il me manque tellement
The English phrase "I miss him so much" is expressed in French as il me manque tellement.
A phrase used to express a strong feeling of sadness because someone is not present.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is structured such that the person being missed is the subject, and the person feeling the loss is the indirect object. Literally, il me manque tellement translates to "he is missing to me so much".
Which one should you use?
While il me manque tellement is a standard way to express this intensity, you can also use il me manque tant to achieve the same meaning. For more emphasis, Il me manque énormément can be used to say "I miss him enormously."
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use je le manque because they translate "I" as the subject, but in French, the person missed must be the subject il.
Did you know?
- The root of the word manque comes from the Latin word mancus, which originally meant 'maimed' or 'crippled'.
- The verb manquer can also be used to describe a missed target, such as missing a goal in football or missing a train.
- The verb manquer behaves like a vacuum in this context. It describes a void or a lack of something, which is why the person who is absent must be the subject performing the 'missing' action.
Examples in context
- Je ressens un immense manque de lui. Sa présence me manque énormément et j'attends avec impatience le moment où nous pourrons nous revoir.I feel a huge void without him. I miss his presence enormously and I am eagerly looking forward to the moment when we can see each other again.
- Il me manque tellement ! Je ne peux pas m'empêcher de penser à lui en permanence. Chaque jour sans lui est comme une éternité.I miss him so much! I can't help but think of him all the time. Every day without him feels like an eternity.
- Depuis son départ, il me manque tellement.Since he left, I miss him so much.
- Je ne peux pas l'oublier, il me manque tellement.I can't forget him, I miss him so much.
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are talking about Chloé's brother who moved abroad.
- ChloéMon frère est parti en Italie, et il me manque tellement.My brother went to Italy, and I miss him so much.
- LucasJe comprends, c'est difficile d'être loin de sa famille.I understand, it is difficult to be far from one's family.
- ChloéTu penses qu'il me rendra visite bientôt ?Do you think he will visit me soon?
- LucasOui, il devrait venir l'été prochain.Yes, he should come next summer.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries il, manque, me, tellement, CC BY-SA 4.0.
