je t'appelle plus tard
The English phrase "I will call you later" is expressed in French as je t'appelle plus tard.
A statement used to tell someone that you intend to telephone them at a future time.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the future tense "will call", the French phrase often uses the present tense appelle to indicate an immediate or certain future plan. The phrase can also be expressed using the simple future tense appellerai for a more formal or grammatically precise future statement.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase je t'appelle plus tard uses the present tense appelle to express a future intention, which is a common way to speak informally in French. Use je vous appelle plus tard when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
Did you know?
- In France, it is common to say je t'appelle as a way to politely end a conversation, even if the speaker has no concrete intention of calling back soon.
- The verb appeler means both 'to call' and 'to name'. Because of this, a French speaker might use a form of the same word to tell you their name or to call your attention in a crowd.
- The word tard shares its roots with the English word 'tardy', meaning late or delayed. Both words stem from the Latin 'tarde', which describes a slow or lingering pace.
Examples in context
- Je t'appelle plus tard.I will call you later.
- Ne t'inquiète pas, je t'appelle plus tard.Don't worry, I will call you later.
- Je suis occupé, je t'appelle plus tard.I am busy, I will call you later.
Example conversation
Léa is busy at work and Nathan calls her phone.
- LéaSalut Nathan, je ne peux pas parler maintenant.Hi Nathan, I cannot talk right now.
- NathanD'accord, est-ce que tu es libre ce soir ?Okay, are you free this evening?
- LéaJe t'appelle plus tard pour en parler.I will call you later to talk about it.
- NathanÇa marche, à plus tard !That works, see you later!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries je, plus, tard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
