je t'aime, mon fils
The English phrase 'I love you, son' is translated into French as je t'aime, mon fils.
This phrase is an expression of affection used by a parent to tell their male child that they love him.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I love you, my son' because French speakers typically include the possessive adjective mon (my) when addressing a child.
Did you know?
- In many French-speaking cultures, it is historically more common to show affection through bisous (kisses on the cheek) than by saying je t'aime out loud.
- The word mon is thought to have been influenced by Gaulish, a language spoken in France before the Romans arrived.
- In French, the verb aimer is used for both 'to love' and 'to like', meaning that without the context of a parent and child, je t'aime could sometimes be interpreted as 'I like you'.
Examples in context
- N'oublie jamais que je t'aime, mon fils.Never forget that I love you, son.
- Tu es mon trésor, je t'aime, mon fils.You are my treasure, I love you, son.
Example conversation
A mother says goodbye to her son before he goes to school.
- ManonAu revoir maman !Goodbye mom!
- GabrielPasse une bonne journée, Gabriel.Have a good day, Gabriel.
- ManonMerci, à ce soir !Thanks, see you tonight!
- GabrielJe t'aime, mon fils.I love you, my son.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fils, je, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
