LéaElle s'appelle Sarah.Her name is Sarah.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries j'ai, sœur, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
